Spotlight Swiss Film Music ｜ Film music concert as part of the Zurich Film Festival ZFF – Tonhalle Zurich
Every autumn, the Tonhalle Zurich turns its attention to film music. This exceptional concert evening showcases emerging film music composers from around the world, pays tribute to the greatest film music composers of our time and honours the big names in Swiss film music.
If a film were a soup, the music would be the salt. If you doubt this, think of the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings (music: Howard Shore) or the films Pirates of the Caribbean (music: Hans Zimmer), which would be unthinkable without their iconic soundtracks. Yet film composers often remain in the shadows compared to famous actors, actresses and directors – and that is precisely what the Zurich Film Festival, the Forum Filmmusik, the Tonhalle Zurich, the Europäische Film Philharmonie and the FONDATION SUISA want to change.
«Spotlight on Swiss Film Music»
Every year, FONDATION SUISA honours a Swiss film music composer as part of its ‘Spotlight on Swiss Film Music’ programme. Our aim is to offer talented composers a public platform to showcase their work, as well as to encourage, support and promote them. The goal is to raise their profile among the public and the film industry and to encourage them in their careers.
2025 ｜ Balz Bachmann
In 2025, this ‘Spotlight’ was awarded to Balz Bachmann, one of Switzerland’s most renowned and internationally sought-after film composers. The Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra presented a specially arranged suite featuring highlights from his film music of recent years.
In 2024, Bachmann was selected from among only twelve composers worldwide to participate in the prestigious ‘Spot the Composer’ promotion programme at the Cannes Film Festival. His works have received numerous awards, including the Swiss Film Award, and have been performed internationally.
Excerpts from the following films were shown: Les Frères noirs, Stille Reserven (Réserves occultes), Le Moineau dans la cheminée, Irvin Yalom, la thérapie du bonheur, Las Toreras.
The ‘Spotlight on Swiss Film Music’ feature is financed by the 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.
Read more
2023 ｜ Mark Baechle
Swiss composer and arranger specialising in orchestral film music; also does work for theatre, audio productions and advertising.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
2019 ｜ Adrian Frutiger
(Swiss composer and producer born in 1971, who has create music for productions such as “Sennentuntschi” and “Davos 1917”.
Read more
2018 ｜ Christine Aufderhaar
Swiss composer for cinema, TV and concerts, based in Berlin. Winner of multiple awards, including “European Composer 2008 for Switzerland”.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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”.
Read more
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”.
Read more