12TH INTERNATIONAL FILM MUSIC COMPETITION 2024

The 12th International Film Music Competition will take place during the 20th Zurich Film Festival (3–13 October 2024) and is organised by Zurich Film Festival, Tonhalle-Gesellschaft Zürich AG, and Forum Filmmusik. Participants are invited to score the 8‑minute short film THE FLYING SAILOR by Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby for symphony orchestra.

An international expert jury will choose three compositions from all the submissions. These three compositions will be world-premiered by the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich under the baton of Frank Strobel during a film music concert in the Tonhalle Zurich on 5 October 2024. On the same evening, the winner will be chosen by the jury and awarded the Golden Eye “Best International Film Music 2024” endowed with CHF 10 000.

A download link for the film to be scored can be requested here (free of charge), and the terms and conditions of the competition are available here. From 18 March 2024 on, you can register at this website and upload the competition documents (score, MP3 files with mockup and click track). The registration fee is CHF 55 until 12 April 2024 and CHF 85 from 13 April 2024 on.

The submission deadline for the competition documents (score and audio files) is on 17 May 2024.

Composers of any age, nationality and place of residence who have scored or orchestrated no more than three films longer than 60 minutes (according to IMDb) are eligible to enter.

The festival's first week will stand out for its special focus on music as SoundTrack_Zurich joins the IFMC. In its fifth edition, STZ will take place from October 4 to October 6, with three intense days of panels, case studies, workshops, and networking activities that aim to enhance the work and presence of Swiss and European film composers on the international scene.

12TH INTERNATIONAL FILM MUSIC COMPETITION 2024

The Cinema in Concert gala at Tonhalle Zurich © Gaëtan Bally