Composer and post-production audio engineer Rafe Axne, has contributed to music and sound on several films, screened at the San Francisco International Film Festival and the San Quentin Film Festival. Additionally, Rafe has scored and sound designed 3x Caldecott Medal recipient David Wiesner’s wordless picture book “Flotsam”.

Rafe’s work with post-production sound studio Outpost Studio SF, SFFILM’s Artist Development team, and documentary production company Interloper Films has given him extensive knowledge of the pre-, peri-, and post-production film realm. He enjoys assisting filmmakers on how to effectively communicate, collaborate, and harmonize with composers and post-production audio crew, and loves seeing a finished product come to life.

From a young age, Rafe has been surrounded by music. When he was five years old, he began studying piano at the Des Moines Symphony Academy and attending concerts at the local symphony. Music of all types blasted through his bedroom wall from his parents’ office, and after listening to Alexandre Desplat’s scores to Wes Anderson’s films, Rafe discovered he wanted to write music for media. He fell in love with all creative aspects of film, animation, and art in general.

Born in Wisconsin and raised in Iowa, Rafe spent his time exploring cornfields, forests, and lakes with his dog Addie. He feels art and the natural world go hand in hand, and enjoys creating a sense of comfort in his music that reminds him of the nostalgia of past memories.

Rafe earned his Bachelor of Music Degree for Technology and Applied Composition, with a film focus, at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in May, 2026.