Scoring competitions are one of the best ways to get started right into your first original scores. The problem is, you need to look out to them quite regularly, or you find yourself hearing about the competition when the deadline is already there.
Here is a list of announced scoring competitions for 2023. Most of them are held every year around the same time. As far as I could, I implemented starting date, Deadline, and general information about theming and the genre of the contest.
Dates can get shifted, or competitions are getting canceled. But I’m sure this list can help you find the competition that suits you the best.
I also looked upon the criteria the jury usually focuses on. By analyzing winning competitions, interviews from judges, and score break-downs from the composers themselves, I created step-by-step guidelines for aspiring composers for their next entry.
The following Articles should give you an in-depth view of the task and how to approach it:
An in-depth view on the judging criterias as well as how to shine in each categorie
Analysis on contest winning scores of the Indie Film Music Contest, the Spitfire Stargirl and Spitfire Bridgerton Competitions
The skillset and abilities you need to have for each step of the scoring process, as well as an outline to my personal approach
But for now, let’s get started with picking a competition first.
Overview
Jan15 – Berlin International Film Scoring Competition
Jan30 – Score the World 4
Feb20 – Montreal International Film Scoring Competition
Feb21 – Music Cosmos Composer Competition
Feb28 – Oticons Faculty International Film Music Competition
Mar26 – Scorelive London
Mar31 – Call for Score
June4 – Indie Film Music Contest
June31 – Marvin Hamlish International Music Award
July19 – Californian Independent Film Festival
July31 – FMC Film Scoring Contest
Spitfire Scoring Competition
Oct3 – Zurich Film Festival
Oct31 – International Pannonian Film Music Competition
Berlin International Film Scoring Competition
October 15 – January 15
The Berlin International Film Scoring Competition opens registration every year in mid-October. You had to compose your music for an animated short film with a length of roundabout 4 Minutes in the last years.
This year’s short film tells the story of a young curious monk manipulating time by accident. Before the scoring competition started, BIFSC organized a second contest for Sounddesign. The composer can then choose which FX-Audio he wants to have to accomplish his orchestration.
BIFSC was the first contest I participated in, and I’m eager to join the next round!
Indie Film Music Contest - Winter 2023
November 25th – January 20th, 2023
The Indie Film Music Contest surely is the best adress for composers who are at the very beginning of their journey. This competition gets a lot of international recognition as it focuses purely on storytelling and ignores the sound quality. Now they even create a competition in summer as well as in the winter month. If you are right at the beginning of your musical journey, this competition is perfect for you. You don’t have to use an expensive library; the jury doesn’t look at sound quality – it is not a criterion of this contest. You can record a piano on your phone if you want to.
This year the competition takes a difrent approach and let you chose between two completely diffrent films, with two diffrent scenes (~2:30min) each. You can submit a score for only one scene or for all 4.
Score the World 4th - Edition
December 4 – January 30
Score the world is, in my opinion, a contest you are not allowed to miss. Not only are you working on Award-Winning Video Material, but you get so much in return. Usually, you didn’t get any feedback at all in most contests, or maybe if you’re in the top 10 ranks. In this contest, however, you get to know your exact ranking, and the top 100 contestants will get short personal feedback from the jury. I think that this is the best deal you can get out of any contest so far. Plus, 50% of the profit is going to charity.
In Score The World 4. your task is to re-score a true classic, a short compilation from The Little Princess (1939), which certainly is a whole new challenge.
his December.► Homepage: Score the World
Montreal International Film Scroing Competition
December 10 – February 20
My last information is a Post on Facebook on Decenber 1st about the announcement, but no further information on the specific dates so far.
The specialized Diploma Program holds the contest in Film Music at the Université du Québec à Montréa. On registration, you get access to three different short films, and you can submit each of them if you want so. Usually, you get your first glance at what you are working for during the contest after paying the entry fee. Should it be that you absolutely don’t like the film, it’s tough to work on it. In this case, you can choose between 3 films and three different styles if you want.
Music Cosmos Composer Competition
unknown registration – February 21
I found no new information for a competition in 2023, but I hope it’s coming together this year.
The Music Cosmos Composer Competition had its first start this year. The footage was relatively short with a length of only 1:48, and it showed a collage of flowers in a very artistic way. It felt like watching photography that came to life. Due to the competition’s massive response, I’m sure we get a second chance to attempt this unique experience.
Oticons Faculty International Film Music Competition 2023
September 1st – February 28th 2023
This competition might give you a blast. Other than usual, you don’t get a short film and have to write a score; they give you a list of tasks instead. I can’t wait to try this out.
Assignment #1: Compose a great Melody, memorable tune, one that you would consider a Main Theme. You are free to use whatever you want, but it shouldn’t be longer than 60 seconds.
Assignment #2: You are requested to compose epic, powerful, heroic music; without the use of brass, percussion, woodwinds, or choir but ONLY with strings and any other acoustic instrument that qualify as a string instrument.
Assignment #3: You are requested to compose the original score of a script’s key scene from a real in-development feature film production. For this task, you shall be provided with only the script pages of that certain scene and with a brief from the director of the film.
Assignment #4: The 20 finalists will be called to upload within five days an existing work of theirs as a “pitch” for our Jury. It should be an excerpt from the best composition they have ever composed, which they feel characterizes best their personal musical style. They should also send over a professional CV, which only the President of the Jury will have access to.
Scorelive London
unknown registration – March 26
The big benefit of winning this contest would be the possibility to work in L.A. for one month. On top of that, you get a one-on-one monitoring session and a 30 minute live 65 piece Orchestral Recording. Now, that sounds all great, but I have the strong feeling that the focus of this competition isn’t to give new composers a chance but to advertise their film music school in Spain. The same one-on-one mentoring session in LA you could win, you seem to get also if you take part in their school program.
Nonetheless, competitions are a really nice way to improve your skills and get experience. Therefore we shouldn’t waste too much of our time thinking about other people’s business. The contest looks transparent and of high quality. You can either submit the score for a provided short film or you can send in the score for a Main Theme.
I’m too late for this year but I might give it a try next time, the main Theme contest is something you don’t get at other contests.
Indie Film Music Contest - Summer 2023
April 2nd – June 4th, 2023
The Indie Film Music Contest surely is the best adress for composers who are at the very beginning of their journey. This competition gets a lot of international recognition as it focuses purely on storytelling and ignores the sound quality. Now they even create a competition in summer as well as in the winter month. If you are right at the beginning of your musical journey, this competition is perfect for you. You don’t have to use an expensive library; the jury doesn’t look at sound quality – it is not a criterion of this contest. You can record a piano on your phone if you want to.
This year the competition takes a difrent approach and let you chose between two completely diffrent films, with two diffrent scenes (~2:30min) each. You can submit a score for only one scene or for all 4.
Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards 2023
May 30 – June 31
The Marvin Hamlisch International Music Award is an annual event with more than one category to choose from. You can enter your work for Film/Media Scoring, Classical Composition, Jazz Composition, or Musical Theatre Composition. As for the Film/Media Scoring, you get provided with a short film to work on.
A Highlight, of course, is the Awards presented in Oscar Night manners in New York.
Californian Independent Film Festival
January 1 – July 19
This competition is strictly made for solo independent composers. Last year the short film had a length of 11 minutes and slightly graphic content to tell the story of the pandemic. Due to a large number of participants, they are unable to send feedback to every composer. The five finalists get an advisement session with a judge.
FMC - Film Scoring Contest
March 28 – July 31
Well, there is a lot to say about this competition. Similar to the Montreal International Film Scoring Competition, you can choose between projects to work on. But there is a ton to do, and I’m sure there is something for everyone. So no excuses!
This year you can submit in 9 (!) different categories. Besides the typical “we provide you a film to write a score for,” you also can submit entire projects you have been working on. So if you have made an original soundtrack for a short film of your friend, you can submit the film with your music! You need to work on Trailers for other categories, provide a score for a Video Game or send in your Recording of Instrumental music. There is a ton to do, so check it out and take a look at it.
Zurich Film Festival
September 23 – October 3
The Zurich Film Festival is an event where the most promising new Filmmakers can get seen. It is not a competition where you can send in your soundtrack and hope for the best; you need to write your score for a film project which gets send in. If you have a small side project this might be worth a try. But as far as I know, this contest is exclusive for Switzerland, Austria, and Germany.
International Pannonian Film Music Competition
unknown registration – October 31
The Pannonia Film Music Competition provided you in the past with short Films about 8 minutes in length. This might be a bit tough if it is the first project you work on. The contest clearly says what they are looking for and consider Concept for Music Placement, Creativity (Musical Ideas), Originality in style, Integrity of classical and modern instruments, and production quality. This is a tough competition from what I have seen, and it might have a high standard, especially for beginners. But we all love a challenge, so look it up!
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