The 19th edition of Sensoria, the UK’s festival of film, music and digital, will take place…
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Sensoria 2026 Open Call for Submissions
The 19th edition of Sensoria, the UK’s festival of film, music and digital, will take place in Sheffield from 22 – 25 October 2026.
Weโre open to all suggestions but a key theme this year is ‘Plantasia’ which centres around biodiversity and is partly inspired by the 50th anniversary of Mother Earthโs Plantasia, the cult Moog synth album.
FILMS – Sensoria is looking to present music documentaries, music-related biopics, fiction features, or short films with innovative soundtracks or scores and truly exceptional music videos. Films should have been completed after 2024.
MUSIC (and/or VISUAL ARTS) – Sensoria is looking for original new bands and artists, especially (but not exclusively) those whose performance includes innovative, exciting use of visuals. The festival also regularly presents live soundtracks/scores to films.
The deadline is midnight on 20 February 2026. There is no entry fee
Please note– we have a very small team and canโt guarantee that we will be back in touch once you have submitted. If you have not heard by 8 August 2026 then we will not have selected your submission (yes it really does take so long to finalise).
FILMS
Sensoria is looking to present music documentaries, music-related biopics, fiction features, or short films with innovative soundtracks or scores and truly exceptional music videos. Films should have been completed after 2024.
Sensoria is looking for original new bands and artists, especially (but not exclusively) those whose performance includes innovative, exciting use of visuals. The festival also regularly presents live soundtracks/scores to films.
* Please note, Sensoria is not a standard music festival – we programme events at site-specific venues and locations.
SensoriaPro is a unique, informal gathering of composers, filmmakers, music publishers, music supervisors, games developers and festivals all under one roof to discuss the latest innovations in music and the moving image. A must-attend event with a stunning lineup of speakers, direct access to international buyers and informal, friendly networking.
We’re excited to welcome Gazelle Twin to SensoriaPro for an in-conversation to kick off the day.
Gazelle Twin AKA Elizabeth Bernholz, is a British composer, producer and performer whose vocal-led experimental music encompasses frenzied electronic dance music to euphoric choral or orchestral landscapes, diversely influenced by classical, choral and sacred music, folk, Industrial, and electronic dance music. Her experimental approach to composition, music production and live performance is driven by a desire to counterpoint or subvert traditional models of performance art and music.
Hosted by Daniel Dylan Wray.
Presented in association with PRS for Music.
Music Socials Cost-effective music marketing and social media content
Liam Walton will discuss what goes into a social media strategy and give hints and tips on how musicians can cut through the noise and reach an audience, outlining some best practice and recent trends re. SM platforms.
Hosted by Grace Walker
Screenshot
Scoring Contest
This unique session that looks at what works, and what doesnโt, when working with film music synchronisation. This yearโs challenge (kindly provided by MUBI) is the trailer for โQueerโ (2024).
PRIZES
This year we have 3 Scoring Contest Categories โ Winner, Honorary Mention and a Student Prize.
Prizes available include:
MUBI Subscription (1 year) A day recording at McCall Sound studio with producer Ross Orton Sound On Sound Magazine print & digital Subscription (1 year) Professional Mastering courtesy of Dean Honer (Bowling Green Studio) Rich Tone Music gift vouchers SensoriaPro 2026 Delegate Pass
Hosted by Chi Chi Nwakodo (freelance music supervisor), who will be joined by judges Ben Porro (MUBI) and Will Quiney (Redfive).
Chi Chi NwakodoBen Porro
Music and Animation – The Twits
This session explores different elements of the creative team behind Roald Dahlโs ‘The Twits’, the forthcoming first animated feature by Netflix. Speakers include Oli Julian (Composer), Kevin Spruce (Head of Character Animation), and Fiona Cruickshank (Score Engineer and Mixer). Hosted by Gary Thomas (Animate Projects).
Micro Managing: Opportunities in Micro-Sync Licensing
A session looking at the opportunities for musicians around Micro-Sync licensing (including online and social media platforms from TikTok to YouTube). Weโll explore how to make the most of micro for your music.
Guest speakers include Chi Chi Nwakodo (independent music supervisor) and Calum Price (MassiveMusic/Songtradr). Joining them will be Dean Honer and Jarrod Gosling from I Monster whose song “Who Is She?โ became a viral trend on TikTok, leading to over 45 million streams and renewed recognition for the band.
Chi Chi NwakodoCalum PriceI Monster
Roundtable Talks
We will be hosting a series of Roundtables throughout the day covering a range of hot topics, including talent development, social media tips & funding information.
Composer Assistant & Mentoring Programme Roundtable: C.A.M.P is a mentoring programme launched in 2022 from the UK office of composer talent agency First Artists Management (FAM), creating opportunities for young people to break into the music for screen business, with a focus on underrepresented groups. Featuring Hamish Duff.
Funding Roundtable: Featuring Simon Benger (Relations Manager, Music – Arts Council England)
plus
ONE-TO-ONE SPEED MENTORING with industry experts – sponsored by DeWolfe Music.
Discounted delegate passes (saving 25%) are available for Affiliate members (PRS for Music, MU, BPI, PPL, AIF, IASPM, FAC, MMF, MPA, MPG, Ivors Academy, SYFN, SMIA, UKAN, PCAM, ISM, AIM, et al.) – simply select the ‘Affiliate’ ticket type when booking.
Tickets include a grab-bag lunch and closing drinks.
What past delegates have said:
โThe people that were presenting were amazing, funny and friendly and true inspirations.โ โIt’s put us in touch with some great young up-and-coming composers.โ
Saturday 25 October 2025 | FORGE Warehouse S4 7YS [SOLD OUT] Stephen โMalโ Mallinder and Chris Watson will mark 50…
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CABARET VOLTAIRE Exclusive Performance
Saturday 25 October 2025 | FORGE Warehouse S4 7YS
[SOLD OUT]
Stephen โMalโ Mallinder and Chris Watson will mark 50 years of CABARET VOLTAIRE live with an exclusive performance at FORGE Warehouse in Sheffield for SENSORIA Festival.
The event marks 50 years since the late Richard H Kirk, Stephen Mallinder and Chris Watson performed as Cabaret Voltaire at the Sheffield Students Union Refectory on 13 May 1975. The performance, which was greeted with violence by some factions in the audience, is the catalyst for the event in October to celebrate Cabaret Voltaire, one of Britainโs most influential and pioneering electronic bands.
In the current climate of social turmoil and political manipulation, the work of Cabaret Voltaire continues to be prescient and necessary. The sounds, words, images and films of the band resonate loudly, continuing to challenge the status quo.
Original members Chris Watson and Stephen Mallinder are committed to stay true to the enduring vision of Cabaret Voltaire. The performance will cover the arc of their formidable output – from early experiments, and the first Rough Trade / Factory releases, through the band’s Doublevision video label and into the work with renowned producers such as Adrian Sherwood and Marshall Jefferson.
Stephen Mallinder explains, โThe live set is built from scratch but faithful to the original tracks. Everything has been painstakingly reconstructed with the original technology and processes to build the tracks. But as with all Cabs live shows there is an element of the unpredictable, the new. Chance meets causality.โ
Chris Watson goes on to say, โIโm delighted and totally thrilled to make a contribution to the bandโs 50th anniversary. To share a stage once more with Mal and to honour Richardโs legacy will be a unique privilege, whilst remembering that in current times, such as then, the Dadaist interventions of Cabaret Voltaire remain essential.โ
Doors: 19:30
Soborgnost: 20:00
DJโs: Pipes and Sydney Minsky Sargeant: 20:30
CABARET VOLTAIRE: 21:15
DJโs: Pipes and Sydney Minsky Sargeant: 22:30 – 23:30
Please note this event may include flashing and fast moving lights which may not be suitable for those who are photo sensitive.
This event will be filmed and photographed. Please contact a member of staff if you have any concerns.
Please note that the venue has a cobbled stone floor on entry to the premises, the building has an industrial heritage.
Do get in touch if you feel you will need extra assistance.
The FORGE main room is fully wheelchair accessible and the venue also has an accessible toilet on site.
For parking the venue advice is for customers to park at Nunnery Square Park & Ride. However, in practice, itโs fine to park on Effingham Road and surrounding streets as long as cars are kept off the double yellow lines.
We’re very excited to be working with MUBI, who have provided the trailer for ‘Queer’ for…
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SensoriaPro Scoring Contest 2025
We’re very excited to be working with MUBI, who have provided the trailer for ‘Queer’ for this year’s challenge.
Queer (2024), starring Daniel Craig as a lovestruck sensualist, is director Luca Guadagninoโs audacious adaptation of William Burroughsโs infamous novel.
Assets and brief for the trailer are available now for all SensoriaPro registered delegates.
The deadline for submissions is Friday 12 September 2025.
Our guest panel will select a shortlist of submissions to discuss at SensoriaPro on Friday 3 Oct. The panel includes music supervisors Ian Neil and Chi Chi Nwakodo along with Michelle Cho (Senior Director of Video, MUBI).
PRIZES
This year we have 3 Scoring Contest Categories – Winner, Honorary Mention and a Student Prize.
Prizes available include:
MUBI Subscription (1 year)
A day recording at McCall Sound studio with producer Ross Orton
Sound On Sound Magazine print & digital Subscription (1 year)
Professional Mastering courtesy of Dean Honer (Bowling Green Studio)
May 13th 2025 marks 50 years since Cabaret Voltaireโs 1st gig, and as both Sensoria Festival and Gut…
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CV50 Music For The People
May 13th 2025 marks 50 years since Cabaret Voltaireโs 1st gig, and as both Sensoria Festival and Gut Level are named after Cabaret Voltaire tracks, we simply had to join forces for a party.
We’re delighted that aya will join us, March saw the release of her excellent hexed! LP, already receiving critical acclaim.
“Aya’s abrasive mix of techno, UK bass, noise and industrial becomes a surgical tool for explorations of trauma and identity.โ (The Quietus)
Weโve also asked the cityโs emerging talent to come along and MYNA and Alex.Aubyn will be bringing the sounds of Sheffield now.
In true Sensoria style, there will also be projections aplenty accompanying the sets, provided by Dan Conway.
We hope you can join us to toast Sheffieldโs electronic pioneers and welcome in Sensoriaโs 18th year with our first programme announcements.
Tickets are just ยฃ6, availaible on Eventbrite and Resident Advisor.
Please note Gut Level is a membership organisation – everyone who comes along will need to join. You can sign up here for just ยฃ2, you can sign up on the night but we’d recommend joining in advance.
The event takes place on the ground floor of the venue and Gut Level is accessible for wheelchair users in this space. More informationย here.
Please note this event may contain flashing lights, flickering/rapidly changing images. If you have a known sensitivity to such stimuli, please be mindful of the potential impact on your well-being.
MUSIC MARKETING TOOLKIT DAY FOR MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, BANDS, PRODUCERS FREE ENTRY (registration required) Wednesday 26 March…
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MUSIC MARKETING TOOLKIT DAY
MUSIC MARKETING TOOLKIT DAY FOR MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, BANDS, PRODUCERS
FREE ENTRY (registration required)
Wednesday 26 March 2025 / 2pm – 4pm
Sheffield Town Hall
This unique event brings together music marketing specialists to chat about all aspects of promoting your music. The day will provide a full marketing ‘toolkit’ from PR campaigns to marketing strategies and on-site photographer for band photo shoots.
Guests include: Phil Loutsis (AWAL), Liv Willars (One Beat PR), Tchiyiwe Chihana (African Voices Platform), Social Media Manager & Content Creator Liam Walton, Marketing Strategist Kate Hewett plus a photo opportunity with photographer Tracey Welch – artists can walk away with professional promo shots.
Tickets are free but need to be booked in advance.
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