SOUND ON SCREEN MUSIC FILM FESTIVAL 2025

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Neelsie Cinema
June 30, 2025

SOUND ON SCREEN MUSIC FILM FESTIVAL 2025

In its 16th year, the SOUND ON SCREEN MUSIC FILM FESTIVAL is excited to be hosting its 2025 edition at The NEELSIE Cinema in Stellenbosch.

The event features an amazing array of new music-themed feature films, documentaries and short films from all corners of the world and across all genres. They delve into the passions expressed and evoked, its cultural significance, highlighting specific artists, specific genres and all aspects of sound and how music affects our lives, how it is an integral part of our existence, beyond melody and rhythm, with transcendent and healing properties, and just plain escape and enjoyment.

So easily taken for granted, music is part of what makes us human.

You're unlikely to catch these brand new productions in cinema or on any streaming service.

R75 per screening slot, and comes with a free popcorn.

Will be available at The Neelsie Cinema.

To reserve your spot please click on the link below to complete https://forms.gle/UiHmKrbYx81aCZ637 

All event details at :

THURSDAY 24 JULY

5:30pm

UTE LEMPER - Songs for Eternity (Germany)

In this concert and documentary film, Ute Lemper revives songs by Jewish composers written in the concentration camps of the Second World War. The film follows her and her agent and good friend Orly Beigel to Bergen-Belsen, where Orly's mother was imprisoned and eventually liberated by the US Army. Ute Lemper sensitively and profoundly traces the emotional world of the Jewish composers and creates a touching musical memorial to their past.

7:30pm

TRUTH BE TOLD - Bheki Mlangeni: Pathways To Light (South Africa)

Jazz musician Mandla Mlangeni 35, is slowly coming to terms with the death of his father who was killed when he was 5 years old. He uses music and by extension his trumpet to heal. In his debut album Bhekisizwe which he dedicated to a father he never knew, a loss that echoes powerfully through the music. The documentary criss-crosses from the present to the past as Mandla examines who his father really was and at the same time honoring him by keeping his memory alive through his music. Issues of trans generational trauma are explored.

Bheki Mlangeni was a young human rights lawyer who was killed In his Soweto home by a booby-trapped Walkman. It was sent by Apartheid Security Policeman Eugene de Kock aka Prime Evil, it exploded on the 15th February, 1991 as he began to listen to it.

Witness Mandla's journey on his pathway to light...

Directly after

TE TA'I HOHO'A - The Image Of Sound (United Arab Emirates)

Jean-Yves, a Tahitian musician, loses his right leg due to diabetes. Despite the challenges, he holds on to his passion and dreams of returning to the Toata stage at the Heiva festival in Tahiti. This documentary traces his journey of resilience and healing through music.

9:30pm

MORENTE & BARCELONA (Spain)

The first flamenco social club dedicated to Enrique Morente opened in 1970 in Verdum (Barcelona). The Granada-born artist then began his stays in Barcelona, where he joined neighbourhood struggles, formed bonds with the Taller de Músics, and discovered a fertile ground for experimentation. This included collaborations with emerging Catalan artists such as Mayte Martín, Miguel Poveda, Chicuelo, and Ginesa Ortega, as well as jazz heavyweights like Max Roach and Pat Metheny. Morente also ventured into collaborations with Leonard Cohen, Sonic Youth, and many others. This film extensively documents the relationship between Morente and the city where he broke free from orthodoxy and explored new paths and languages.

FRIDAY 25 JULY

5:30pm

PIANO PLAYERS (USA)

“Piano Players’ is a re-examination of the raw material used to make the much-lauded documentary, “Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together,” released in 1982. In 2022 Polly Waring, the widow of the original director Stevenson Palfi, commissioned Producer/Editor Robert F. Landau to make a new film from Mr. Palfi’s original footage. In addition, they gave Mr. Landau access to a three hour “lost” interview the filmmaker did with Professor Longhair as well as multiple musical performances by legendary singer/songwriter Allen Toussaint. Those assets, as well as a plethora of historical footage and photographs, not available to Mr. Palfi at the time, were employed to create a feature length film now entitled “Piano Players.”

7:30pm

FLEETWOOD PEAKS (UK)

The songs of Fleetwood Mac are reinterpreted through the enigmatic world of Twin Peaks to create something familiar yet uncanny. Synchronised to hypnotic, refracted, mirrored and echoing images, this visual album creates a harmonic meeting point for these two disparate sources.

Directly after

STORY OF ONE MAN (Spain)

The story of Barcelona's Bluesman and unique instrument creator.

Sergi Estella is a bluesman from Rubí, Barcelona.

A multi-disciplined artist passionate about roots music, especially the one coming from Mississippi delta, he has been influenced by the classics, from the rural and dusty blues to the modern electric blues. Sergi creates his own guitars from the most singular and strange things, such as brooms or empty beer cans. With his feet he plays the drums, and he creates his very own particular and exclusive sound as One Man Band.

9:30pm

LGBTQ double feature :

SIRENS OF DIEPPE (France)

In Dieppe, a small port town on the Normandy coast facing Brighton, a new cabaret appeared. Every week end Diva Beluga and her queens put on a popular drag show. Yet the place struggles every day to survive, thanks to the energy, the perseverance and the unshakeable faith of its team. Behind the party and the glitter, struggles and resistances are rumbling. Welcome to «The Bearded Siren».

Directly after

THE ROAD HOME (USA)

For a young Kentucky farm boy, love at first sight came in the form of a violin. A quarter century later, that passion remains steadfast for San Francisco-based fiddler Brandon Godman, helping him weather storms of injustice and adversity. Now, he’s reconnecting with his roots while embracing his musical voice through the creation of a new original album.

SATURDAY 26 JULY

1:00pm

A LIFE IN RHYTHM: The Ray Conniff Story (USA)

This documentary chronicles the life and legacy of Ray Conniff. From his beginnings as a trombonist/arranger during the heyday of swing working with Bunny Berigan, Bob Crosby and Artie Shaw to his acclaim as the leader of his own orchestra and chorus topping the charts in the United States and Latin America, Grammy-winner Ray Conniff is among the few musicians to have had a successful career that spanned 65 years. He recorded over 100 studio albums, selling over 70 million copies, and created the “Ray Conniff Sound” by being the first to use voices to double as instruments on his recordings. This film shows the ups and downs of a life dedicated to music, an artist striving for perfection, a savvy businessman, and a fearless innovator. With interviews from collaborators, historians, family, and current artists, we see why Conniff was truly an international music legend.

2:15pm

OUR GREAT DEVOURER (South Africa)

Visual album by local electronic / pop artist Shaun Orlando Berry.

A man depressed, on the verge of suicide, secretly asks for a second chance. His creator, feeling guilty for letting him down, grants it.

3:30pm

COWGIRLS AND SYNTHESIZERS (USA)

UK hit-maker and Eurovison songwriter Ricardo Autobahn follows the synthesizer pop duo Hyperbubble, described by Alternative Press as "the sonic equivalent of a truckload of Twizzlers", as they drive to Nashville to record a country and western album using only synthesizers, drum machines, and theremin.

Along the way, Hyperbubble members Jess and Jeff meet cartoon cult heroes Samantha Newark of Jem and the Holograms and Manda Rin of Bis/Powerpuff Girls fame, Theremin diva Dorit Chrysler, music fashion guru Manuel Cuevas, cosmic cowboy Garett T Capps, air-drumming filmmaker Ari Gold, Do-It-Yourself vinyl pioneers Shoes, synth-pop sweeties Freezepop, Lederhosen Lucil, Helen Love, and Our Daughters Wedding, and somehow end up winners in Dolly Parton's Netflix song contest.

5:00pm

Double feature with links to Iceland :

GREENSKY BLUEGRASS - Find Ourselves Lost  (Austria)

This intimate black-and-white documentary follows US band Greensky Bluegrass as they record an album in Iceland. Through a biographical lens, the film reveals the band's struggles with insecurities and creative challenges, juxtaposed with Iceland’s natural elements. A debut production by René Huemer, it inspires viewers to embrace their own fears and failures as part of the creative journey.

Directly after

M'ANAM: Between Two Worlds (Iceland)

M’ANAM are a vocal group that combine the two ancient cultures of Ireland and Iceland, singing songs inspired by the natural landscapes around them. The men of M’ANAM have created a sound-world for our modern times using the words of those long dead including the Viking eulogy “Deyr Fé” and the 9th century Irish author of “Bitter Wind”. This film explores the creative soul of this unique group with interviews from the key people involved in their creation. The film combines the evocative landscapes of Ireland and Iceland with live performances filmed in Dublin and Reykjavík.

7:30pm

SOUND ON SCREEN Short Film Collection Vol. 1

Includes:

KALAMAZOO GALS (USA)

When music journalist John Thomas discovers a mysterious archival photo, the ensuing odyssey reveals a shameful chapter in the history of the iconic Gibson guitar company. During World War II, with instrument production supposedly suspended, an extraordinary group of women toiled secretly behind the scenes, creating the “Banner Gibsons” that are cherished to this day by musicians and collectors the world over. From Nashville to Kalamazoo, this short documentary explores the hidden legacy of these craftswomen, and the trials of female artists and others in the industry who struggle not to be erased from the American Story. Featuring Tommy Emmanuel, Jennifer Nettles, Kamara Thomas and others.

INTO THE GAMBA-VERSE (USA)

In 2024, Lumedia Musicworks and Bruce Wood Dance Dallas joined forces to create "Into the Gamba-Verse", a visually captivating short film that merges the timeless resonance of early music with the dynamic artistry of modern dance

Through its innovative collaboration and cutting-edge production, "Into the Gamba-Verse" reimagines classical music’s relevance, offering audiences a bold and engaging exploration of Baroque music in a contemporary artistic context.

KATHARINA KLEMENT - NOTES, SOUNDS and FILM (Austria)

Vienna-based composer, pianist, and improviser Katharina Klement works on the expansion of the concept of music. She performs with piano and extended playing techniques on stages from Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus to New York City. "Katharina Klement – Notes, Sound, and Film" takes us behind the scenes and gives an insight into the genesis environment and the creative process of her work. With Mersolis Schöne, the artist talks about the process of creating the joint film work "Love – A Memory Sculpture". Based on observations, interviews, performative elements, and readings, the film resonates with her in an experimental way as it traces the artists working process.

BEACH-O (USA)

Beach-O is a rockin’ retro romp. This 16mm short film is an homage to the campy beach movies of the 1960s, set within a late 90s time capsule. Shot in 1998 and completed in 2025, the music-driven film features performances by DC and Boston indie rock legends The Make Up, Victory At Sea, and The Wicked Farleys. The film follows Greg and Lesley as they enjoy a summer’s day at the beach. After they befriend a group of locals, their day takes an unexpected turn when everyone gets hungry… Beach-O encourages viewers to rethink the undead.

ROCK STAR (USA)

Through his words and guitar, a young musician tells his unconventional story.

BiIPPY THE LITTLE ROBOT (USA)

In a post-apocalyptic world, when humans are long gone, a little robot finds a way to spread hope through his love of music. Animation.

SOUNDS LIKE FAME (Canada)

Based on autobiographical experiences from the film’s director Robert D. Morais, this film is a tribute to the artists —such as himself— that work behind the scene, in the shadows.

In a 12 hour day compressed in 11 minutes, SOUNDS LIKE FAME is an allegory about an electric outlet working on a musical show, which transports the audience in a formidable soundscape experience rarely heard before.

THE NEXT BELLS (USA)

In this musical, Lily is waiting for an important phone call and navigates life assuming the worst, leading her down a dance-filled, spiraling path of self-discovery.

9:30pm

THE MOST AUSTRALIAN BAND EVER! (Australia)

Three migrant school kids (Korean, Sri Lankan and Croatian) form a band in the '80s. They fight racism and the music industry to take their Aussie punk music to the world. The Hard-Ons become the biggest independent Australian band of their time and blaze a trail overseas for other bands to follow.

"Loved it! Highly recommended." - Murray Cook (The Red Wiggle).

SUNDAY 27 JULY

1:00pm

DAVID KEENAN - Words on Canvas (Ireland)

Four years after the breakthrough success of his debut album Beginner's Guide to Bravery, Dundalk songwriter, musician, and composer, David Keenan, is at a crossroads. After touring extensively and building a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading live performers, he returns to the studio to record new music. “Anger is easy to portray, it’s the hurt that’s hard”, he says, as we explore David's wordsmithing over the course of 500 days. This is a portrait of one artist as a young man, which in turn is a portrait of every musical artist as they endeavour to stand out in a world of “algorithm and blues”, and remain authentically and powerfully true to themselves.

2:15pm

STUDIO SESSIONS (USA)

A behind the scenes look at the process of creating music in the studio and a deep look at the bond between producer and artist.

3:30pm

YOPOUGON - Way Back Home (Switzerland)

When the excavator arrives and tears down his recording studio in Zurich, Swiss hit producer Dodo decides to pack his equipment into a shipping container and explore the world.

Four years later, the musician chugs down the Rhine from Basel to Rotterdam on a container ship, reaching South Africa, Ghana, and finally the Ivory Coast. On the journey, he seeks to unearth new music, pen hit songs, and revisit the memories etched in the lanes of Yopougon, where he spent his early childhood. Memories of pineapple feasts on Vridi beach, a mango tree standing tall in a garden called home and an abrupt return to Switzerland because of a dying father.

Dodo’s imagined journey «back to the roots» turns out differently than planned. Dreams implode, memories collide with the realities of the present, the container gets lost at sea, and the project threatens to shatter due to disagreements. Big J, Dodo’s companion and co-producer, asks himself more than once: what the heck are we doing here - and why?

5:00pm

BANKIE BANX: King of the Dune (USA)

“I met Bob Marley a couple of times. Bankie's kind of the Eastern Caribbean version of that to me.” – Jimmy Buffett

This documentary paints a colorful portrait of the iconoclastic Anguillian musician and provocateur whose unlikely career spans more than five decades and continues to this day. “You can identify his life in his music,” says Bankie’s brother Val, and Bankie’s extensive catalog indeed charts his restless journey with poetic self-awareness.

After touring internationally for several years, Bankie and “Sheriff Bob” Saidenberg launched the Moonsplash Music Festival in 1990, and a few years later (after getting “Busted in Barbados”) he officially opened the Dune Preserve, a fantastical beach bar crafted from driftwood and repurposed materials, as a permanent home for Moonsplash and year-round music venue.

7:30pm

SOUND ON SCREEN Short Film Collection Vol. 2

Includes:

JOHNNY OSBOURNE - Sounds & Pressure (Canada)

Before gaining international recognition as the “Dancehall Godfather,” legendary singer Johnny Osbourne was at the forefront of a revolution that transformed Toronto into one of the most influential reggae communities in the world.

ALIVE (Russia)

On New Year's Eve, along with the traditional guests and family members, there are some very strange people in the companies celebrating the coming of midnight. They are just as excited about the holiday as the rest of us, only they are completely different.

LET ME OUT (Norway)

We follow Thea into the world of Black Metal. Through her music she finds refuge from the demands of everyday life, and attempts to awaken the beast…

SIGN ACTION SPACE (Austria)

"Sign Action Space" is a short experimental film about the musical actions of the hands of the Vienna Improvisers Orchestra. Led by Michael Fischer, who conducts the orchestra on an ad hoc basis using a vocabulary of hand signs, the orchestra creates unique compositions in the moment. The film explores the relationship between musical hand movements, sound, and space, deconstructing and condensing the orchestral communication process in graphic close-ups that focus on the hands of the conductor and the musicians. Using 14 cameras and various layering, animation, and stylization methods, the film aims to delve into the fascinating world of the ephemeral communication process that results in the creation of momentary compositions.

ANTE MERIDIEM (USA)

This meditative short film, “Ante Meridiem”, explores the passage of time through nature from a single viewpoint over a compressed six-month period, presented through a sequence of images accompanied by original music that expresses the grandeur of nature as poetic form.

The film is divided into six separate chapters, each representing the months from March through August. The musical score changes to reflect the themes and qualities associated with the imagery and mood of each month, while maintaining unity in the overall sense of the film.

CUT ME SUMMA DAT NOISE (USA)

This film celebrates the rhythms of everyday life through the eyes of a neighborhood matriarch who sets the tone for a new day with the beat of her own heart. As the neighborhood comes to life, people of all ages unite in a joyous cacophony of sound that illuminates the connections between them as members of a vibrant and diverse community in rhythm.

TERMINATRYX - Venus In Furs (South Africa)

Provocative cover version of The Velvet Underground's classic song Venus In Furs by Cape Town's Terminatryx

THIEF OF THE MOON (USA)

A version of the ancient Greek myth of Selene, the goddess of the moon, and her human lover Endymion. An original story that goes beyond mythology, the choreographers evoke the effervescent and universal relationships of lovers and familial relationships as dance establishes a dialogue between fashion and movement.

9:30pm  

A HEART IS ALWAYS RED (Sweden)

This film is about the band Imperiet (The Empire), but it is also a film about the eighties, political commitment, and the personal prize for reaching the top as Sweden's biggest band. The eighties were when the music industry was a goldmine, but those who created the music were usually not the ones who made money. Even in this case, most of the money disappeared elsewhere, so the film also depicts how the music industry treats its creators.