This year the Braunschweig International Film Festival (BIFF) its 40th edition. To mark the anniversary, LA LA LAND IN CONCERT will be welcomed as the opening live-to-film concert on 9 November 2026 – a German premiere – whilst the film itself celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Advance ticket sales for the opening at the Volkswagen Halle started already.
Hardly any other modern original movie musical has inspired audiences, critics and award juries around the world as much as Lionsgate's LA LA LAND. The production has won six Oscars® and numerous international film awards - and counts with 14 Oscar® nominations is one of the three most nominated films in Oscar® history. The Braunschweig International Film Festival (BIFF) is showing LA LA LAND IN CONCERT on November 09 as the grand opening live-to-film concert in the Volkswagen Hall Brunswick.
"With LA LA LAND IN CONCERT we are not only bringing a special film to the big stage - but also very unusual music. The music by Justin Hurwitz for LA LA LAND, composed by Justin Hurwitz with lyrics by acclaimed songwriter Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, is regularly ranked by film and soundtrack fans as one of the most influential film scores of the 2010s," enthuses festival director Karina Gauerhof. The film music combines a classic Hollywood musical sound with jazz influences - the well-known song "City of Stars" won the Oscar® for Best Film Song Justin Hurwitz also won the Oscar® for Best Film Music. The music also received Golden Globe®, BAFTA® and Grammy Awards®. Thorsten Rinke, Chairman of the Filmfest Association, is also very pleased about this year's opening: "We have a lot planned for the anniversary year of the Filmfest. With the announcement of LA LA LAND IN CONCERT we are now giving a first preview of a brilliant 40th film festival year!"
LA LA LAND: A love story with multi-award-winning film music
The movie itself invites you to dream. Perhaps the movie fans still remember their best visit to the cinema ten years ago? It's quite possible that they looked dreamily up at the sky on their way home through the "City of Lions" and hummed "City of Stars".
Now the Oscar®-winning Lionsgate film LA LA LAND starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, written and directed by Damien Chazelle, can now be enjoyed in a breathtaking live-to-film concert experience to mark the 10th anniversary. The opening film concert will be accompanied by the Braunschweig State Orchestra under the direction of Finnish-American conductor Erik Ochsner. "The greatest film musical of the 21st century is a truly appropriate live-to-film event for the opening of the 40th Braunschweig International Film Festival," says Gauerhof.
LA LA LAND tells the captivating story of Sebastian, a promising pianist, and Mia, an aspiring actress, whose paths cross in Los Angeles. The film follows their love story as Sebastian and Mia try to advance their careers - accompanied by the wonderful score composed by Justin Hurwitz with lyrics by acclaimed songwriter Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The large Staatsorchester Braunschweig orchestra and jazz musicians perform the soundtrack to the film live. Verena Rast, orchestra director of the Staatsorchester Braunschweig, explains: "LA LA LAND is an extraordinary project for the Braunschweig State Orchestra. We play as a classical orchestra with a jazz band and thus combine the symphonic sound world with the expressive power of jazz. Both ensembles contribute their own sound culture. This is not just a live-to-film concert project, it will once again be a very special film music experience and great cinema!"
SBK: Opening live-to-film concert enriches the local cultural landscape
Such an extraordinary and elaborate production cannot be realized without the active support of key partners. The Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz (SBK) is not only a constant supporter of the Staatstheater Braunschweig, but also a long-standing partner of the Braunschweig International Film Festival (BIFF). Director Maria-Rosa Berghahn explains: "The Braunschweig Film Festival not only marks a milestone in the annual calendar of events, the opening film concert in particular, with its concept, enriches the local cultural landscape in an outstanding way. We are happy to support the opening as the main sponsor."
Also Jens-Uwe Freitag, Chairman of the Board of BS|ENERGY - which is making the opening film concert possible as co-main sponsor - is also looking forward to LA LA LAND IN CONCERT "Few films in recent years have emotionalized people as much as this film. It has not only electrified the film festival, but definitely us too."
In the state capital, Hanover, too, there is already a buzz of anticipation for LA LA LAND IN CONCERT. Falko Mohrs, Lower Saxony’s Minister for Culture and Science, explains: “The Braunschweig International Film Festival is not only regarded as Lower Saxony’s largest and oldest film festival – it has also undergone an impressive evolution over the years. A major highlight of this is this year’s opening live-to-film concert event. LA LA LAND IN CONCERT is building anticipation for the entire festival week.” The opening live-to-film concert is presented in cooperation with the Braunschweig State Orchestra and the Braunschweig State Theatre, supported by the Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz (SBK) and BS|ENERGY. Advance ticket sales for LA LA LAND IN CONCERT has already started on Friday (12 June 2026) at tickets.filmfest-braunschweig.de.
INFORMATION
Opening Live-to-Film concert: LA LA LAND IN CONCERT
When: Monday, 09.11.2026 I Start 7:30 pm / Entrance 6:30 pm
Where: Volkswagen Halle Braunschweig
Europaplatz 1
38100 Brunswick
LA LA LAND IN CONCERT
USA 2016 | 128 min | OVD (english with german subtitles) | Age Rating: 0
German premiere
Written and Directed by: Damien Chazelle
Music by: Justin Hurwitz
Lyrics by: Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Score by: Justin Hurwitz
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone u. a.
Conductor: Dirigat: Erik Ochsner
Ensemble: Staatsorchester Braunschweig
Produced by: Hurwitz Concerts
In Concert Music Preparation: JoAnn Kane Music Technical Services: Black Ink Presents
Show Programming: Mike Kasper