For Film Fest Gent’s 50th edition, the festival launched 2×25: 25 composers were invited to write a short piece of music. Subsequently, 25 filmmakers were inspired by the music to make a short film. We asked former participants in the Young Critics Workshop, as well as the participants in the 2023 edition, to each write a short piece of around 250 words in response to one of the 25 shorts.
The impact music can have on a film cannot be underestimated. Yet composers are often involved late in a film project, always making their music in function of the image. For this anniversary project, Film Fest Gent turned the tables. The festival first approached musicians to create short compositions, a few of which were then shown to each filmmaker, who could then chose one piece of music. Only when the choice had been made, the name of the composer was revealed.
In our turn, we contacted (former) participants in the Young Critics Workshop at Film Fest Gent, which is now in its 10th edition, and asked them to write a short response to one of the 25 shorts. As a result, we present you with 25 times (roughly) 250 words.