BMI and White Bear Present “Soundtracking Cinema” Panel at Sundance 2026

BMI was excited to partner with White Bear PR, last week, to present Soundtracking Cinema: The Music of Independent Film at the Sundance Film Festival 2026. Featuring composers Nathan Halpern, Mateo Nossa, Andrew Orkin, Miles Ross, and Joseph Shirley, the panel was moderated by White Bear’s Chandler Poling and was introduced by BMI’s VP of Creative, Film, TV & Visual Media, Tracy McKnight.

The panel enjoyed a spirited and illuminating discussion. Held in the Great Room of the Music Lodge right in the heart of Park City, the Soundtracking Cinema panel explored how music functions as a narrative tool in independent cinema, examining the unique challenges and creative freedoms of scoring indie films, including limited resources, experimental approaches, and close composer-director collaboration.

Following the panel, McKnight hosted the BMI Sundance Reception in the Music Lodge’s Club Room which was attended by a wide host of music creators and industry figures like producer and supervisor Matt Sullivan, music supervisor Aminé Ramer, producer Ben Arnon, talent agent Jake Korzarec, actress and writer Erica Alexander, pianist Frederick Sanders, producer Alyse Shorland, sound designer and songwriters Rachel Ruggles, songwriter Gracie Coates and composers like Will Bates, David Murillo R., Camilo Forero, Jared Bloom, Heather McIntosh, Allyson Newman, Chris Brocato, Mandy Hoffman, among others.

“We were thrilled to bring together an incredible community of creatives and celebrate our composers at the final Sundance Film Festival in Park City,” said McKnight.