ABOUT SOUNDTRACK

"There are far too many film festivals in the world today, so new ones have to be distinctive. SOUNDTRACK is very much so. It's not so much about new movies, as the crucial creative relationship film has with music. And in the coming years it intends to be really international. And it's not about the boring old middle-brow. And it's taking place in a shape-shifting city, Cardiff. What's not to like?"

Mark Cousins, filmmaker, author and broadcaster

In late November 2008, Wales' capital city played host to the most ambitious and innovative creative film and music festival the UK has ever seen.

Centered around the historic Bay area from 26- 29 November, Cardiff became ‘home' to internationally renowned film makers and musicians alike, as they came together to be a part of SOUNDTRACK: The International Film and Music Festival.

Celebrating the festival's distinctive theme of the relationship between music and film through a packed schedule of film screenings, master classes, keynote speeches and workshops, alongside exceptional live music performances from classical to contemporary rock and roll fringe gigs, SOUNDTRACK's audience was as varied as its line-up.

The inaugural festival welcomed Special Guests such as Oscar Winning composer Gabriel Yared, Oscar Winning director Danny Boyle, acclaimed actor Jonathan Pryce and composer David Holmes to Cardiff to feature in a series of Master Classes, In Conversations and Concerts.

Gabriel Yared would star in the festival's showpiece event, performing alongside the 80 piece BBC National Orchestra of Wales at the Wales Millennium Centre in tribute to Anthony Minghella.

SOUNDTRACK returned to Cardiff for a second year in 2009, stretching over five days from the 18^th to the 22^nd of November. Key guests in year 2 included legendary musician and composer John Cale, documentary film and music video master Julien Temple, Gruff Rhys and his band the Super Furry Animals.

Velvet Underground founder John Cale performed his seminal solo album Paris 1919 in its entirety for the first time ever, to a sold out crowd at the historic Coal Exchange building in Cardiff Bay, as well as taking part in an In Conversation based on his career as a composer for film.

Also performing at the Coal Exchange during the festival were Psych-rockers Super Furry Animals, who performed the hits from their first 3 albums as part of a celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the legendary independent label Creation Records.

Super Furries front man Gruff Rhys would also feature separately at the festival, premiering his debut work as a film maker Separado!, director Julien Temple presented his new film on British proto-punk's DR. Feelgood Oil City Confidential, and Hammer historians Marcus Hearn and DR David Huckvale appeared In Conversation at The Music of Hammer Horror.

SOUNDTRACK: The International Film and Music Festival will return for its 3^rd year in November 2010.