Sebastian Schmidt

Composer / Orchestrator

"My purpose is always to discover what is unique about a movie. The uniqueness of its idea, its pictorial language, its dramaturgy, the way it’s supposed to feel. All this can be a source of inspiration for creating a film music that is just as unique as the movie itself. A close bond during the creative process is the fertile ground that leads to a unique and intense interaction between picture and music."

Sebastian Schmidt’s musical versatility is what enables him to live up to this claim. Modern orchestral hybrid scoring (as in the cinema documentary Die Wiese), highly romantic chamber music (as in the cinema drama Und der Zukunft zugewandt), puristic electronic minimalism (as in the TV documentary Magisches Island) as well as piano solo and choir works are all part of his repertoire.

Before his graduation in film music at Filmuniversität Babelsberg „Konrad Wolf“, Sebastian studied film music at Musicube Academy, Bonn, as well as classical music (piano, guitar, singing, arrangement, conducting) at Hochschule für Musik Mainz. Since his graduation, the young film composer has already contributed scores to a wide variety of award-winning films and radio plays, such as Stiller Kamerad (Silent Comrade), Tinnitus, Die Wiese, Magisches Island, Und der Zukunft zugewandt (Sealed Lips) and many others.

Besides the process of composing itself, the interaction with other filmmakers is one of the most essential aspects of working as a film composer to him:

"Open and direct communication is one of the most important things to me while being part of a film team. Just as important as having the courage to try something new and maybe unconventional from time to time. Being fully engaged in a film project with other filmmakers and interacting on a basis of mutual trust is the most fulfilling and inspiring way of working as an artist to me."