International Film Music Competition 2025 ｜ 2 October ｜ Tonhalle Zurich
In early October, the Tonhalle Zurich will host a celebration of film music.
What promises to be an exceptional evening of performances will highlight up-and-coming film music composers from all over the globe, honour the most prominent film music creators of our time and pay tribute to established greats from the Swiss film music world.
If a film were a soup, you could say that the music is the seasoning that lifts it to another level. If you’re not convinced, just think of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (music by Howard Shore) or the Pirates of the Caribbean films (music by Hans Zimmer) – it’s hard to imagine them without their iconic soundtracks.
Yet film composers often lead a shadowy existence compared to well-known actors or directors – and that is exactly what Zurich Film Festival the Forum Filmmusik, the Tonhalle Zürich, the Europäische FilmPhilharmonieand FONDATION SUISA want to change.
International Film Music Competition
The highlight of the evening will be the International Film Music Competition, which is taking place as part of the film festival for the 13th time. For this competition, 170 composers from 36 different countries are taking on the challenge of setting the short film WILD LOVE to music. Three finalists – Antonio Di Iorio (USA/Italy), Mikal Grigorowitsch (Germany) and Gary Hirche (Germany) – will have their compositions premiered on 2 October 2025 by the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich under the baton of Frank Strobel.
On the same evening, the jury will award the winning composition the “Golden Eye” for the best international film music in 2025, which comes with 10,000 Swiss francs in prize money.
Lifetime Achievement Award for Hildur Guðnadóttir
The jury is chaired by the Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, whose soundtrack for Joker in 2024 won an Oscar and a Grammy.
On 2 October, she will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Zurich Film Festival. The Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich will also play selected works from her repertoire – a rare opportunity to enjoy her impressive music in a symphonic setting.
«Spotlight on Swiss film music ｜ Balz Bachmann
Also on the jury is Balz Bachmann, one of the most renowned and internationally sought-after Swiss film music composers. The Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich will perform a specially arranged suite featuring highlights of his film music from recent years.
In 2024, Bachmann became one of only 12 composers from around the world to be selected for the prestigious “Spot the Composer” programme at the Cannes Film Festival. His works have won numerous awards – including a Swiss Film Award – and have been screened internationally.
The audience will enjoy excerpts from films including: Die schwarzen Brüder (The Black Brothers), Stille Reserven (Hidden Reserves), Der Spatz im Kamin (The Sparrow in the Chimney), Yalom’s Cure and Las Toreras.
The “Spotlight on Swiss film music” feature is financed by FONDATION SUISA.
FONDATION SUISA Spotlight Acts from recent years
2024 ｜ Nicolas Rabaeus
Multi-award-winning Swiss film composer and musician, known for his stylistic versatility in film, television and theatre.
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2023 ｜ Mark Baechle
Swiss composer and arranger specialising in orchestral film music; also does work for theatre, audio productions and advertising.
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2022 ｜ Marcel Vaid
Swiss-German composer and musician born in 1967, who has set over 50 feature films and documentaries to music. Known for combining acoustic instruments with electronic elements. Four-time winner of the Swiss Film Award and lecturer at the Zurich University of the Arts.
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2021 ｜ Diego Baldenweg
One of the three Baldenweg siblings (along with Nora and Lionel), who produce work for film and TV. They combine orchestral and modern soundscapes and have won multiple international awards.
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2019 ｜ Adrian Frutiger
(Swiss composer and producer born in 1971, who has create music for productions such as “Sennentuntschi” and “Davos 1917”.
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2018 ｜ Christine Aufderhaar
Swiss composer for cinema, TV and concerts, based in Berlin. Winner of multiple awards, including “European Composer 2008 for Switzerland”.
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2017 ｜ Fabian Römer
Born in 1973, Römer is a Swiss film composer for cinema and TV productions such as “Die Tür” and “Tannbach” and a winner of several international awards.
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2016 ｜ Niki Reiser
Born in 1958 and one of the most well-known Swiss film composers. He has worked with Dani Levy and Rolf Lyssy, amongst others, and received the Swiss Film Award on multiple occasions.
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2015 ｜ Martin Tillman
Swiss cellist and composer born in 1964, a close collaborator of Hans Zimmer on Hollywood productions such as “The Dark Knight” and “Pirates of the Caribbean”.
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2014 ｜ Marcel Barsotti
Swiss film composer born in 1963, creator of over 100 soundtracks for cinema and TV, including “Deutschland. Ein Sommermärchen“ and “Pope Joan”.
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