The Independent Critics in Film Music panel took place on May 17, 2017, during the 10th Krakow Film Music Festival.

Hosted by Ray Benett, the session brought together prominent international film music critics—Eleni Mitsiaki, Jonathan Broxton, Gorka Oteiza and Peter F. Ebbinghaus to unpack their distinct profession on process, challenges, realities, inner workings, and evolution of professional film score critique.

The session offered a rare look behind the scenes of soundtrack journalism, exploring the delicate balance between a score’s role in supporting a movie’s story and its value as a standalone album. Speakers shared intriguing personal anecdotes and unique insights gained from years of working alongside composers and studio executives. Ultimately, the discussion provided aspiring writers, composers, and festival attendees with a candid, unfiltered perspective on how film music is truly evaluated and perceived away from corporate public relations campaigns.