Creative sounds: Taunus Film Festival impresses with fascinating sound tricks!

Creative sounds: Taunus Film Festival impresses with fascinating sound tricks!

The Taunus Film Festival in Oberursel caused a stir on several stages this year from August 7th to 10th. Directors, producers and filmmakers showed off their tricks and talents in the areas of film, sound and design as part of the 14th edition of the festival. A special highlight was the “Sound in Film” workshop, led by sound engineer Stephan Busch, who introduced the audience to the world of artistic sound design. A big issue here was the often poor quality of the original sound, as Busch clearly explained: "For the film 'Erna, the tree needs needles', we couldn't record the sound of falling pine needles. Instead, breaking eggshells were used." Such creative solutions are necessary because, as industry experts know, a film as a whole is strongly influenced by its auditory design.

The filmmakers present another anecdote when it comes to noises: Owls, which are silent hunters, are often used in films to make the noise of pigeons, because reality doesn't always match the picture. The different tones and sounds used in film production span the full range of atmospheres, including deliberate silence, which can often enhance the effect of other sounds. The creative sound designers, also known as sound editors, are responsible for the interaction of sounds and music, which influences the emotional impact on the audience. westencut.com highlights that sound design is about more than just producing sounds; it's about creating atmosphere that time and space can create in the film.

A look behind the scenes

The festival kicked off with a glamorous opening gala at the Elaya Hotel, attended by prominent guests such as actress Barbara Philipp and director Bettina Borgfeld. A live interview with French director Carine Tardieu, who presented her film “What Connects Us,” also attracted a lot of attention. The Kinopolis in Bad Homburg also offered a platform for film screenings, which took place in this setting for the first time.

Over 275 hours of film material were submitted for the international film competition, with the jury awarding prizes to the best entries in various categories such as short film, feature film, “food film” and “integration film”. The 900 guests at the festival show that the Taunus Film Festival is very popular. Topics such as generational conflicts and farewell were covered in the many films shown, including a short film with AI-generated images that certainly amazed visitors.

A culinary experience for film fans

As befits a true film festival, this event was not only a feast for the eyes but also for the taste buds. During open evenings in Rushmoorpark, the audience was able to enjoy short films and at the same time indulge in culinary delights. The mix of film and good food was very well received by both viewers and filmmakers.

The festival management is optimistic about the future, with plans for further growth and the integration of new formats. It remains exciting to see what the filmmakers and audiences can expect next year and how the creative ideas presented at the Taunus Film Festival will continue to enrich the film and sound design. Ultimately, the combination of image and sound has the power to tell stories in a way that has a lasting impact on the audience - a fact that the professionals in the industry, as made clear on bvft.de.