EP16: Milena Fessmann (Cinesong/Sugartown) - The Ever-Changing Mood Of Music Meeting Film Artwork

The Europe In Synch Podcast

The Europe In Synch Podcast aims to be a series of interesting and in-depth conversations with a diverse range of creative industry professionals from the business of music, games, tv, film, and commercials. Our monthly episodes try to capture as much information, advice, feedback, and best practices from our guests as possible, so that listeners can learn as they listen and take away valuable insights and memorable experiences. Europe In Synch is created, managed, promoted, and driven by several European organizations and companies and is truly a cross-border collaboration. The goals are to bring together young professionals from the music sector with decision-makers from film and advertising to provide a real-life, hands-on, learning experience, as well as promoting European music in the complex field of synchronization. This is achieved through various forms of communication, knowledge-building and networking via focused mentoring and peer training sessions.

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The Europe In Synch Podcast

EP16: Milena Fessmann (Cinesong/Sugartown) - The Ever-Changing Mood Of Music Meeting Film

July 16, 2025 • Europe In Synch • Season 1 • Episode 16

Welcome to episode sixteen of the Europe In Synch podcast.

This time we are talking with Milena Fessmann, founder of Cinesong and Sugar Town Films, based in Berlin.

With over two decades collaborating with legendary director Wim Wenders, Milena shares revealing stories from the soundtrack creation for "Perfect Days" (2023), including successfully securing Rolling Stones tracks while facing an unexpected roadblock with Prince's estate. "Directors have a tendency to believe in miracles," she notes, explaining how she balances filmmaker dreams with industry realities.

Beyond music supervision, Milena's work as a documentary film producer (including "The Potential of Noise" about influential producer Connie Plank), radio DJ, and World Soundtrack Academy board member gives her an unparalleled perspective on the intersection of film and music.

As streaming platforms transform production landscapes and AI-generated music emerges on the immediate horizon, Milena remains convinced that authentic artist connections will endure. Her career exemplifies how relationship-building, copyright expertise, and musical instinct combine to create memorable cinematic moments.

We recorded this conversation in the kitchen of the Cinesong/Sugartown office in Berlin on 26.08.2024.

We hope you enjoy the episode and thank you for listening!

Find out more about our guest:

Homepage: Cinesong

Homepage: Sugar Town Film Productions

Music Supervision: Perfect Days - official trailer

Film Documentary: The Potential Of Noise - official trailer

If you have comments about this episode - or have questions, ideas, requests, recommendations, or general feedback, feel free to contact us at feedback@europeinsynch.net.

Europe In Synch is created, managed, promoted, and driven by several European organizations and companies and is a truly cross-border collaboration.
The goals are to bring together professionals from the music sector with decision-makers from film & advertising to provide a real-life, hands-on, learning experience, and to promote European music in the complex field of synchronization, through communication, knowledge-building and networking via focused mentoring and peer training sessions.

Follow Europe In Synch:

Home: https://europeinsynch.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeinSynch
Twitter: https://twitter.com/europeinsynch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeinsynch
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/europeinsynch

Intro/Outro music is an instrumental edit of "Gimme" by Daffodils.
They're on Soundcloud.

Europe In Synch is co-funded by the European Union.

This is a SuperSwell production for Europe In Synch...

People on this episode

Paul Cheetham

Host