Caleb Moore Freundlich
Composer / Songwriter / ProducerMUSIC
Cal Freundlich is a composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from New York City. His music is recognized for its unique combination of acoustic, organic, and electronic instruments. Cal’s background as a guitar player, playing in rock, alternative, and jazz bands growing up, combined with his training in composition for film has allowed him to create an individual sound and style.
Cal’s diverse capabilities has allowed him to write music for a wide variety of projects, from Documentary and Narrative films, to animations, video games, and even web-comics. His latest work includes the 2023 feature documentary "Eat Bitter," which just had it's world premiere at CPH: DOX, the 2022 documentary film “Found” (dir. Shuhao Tse), winner of the Special Jury Prize and Best Documentary 2022 Yugo BAFTA Student Awards and Gold Medal Winner at the Student Academy Awards, the 2021 documentary film “Eagles Rest in Liangshan” (dir. by Bohao Liu), winner of the Silver Medal in the 2021 Student Academy Awards Best Documentary category, and the 2021 short film, “Intersection” (dir. by Bart Freundlich), which premiered at the 2021 TriBeCa Film Festival. Cal is also the lead composer and Music Director for Laurel Pursuit Studios, for which he has written original soundtracks for multiple published Web-Comics.
Cal is guided by his enthusiasm for storytelling and media and his passion for film scoring comes from the freedom of exploration and expression it provides. He has earned a Master’s in Music from NYU Steinhardt, and in May of 2022 he was awarded the prestigious Elmer Bernstein Award for Outstanding Collabroation and Engagement from the NYU Steinhardt Screen Scoring department. As a songwriter and producer, he frequently works in Rock, Pop, and R&B genres and is currently working on his own EP. Outside of music, Cal loves watching movies, TV shows, and sports, particularly basketball, which he played at the Division I level for Davidson College from 2016-2020.
Cal’s diverse capabilities has allowed him to write music for a wide variety of projects, from Documentary and Narrative films, to animations, video games, and even web-comics. His latest work includes the 2023 feature documentary "Eat Bitter," which just had it's world premiere at CPH: DOX, the 2022 documentary film “Found” (dir. Shuhao Tse), winner of the Special Jury Prize and Best Documentary 2022 Yugo BAFTA Student Awards and Gold Medal Winner at the Student Academy Awards, the 2021 documentary film “Eagles Rest in Liangshan” (dir. by Bohao Liu), winner of the Silver Medal in the 2021 Student Academy Awards Best Documentary category, and the 2021 short film, “Intersection” (dir. by Bart Freundlich), which premiered at the 2021 TriBeCa Film Festival. Cal is also the lead composer and Music Director for Laurel Pursuit Studios, for which he has written original soundtracks for multiple published Web-Comics.
Cal is guided by his enthusiasm for storytelling and media and his passion for film scoring comes from the freedom of exploration and expression it provides. He has earned a Master’s in Music from NYU Steinhardt, and in May of 2022 he was awarded the prestigious Elmer Bernstein Award for Outstanding Collabroation and Engagement from the NYU Steinhardt Screen Scoring department. As a songwriter and producer, he frequently works in Rock, Pop, and R&B genres and is currently working on his own EP. Outside of music, Cal loves watching movies, TV shows, and sports, particularly basketball, which he played at the Division I level for Davidson College from 2016-2020.
Music Reel
Selection from Various Projects
Documentaries
Eat Bitter
A Documentary Film by Ningyi Sun and Pascale Appora-Gnekindy
Music by Cal Freundlich
Against the backdrop of civil war in the Central African Republic, a Chinese construction manager and local African laborer work on opposite ends of the spectrum to construct a sparkling new bank. As deadlines loom, unexpected twists threaten their jobs, relationships, and plans for a better life. 2023 World Premiere at CPH: DOX and official selection of Vision Du Réel and Hot Docs. Read more on IMDB
Tang’s son was stolen when the child was 3. 12 years later, the police found him, but that joy was trapped in a new reality. Special Jury Prize and Best Documentary winner at the 2022 BAFTA Student Awards and Gold Medal Winner at the Student Academy Awards
Basketball is so popular with the Yi minority in Liangshan, that the center of town is not a park but a basketball court. Inspired by the Kobe Bryant Mamba mentality, a young Yi man returns to his city to coach the kids. Silver Medal winner at the Student Academy Awards.
In the nation’s fruit basket, Latinx community organizers and farm workers are raising their voice and demanding equal representation at the ballot box. Official Selection of the DOC NYC Film Festival. Stream on Vimeo or watch the trailer on YouTube.
Narrative Projects
Intersection (With/In Vol I)
A Short Film by Bart Freundlich
Produced by Maven Screen Media
Music by Cal Freundlich
With/In Vol I is a collection of films that unites an excellent roster of directors and actors to detail COVID’s many domestic challenges in a cinematic time capsule of sorts. Intersection, starring Julianne Moore, Talia Balsam, and Don Cheadle, tackles the the complexity of family and race in the modern-day pandemic. Official Selection of the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. Now available for streaming on Amazon and iTunes.
The Lion and The Firebird
A Short Film by Daniel Byers
Music by Cal Freundlich
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A Short Film by Daniel Byers
Music by Cal Freundlich
RISING FIRE, an early human, flees with her small daughter KONA pursued by a violent warband -- the LION MEN. When she is inadvertently saved by one of the last NEANDERTHALS, the two struggle to communicate and find trust. But when the Lion Men return, they become the key to one another's survival - and the future of humanity. Official Selection of the 2022 Screamfest Horror Film Festival. Read more on IMDB
Forty Winks
A Feature Film by Will Parker
Music by Cal Freundlich
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A Feature Film by Will Parker
Music by Cal Freundlich
Forty Winks is an English language Drama/Dark Comedy/Thriller feature film directed by Will Parker. A struggling Hypnotist (Justin Marcel McManus) in New York City is blackmailed into being the world's first hypnotist hit man after a mysterious woman (Susan Sarandon) finds out his degree is fake. Premiered June 6th at the Robin Williams Center, read more on IMDB