News

Music and Artificial Intelligence at STZ05

Challenges and opportunities: Artificial intelligence is the topic of the year. In its 5th edition, SoundTrack_Zurich features four panels focusing on AI that showcase useful applications, new developments and the regulatory framework.

Given that ethical and legal considerations are transversal to all AI discussions, STZ will host two panels on this topic in cooperation with SUISA:

The first panel will look at what musicians, composers and music rights holders can do about the use of their music in training AI applications. This panel will feature Chantal Bolzern (BKS Rechtsanwälte AG), Christian Bremer (Anchor Digital), Ulrike Heinrich (IGE) and Min Li Marti (Nationalrätin).

Aditionally, Chantal Bolzern (BKS Rechtsanwälte AG), Adi Frutiger (Stories AG) and Julian Parker (stability.ai) will delve into how AI can be used in creative processes and how music will be transformed as a result. 

The AI module will also include a case study on THE LAST SCREENWRITER, the first film written entirely by AI. Composer Martin Villiger and producer David Luisi will share insights about the particularities of the project and the work behind the scoring.

Composer Yevgeni Birkhoff will present a Hands-On Workshop on the use of AI tools for composing music.

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Friday, 04 October 2024

Publicis (Stadelhoferstrasse 25)

11:30 - 12:15
My music trains the AI. What can I do?
Chantal Bolzern, Christian Bremer, Ulrike Heinrich and Min Li Marti
Mod.: Marielène Froidevaux
In cooperation with SUISA

12:15 – 13:00
How can AI be used in the creative process and how will our music change?
Chantal Bolzern, Adi Frutiger and Julian Parker
Mod.: Martin Villiger
In cooperation with SUISA

NZZ Lounge (Falkenstrasse 11)

14:30 – 15:30
THE LAST SCREENWRITER
Case study
Martin Villiger and David Luisi
Mod.: Ksenia Ignatenko

Saturday, 05 October 2024

NZZ Lounge (Falkenstrasse 11)

16:00 – 17:00
AI Hands-On Workshop
Yevgeni Birkhoff

Matchmaking for Women in Media and Music

14:30-15:30 at Publicis

In cooperation with the Swiss Women's Audiovisual Network (SWAN), WIFT Germany and AWFC, SoundTrack_Zurich has selected a group of professionals from the film industry who would like to share knowledge and expand their network with women from the music industry. This Matchmaking aims to bring together female composers and sound designers with female directors, producers, music supervisors, artists and sync managers.

Each match gets a slot of 10 minutes. This year’s participants can meet film directors, producers and music supervisors: Anke Beining-Wellhausen, film producer at Contrast Film; Mara Deuschle, sync manager at APL Publishing; Milena Fessmann, music supervisor and producer at Cinesong and Sugar Town Filmproduktion; Danielle Giuliani, film producer at tellfilm; Simone Häberling, film producer and CEO of association filmkids.ch; Claudia Lehmann, producer and chief executive at Lehmann Sisters; Susanne Regina Meures, director and producer; Elina Möllenberg, senior music consultant at White Horse; Neeltje Mooring, music consultant and CEO at SOLID as a rock; Samira Sahli, producer and CEO at HUB MEDIA; Sarah Schiesser, producer at Amka Films Productions; Eveline Stalder, director and producer, project manager at Filmstaff; Ursula Ulmi, animation producer and director at Ulmi Film; Jelena Vujović, director and screenwriter and Kathleen Wallfisch, managing director and music supervisor at Music In Vision.

The Matchmaking will take place at Publicis (Stadhoferstrasse 25) from 14:30 to 15:30.

To apply, please fill in the form, before October the 1st of October, 2024 - 13:00 (CEST)

Sync panels

On Friday, 4^th of October, music supervisors Neeltje Mooring (SOLID as a rock) and Kathleen Wallfisch (Music in Vision) will talk with Marielène Froidevaux (Black Stellar Music) about their experience in music consulting.

Two case studies on the same day will focus on music sync. Martin Witz (director) and Ivan Madeo (producer) will give some insights about their work for the documentary IM SCHATTEN DER TRÄUME, the story of the film music duo Bruno Balz and Michael Jary. Likewise, Reto Caduff (director), Milena Fessmann (producer) and Sara Schär (protagonist) will present the keys of their collaborative work on the project EINFACH MACHEN - SHE-PUNKS VON 1977 BIS HEUTE.

Friday 04 October 2024 · NZZ Lounge (Falkenstrasse 11)

11:30 – 12:00
Case Study / Sync
IM SCHATTEN DER TRÄUME
Martin Witz (director) and Ivan Madeo (producer)
Mod.: Nis Bøgvad (music supervisor)

12:00 - 12:30
Case Study / Sync
EINFACH MACHEN - SHE-PUNKS VON 1977 BIS HEUTE
Reto Caduff (director), Milena Fessmann (producer) and Sara Schär (protagonist)
Mod.: Renato Horvath (music supervisor)

12:30 – 13:15
European Music Supervisors
Kathleen Wallfisch (Music in Vision) and Neeltje Mooring (SOLID as a rock)
Mod.: Marielène Froidevaux (Black Stellar Music)

SoundTrack_Zurich Programme is now online!

Featuring almost 70 speakers and 30 case studies, workshops, talks, networking activities, concerts, and film screenings, the 5th edition of SoundTrack_Zurich (STZ) offers a wide range of events aiming to empower the intersection between the music and the film, TV and video game industries.

As part of the ZFF Industry Programme, STZ05 will take place from October 4th to 6th and will include special events such as a panel with three-time Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore, known for his work on more than 80 films, including THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT trilogies, and Oscar-winning composer Steven Price (GRAVITY). Additionally, there will be case studies on successful films like SEPTEMBER BABIES and THE OUTRUN, four panels on music supervision, four events focussing on AI, two matchmaking events, a multimedia concert on the Polish Oscar contender THE PEASANTS, and much more.

Four high profile composers at SoundTrack_Zurich 05 HOWARD SHORE, STEVEN PRICE, DELPHINE MALAUSSÉNA and ŁUKASZ ROSTKOWSKI

How did the music for THE LORD OF THE RINGS become one of the most iconic in the film industry? How do composers build lasting relationships with directors over decades? And how can someone build a path to success? Three-time Oscar winner Howard Shore will share his insights about these and many other questions related to his successful career. The Canadian composer will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 20th edition of the Zurich Film Festival for his life's work. Shore will also preside over the jury of the 12th International Film Music Competition (IFMC).

The panel featuring Howard Shore is part of the Composing for Film section at SoundTrack_Zurich. The programme also includes a talk with Academy Award winner Steven Price (GRAVITY), French composer Delphine Malausséna (LAROY, EN PLEIN FEU), and Polish composer Łukasz Rostkowski (THE PEASANTS).

Saturday 05 October 2024 · Arena Cinemas (Kalanderplatz 8)

12:00 – 13:00
Howard Shore – ZFF Career Achievement Award
ZFF Masters
THE LORD OF THE RINGS · THE HOBBIT

Saturday 05 October 2024 · NZZ Lounge (Falkenstrasse 11)

10:30 - 11:30
Delphine Malausséna
LAROY · EN PLEIN FEU

14:30 – 15:30
Łukasz L.U.C. Rostkowski (composer) and Hugh Welchman (director)
Case study: THE PEASANTS

16:00 – 17:00
Steven Price
Case study: WILLIAM TELL

Zurich Film Festival Announces the Finalists of the International Film Music Competition

On October 5, 2024, the International Film Music Competition will take place for the 12th time in the Tonhalle Zurich as part of the Zurich Film Festival's 'Cinema in Concert' gala. The event is organised by the ZFF in collaboration with the Tonhalle-Gesellschaft Zürich AG and the Forum Filmmusik. All participants in the competition were given the task to compose a new and original piece of music for the short film THE FLYING SAILOR.

Three favourites have now been selected from the 192 anonymously submitted compositions. The composers of these favourites will be invited to the ZFF. Their creations will be rehearsed together with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich and premiered at the 'Cinema in Concert' gala under the musical direction of Frank Strobel and in the presence of the jury. This year's jury, led by Oscar winner Howard Shore, will select the best composition on that same evening. The winner of the IFMC will be presented with the Golden Eye for 'Best International Film Music 2024', worth CHF 10,000.

The Cinema in Concert gala at Tonhalle Zurich © Gaëtan Bally

Call for entries! 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.

Reality Check · Politics Video Games + Buy Out · AI and Music Rights

The licensing process for music on video games usually involves a full buy-out of all music rights - but how can SUISA members still work for games? And what is the European Union's and the Games Developers perspective on buy-out?

Marc du Moulin, secretary general of ECSA, Dr. Oliver Schmid, head of the legal department of SUISA, Alice Ruppert, president of the Swiss Game Developers Association SGDA, and Joel Schoch, games composer, will share their knowledge about Video Games and Buy Out. This panel will be hosted by Lysander Gelewski, head of SUISA, and Olav Lervik, composer.

Can AI-generated music be copyrighted? And how can I protect my existing music and, at the same time, get the best from AI? AI and Music Rights is the focus of the panel where Dr. Noah Martin, attorney at SUISA; Marc du Moulin, secretary general of ECSA, and the composers Michael Künstle and Matteo Pagamici will discuss about the use of AI and its legal nature. The panel is hosted by the composer Martin Skalsky.

Friday, 29th of September at Publicis (Stadelhoferstrasse 25)

11:30 - 12:15
Video Games + Buy Out

12:30 - 13:30
AI and Music Rights

Six high profile case studies at SoundTrack_Zurich 04 FOUDRE, EO (IO), LIVING, VISIONS, ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT AND EARLY BIRDS

Learn from the best - six Case Studies at SoundTrack_Zurich show very different paths to success: Oscar and BAFTA winner Volker Bertelmann (All Quiet on the Western Front), European Film Award winner Paweł Mykietyn (EO), Swiss Film Award winner Nicolaus Rabaeus (Foudre), French composer Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch (Living), composer Philippe Rombi (Visions) and Adi Frutiger (Early Birds) will be present at the conference to talk about their work in these projects, their careers and their oeuvre.

Case Studies

Friday 29 September 2023 · NZZ Lounge (Falkenstrasse 11)

12:30 - 13:30
Foudre
Composer Nicolas Rabaeus

14:30 - 15:30
EO (IO)
Composer Paweł Mykietyn

16:00 - 17:00
All Quiet on the Western Front
Composer Volker Bertelmann

Saturday 30 September 2023 · NZZ Lounge (Falkenstrasse 11)

15:00 - 16:00
Living
Composer Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch

16:30 - 17:30
Visions
Composer Philippe Rombi

Sunday 1 October 2023 · ZHdK · Toni-Areal · Pfingstweidstrasse 96 · Raum 3.K17 (Dolby Atmos Studio)

11:00 - 13:30
Early Birds
Composer Adi Frutiger

EARLY BIRDS Case Study Film's crew to delve into how to make a project with Dolby Atmos

On Sunday, October 1, 2023, SoundTrack_Zurich 04 will present the case study EARLY BIRDS at ZHdK's Dolby Atmos Studio. EARLY BIRDS is a hugofilm production in cooperation with Netflix and CH Media, that will be premiered at the Zurich Film Festival.

For the first time at STZ, the Dolby Atmos panel will feature the core team of the film in a case study. In addition to Michael Steiner (director) and Christoph Neracher (hugofilm producer), the leading music and sound crew of EARLY BIRDS will present their work: Adi Frutiger (composer), Martin Villiger (additional music), Roger Baltensperger (Dolby Atmos music mixing), Jacques Kieffer (endmix) and Manu Gerber (sound design).

In the panel, the EARLY BIRDS team will talk with André Bellmont about their experience in the process of scoring and sound design for this production recorded with Dolby Atmos, one of the first Swiss films using this technology.

Participants will have the opportunity to listen to excerpts of the project in the best quality and explore first-hand how this sound technology, which offers a profound immersive experience, works.

Sunday, 1 October · 11:00 - 13:30
ZHdK · Toni-Areal · Pfingstweidstrasse 96 · Raum 3.K17 (Dolby Atmos Studio)

Matchmaking for Women in Media and Music

In cooperation with the Swiss Women's Audiovisual Network (SWAN), SoundTrack_Zurich has selected a group of professionals from the film industry who would like to exchange knowledge and expand their network with women from the music industry. This Matchmaking aims to bring together female composers and sound designers with female directors, producers, music supervisors, artists and sync managers.

Each match gets a slot of 10 minutes. This year’s participants can meet film directors, producers and music supervisors: Annette Gentz, agent, founder of Annette Gentz / Music & Film Arts; Barbara Kulcsar, director; Caterina Mona, editor, director, writer; Corinna Dästner, producer; Cynthia Lowen, director, producer, writer, Elena Avdija, director, screenwriter; Laura Morales, director; Liliane Ott, producer, writer; Mara Deuschle, sync manager; Olga Dinnikova, director, screenwriter, actress; Sabine Boss, director, writer, and Sabine Gisiger, director, professor.

The activity will take place at Publicis (Stadhoferstrasse 25) from 14:30 to 15:30.
To apply, please fill the form, before September 26 at 12:00 pm CEST.

International Matchmaking

At our International Matchmaking we bring together composers and sound designers with music supervisors, directors, producers, artist managers, sync managers and A&R managers.

This activity is open for all participants, who will have the chance to meet Andreas Suttner, music consultant at BR, founder of music label Klangidee; Annette Gentz, agent, founder of Annette Gentz / Music & Film Arts; Beda Senn, music consultant at Swiss TV; Mara Deuschle, sync manager; Marielène Froidevaux, music supervisor, publisher, founder of Interstellar Music; Martin Häne, music publisher of 6 production music labels; Nis Bogvad, music supervisor; Pierre Cattoni, composer agent; Renato Horvath, music supervisor; Stefan Jäger, film director, screenwriter, lecturer; Thomas Binar, music supervisor; Timo von Gunten, film director.

The activity will take place on the 29 of September, 2023, at Publicis (Stadhoferstrasse 25) from 16:00 to 17:30.

To request a meeting with the leading experts in this activity, please fill out the form before September 26 at 12:00 pm CEST.

Check your tracks with professionals at STZ

Would you like your tracks to be checked by experts? Do you want to know what they think about your music?

The Reality Check Sync module of SoundTrack_Zurich will be a great opportunity for composers and sound designers to discuss with music supervisors what makes a track valuable for a film, TV or any media product.

In the TrackCheck session on Saturday, 30^th of September, participants will have the chance to present their music for a trailer and/or for a given TV series scene with synch brief to Thomas Binar (PPG Music Supervisors), Beda Senn (SRF), Nils Bøgvard (Copenhagen Film Music), Renato Horvath (Eastaste Music), Andreas Suttner (BR) and Marielène Froidevaux (Interstellar Music) who would give direct feedback to the authors.

The tracks submitted for the given TV scene, will have the chance, for the very first time in this activity at STZ, to be considered for a real upcoming TV Show: Die Beschatter.

Submit your track!

If you want to participate with a track in the TrackCheck, please click the button to get more details on the application and to fill out the required forms.

Full Programme Now Online

Case studies on ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT with Oscar winner Volker Bertelmann, EO with European Film Award winner Paweł Mykietyn, FOUDRE with Swiss Film Award winner Nicolas Rabaeus, VISIONS with composer Philippe Rombi, and LIVING with composer Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch, are just a few of the highlights of this year's edition of SoundTrack_Zurich (STZ).

The event, which will take place for the fourth time from 29 September to 1 October as part of the ZFF Industry Programme, will also have a special panel on EARLY BIRDS, a hugofilm features production in cooperation with Netflix and CH Media. Adi Frutiger (composer), Martin Villiger (additional music), Michael Steiner (director), among others, will be part of this panel.

For the business side of film music, there will be panels with four European music consultants, a workshop on Soft Skills for Success with Danish composer Flemming Nordkrog, the popular TrackCheck, where composers and labels can submit their music and get a feedback from seven music supervisors, and a hands-on workshop on Composing Production Music with Martin Häne.

Music rights will be the focus of a workshop with Chantal Bolzern on film music contracts, presented by SONART. It will be complemented by panels on Video Games and Buy Out as well as on Artificial Intelligence and Music Rights, both in cooperation with SUISA and ECSA (European Composer and Songwriter Alliance).

Artificial intelligence will also be addressed at the STZ in a panel discussion on AI and Musical Creativity. Mark Baechle, IFMW Featured Composer 2023 and orchestrator of film music greats such as John Corigliano, Nicholas Britell and Clint Mansell, will explain how to design the workflow in cooperation with an orchestrator.

As always, networking and establishing contacts is a top priority at the STZ: Among the nine networking events are the Swiss Music Export Business Mixer at midday on Saturday, co-presented by SONART, as well as the Matchmaking for Women in Media Music on Friday afternoon (in cooperation with SWAN, WIFT, AWFC) and the new International Matchmaking for all participants.

SoundTrack_Zurich is organised by Forum Filmmusik (president Pierre Funck), curated by Michael P. Aust (SoundTrack_Cologne) in collaboration with Zurich Film Festival (ZFF), Tonhalle-Gesellschaft Zürich, ZHdK (Zurich University of Arts), SoundTrack_Cologne and SONART (Swiss Music Creators).

Volker Bertelmann greift auf eine langjährige musikalische Erfahrung zurück. © Carsten Sander

ZFF honours composer Volker Bertelmann

The Zurich Film Festival honours the German composer Volker Bertelmann with its Career Achievement Award for his life's work. He will receive the award on September 30 during the 11th International Film Music Competition (IFMC) at the Tonhalle Zurich. Bertelmann is also the jury president of this year's IFMC. His list of best-known works includes the score for the anti-war drama ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, which won the German an Oscar earlier this year.

Each year, the Zurich Film Festival presents honorary awards to celebrated film workers who have shaped and enriched the film landscape. This year, the 19th ZFF (Sept 28 – Oct 10) pays tribute with its Career Achievement Award to the multifaceted life's work of Volker Bertelmann, also known by his alias Hauschka. "Volker Bertelmann is a virtuoso pianist and one of the most significant film composers of our time," declares Christian Jungen, ZFF's Artistic Director. "He is a master of reinvention, constantly evolving and drawing on his own inspiration to create authentic scores that invariably serve each film's narrative. With his doom-laden triad for ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, he has created an iconic piece of music that both freezes the blood in our veins and leaves behind an indelible impression. As an artist, Bertelmann is a shining example of how to conquer Hollywood from Europe and thus a perfect role model for many young musicians."           

Volker Bertelmann is delighted to be visiting Zurich for the 19th ZFF: "I see the Zurich Film Festival as a place where crowds of international filmmakers converge to present their works to a European audience. It is a great honour for me to be singled out by the Zurich Film Festival in particular to receive their Career Achievement Award for my work as a musician and film score composer. Such an honour also raises awareness and increases the visibility of music creation in the film industry in general." He is also looking forward to participating in the International Film Music Competition as its jury president and "giving young score composers in particular the opportunity to present their work within such an esteemed framework thus opening up new perspectives."       

These are the finalists of the International Film Music Competition

The International Film Music Competition takes place for the 11th time during the 19th Zurich Film Festival's "Cinema in Concert" gala event. The prestigious event motivated 153 composers from each of the world's continents to enter an original score, which they created for the short film AU REVOIR JERÔME. Presided over by Oscar-winner Volker Bertelmann, the jury has now selected the three finalists whose compositions will be performed live by the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich on September 30.

On September 30, 2023, the International Film Music Competition will take place for the 11th time during the 19th Zurich Film Festival's "Cinema in Concert" gala event at the Tonhalle Zurich. It is organised and implemented by the ZFF and the Tonhalle-Gesellschaft Zürich AG in collaboration with the Forum Filmmusik. Entrants were asked to create and submit a new and original score for the short film AU REVOIR JÉRÔME.

From the approximately 150 anonymously submitted compositions, three favourites have now been selected, and their composers will be invited to the ZFF. They will rehearse their compositions together with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich before they are world premiered under the musical direction of Frank Strobel in the presence of the jury during the "Cinema in Concert" gala event. “The Tonhalle-Orchestra Zurich has established a strong reputation in the field of film symphonies. To look ahead in this genre and provide a stage for young composers is essential for us as an institution,” says Head of Artistic Department of Tonhalle Marc Barwisch.

This year's jury, which is presided over by Oscar-winner Volker Bertelmann, will choose and announce the winning composition on the same evening, before presenting the winner with the Golden Eye for "Best International Film Music 2023", an award endowed with a 10'000 Swiss franc cash prize. "The ZFF is a film festival that is committed to promoting new talent and strives to connect this new talent with established greats from the film industry. This is also underscored by the IFMC, which features an Oscar winner as its jury president for the third year in a row, presenting a huge incentive for the young composers," explains Artistic Director Christian Jungen. "We also want to use the IMFC to demonstrate to a wider audience the tremendous importance of film music, without which a cinematic work would be only half as emotional."

These are the nominees

Carl Falkenau

This is the second time that Carl Falkenau has been nominated for the "Best International Film Music" Golden Eye. The Swedish-German pianist's list of credits includes soundtracks for Scandinavian TV shows and symphonic arrangements for a variety of Swedish artists. He also releases records under his alter ego The Grim, which feature heavily orchestrated cinematic metal. In addition to the work he does in his own recording studio, Carl also teaches piano at the Lund Culture School in Sweden.


Elliot Murphy

Currently living in Berlin, the Irish cellist and composer Elliot Murphy is also a second-time nominee for the "Best International Film Music" Golden Eye. His broad compositional focus ranges from aleatoric music, where some elements of the work are left to chance, to classical folk music. He is also an accomplished cellist across a variety of styles, improvisation being the most dominant. His list of current projects includes improvised cello performances with live-electronics for theatre and the release of his own album.


Cian McCarthy

Born in Ireland, Cian McCarthy currently lives in New York, where he splits his time between orchestrating musical theatre and composing for multimedia. His previous credits include serving as the music director and conductor on such hit Broadway productions as MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL and THE BOOK OF MORMON. He has also worked in recent years as an orchestrator on various projects, including the new musical LEMPICKA, which is due to hit Broadway soon.

Volker Bertelmann to be Jury President of the Film Music Competition at Zurich Film Festival 19

For the eleventh time, the renowned International Film Music Competition will take place as part of the "Cinema in Concert" gala on September 30, 2023 at the Tonhalle Zurich. A prominent jury presided over by Oscar-winner Volker Bertelmann (ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT) will award the Golden Eye for Best Film Music to one of the compositions performed live by the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich.    

This year, the Zurich Film Festival and the Tonhalle-Gesellschaft Zürich AG join forces with the Forum Filmmusik for the eleventh time to organise the International Film Music Competition. Entrants are required to create a new and original score for the short film AU REVOIR JÉRÔME! (GOODBYE, JEROME). "The exploration of film music plays a pivotal role at the ZFF," explains Artistic Director Christian Jungen. "The Film Music Competition aims to promote young talent by giving them the opportunity to have their compositions performed live in front of a large audience by the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, which is one of the world's leading symphony orchestras."   

The international jury nominates three compositions from all that entered. The musical works will be performed publicly for the first time in the presence of the nominees during the "Cinema in Concert" gala on September 30, 2023 at the Tonhalle Zurich by the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich under the musical direction of Frank Strobel. "It is always very exciting for the nominees when their work is performed by an orchestra; this happens very rarely. And the audience gets to experience how a film can change dramatically depending on the music," says Marc Barwisch, Head of Artistic Operations Tonhalle-Gesellschaft Zürich AG. The jury will announce the winner on the same evening before presenting the 10'000 Swiss franc-endowed Golden Eye for "Best International Film Music 2023".

This year's jury will be presided over by Volker Bertelmann, also known by his stage name Hauschka, who won an Oscar this year for his scoring of the internationally successful ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT. "I am exceptionally honoured to have been selected as the jury president of the IFMC Zurich 2023," expressed the composer and pianist, who continued: "Offering composers the opportunity to present themselves to the public and receive input for their work is of great importance to me, and I am looking forward to the interaction immensely."   

Case studies at SoundTrack_Zurich 03: The Sandman, Tschugger, Hors Saison, Rubikon, The Good Boss and Soul of a Beast

The third edition of STZ, which takes place in the context of the Industry Program of the 18th Zurich Film Festival (ZFF), presents award-winning film composers, sound designers, directors, producers and music consultants who will talk about their recent projects.

An infinite source of fresh creativity: Six panels at SoundTrack_Zurich 03 (September 27^th – 30^th) put the lens on creating soundtracks for recently released series and films that stand out for their extraordinary work. 

After spending more than 100 years in prison, Morpheus, the personification of dreams (one of the seven Endless of DC Comics), must rebuild his kingdom. This is the main line under which The Sandman is developed, the screen adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel and one of the most recent Netflix hits worldwide. The diverse way this story has been told implied an equally diverse musicalization. David Buckley, its composer, says that he was warned of making “like seven pilots in one season”. Buckley will talk about the challenges behind the music for the first season of The Sandman at the SoundTrack_Zurich panel on the 29th of September. 

The police parody shot in “the Swiss wild west” that Tschugger portrays shows a different face of the country of perfect landscapes. The secrets of this successful collaboration will be discussed in STZ by the director, co-creator and leading actor David Constantin; producer Sophie Toth; composer Rutger Reinders; sound editor, designer and mixer Gregor Rosenberger; and music producer and curator Phuong Boi Nguyen.

In addition to these panels, SoundTrack_Zurich will look behind the scenes of scoring the series Hors Saison with Michael Künstle and Matteo Pagamici (composers). Outstanding European science fiction: Daniel Helmer, Maximilian Leibich (composers) and Leni Lauritsch (director) of Rubikon explain the challenges of their contemporary science fiction score. Zeltia Montes, composer of The Good Boss, was the first female composer to win the prestigious Spanish Goya Award - with a really sophisticated score - a role model women composer who is not shy to share the secrets of her craft.  The Swiss Film Prize for Best Music 2022 went to... Fatima Dunn! The composer and the sound designer Oscar van Hoogevest will speak about their collaboration on Soul of a Beast.

Case studies program: 

• RUBIKON. With Daniel Helmer and Maximilian Liebich (composers) and Leni Lauritsch (director). Host: Vasco Hexel.
Wednesday 28th of September. 14:30-15:30 · NZZ-Festival Lounge 

• HORS SAISON. With Michael Künstle and Matteo Pagamici (composers). Host: Mirjam Skal.
Wednesday 28th of September 16:00-17:00 · ZFF Festival Centre

• THE GOOD BOSS. With Zeltia Montes (composer). Host: Hanna Sophie Lüke.
Thursday 29th of September 10:30 – 11:30 · NZZ-Festival Lounge

• SOUL OF A BEAST. With Fatima Dunn (composer) and Oscar van Hoogevest (sound designer). Host: Martin Skalsky.
Thursday 29th of September 12:00 – 13:00 · NZZ-Festival Lounge.

• THE SANDMAN (Netflix). With David Buckley (composer). Host: Vasco Hexel.
Thursday 29th of September 14:30-15:30 · NZZ-Festival Lounge.

• TSCHUGGER. With David Constantin (director, co-creator and leading actor), Sophie Toth (producer), Rutger Reinders (composer), Gregor Rosenberger (sound editor, designer, mixer), Phuong Boi Nguyen (music producer and curator). Host: Martin Skalsky.
Thursday 29th of September 16:00-17:00 · ZFF Festival Centre

Serving the Swiss Music Industry: The Sync Focus at SoundTrack_Zurich

Finding the right balance between score and source music for a film within a tight budget and timeframe – an art in itself that is always a challenge in an industry in constant transformation. That is why SoundTrack_Zurich has a special focus on SYNC and Music Supervision in its 2022 edition:

How much money can you expect from the streaming of your music? A SUISA workshop shines a light on the remuneration one can expect from the streaming of music in films, TV series and advertising.

The payments by the collecting societies for streaming are more and more a vital negotiating quantity between producer, composer and music rightsholder.

Beda Senn, music consultant at Swiss Television, will interview three European music supervisors: Marie-Hélène Froidevaux (Interstellar Music) from Switzerland, Emmanuel Deletang (22D Music) from France, and Chantelle Woodnut (AirEdel) from the UK, who will share the secrets of their trade.

Meet music consultants, film producers, directors, publishers, labels and composers at the Swiss Music Export Business, a networking lunch that is one of the major networking events of the STZ.

TrackCheck: Send your music to be checked by five music consultants. This year’s topic: TV-underscore – apply asap through trackcheck.st-z.ch

Case Study TSCHUGGER: An in-deep look into the soundtrack of Switzerland’s most surprising TV-series success of the last years – with co-creator, director and leading actor David Constantin (who co-wrote some of the music, too), producer Sophie Toth (Shining Film), music producer and curator Phuong Boi Nguyen (MassiveMusic Amsterdam), composer Rutger Reinders and sound editor, designer and mixer Gregor Rosenberger (JingleJungle).

SoundTrack_Zurich is organized by Forum Filmmusik in cooperation with Zurich Film Festival (ZFF), Tonhalle Zürich, ZHdK, and SoundTrack_Cologne.

 
Sync panels

Wednesday 28.09.2022, 12:00 – 13:00. Festival Centre
• SUISA Digital Challenge: Remuneration for the online use of music in movies, TV series and advertising (in German)

Thursday 29.09.2022, 12:00 – 13:00. Festival Centre 
• Conference of European Music Supervisors. Three European music supervisors share their knowledge
 
Thursday 09.29.2022, 13:00 – 14:30. Festival Centre
• Swiss Music Export Business Mixer · Networking Lunch · event presented by Swiss Music Export and Sonart
 
Thursday 09.29.2022, 14:30 - 15:30. Festival Centre
• TrackCheck: Send your songs to be checked · This year’s topic: TV-underscore

Thursday 29.09.2022, 16:00 – 17:00. Festival Centre
• Case study TSCHUGGER

SoundTrack_Zurich 03 Matchmaking

Meet the other participants of SoundTrack_Zurich and make new business contacts at the networking events of SoundTrack_Zurich (27^th - 30^th September, 2022)!

SoundTrack_Zurich presents nine B2B-matchmaking events to network creators from the film music industry:

· Opening Reception
Tuesday, 27.09.2022 | 21.00 – 24.00 | ZFF Festival Ship
Accreditation for STZ or by invitation!

· Speedmatching
Wednesday, 28.09.2022 | 10.00 – 10:30 | Festival Centre
Accreditation for STZ needed!

· The Audio Network Lunch Break
Wednesday, 28.09.2022 | 13.00 – 14:30 | Festival Centre
Accreditation for STZ or by invitation!

· Matchmaking for Women in media & music
Wednesday, 28.09.2022 | 14.30 – 15.30 | Festival Centre

This Matchmaking is aimed at women and has the intention to connect female composers and sound designers with female directors, music supervisors, publishers and producers. Each match gets a slot of 8 minutes. This year’s participants can meet film directors: Julia Furer, Camille Budin, Laura Kaehr, Susanne Regina Meures, Anna Kazejak, Cosima Frei, Viola von Scarpatetti and Stefanie Klemm. And the film producers and music supervisors Jessica Hefti, Liliane Ott,  Flora Grolitsch, Simone Häberling, Claudia Wick, Sabine Gruber, Eva Vitija, Stella Händler, Caroline Braun and Marie-Hélène Froidevaux.

A prior registration is needed at: www.soundtrackzurich.com/matchmaking/


· International Film Music Competition Apéro
Wednesday, 28.09.2022 | 17.30 – 19.30 | Festival Centre
By invitation only!

· Speedmatching
Thursday, 29.09.2022 | 10.00 – 10:30 | NZZ Lounge
Accreditation for STZ needed!

· Swiss Music Export Business Mixer
Thursday, 29.09.2022 | 13.00 – 14.30 | Festival Centre
By invitation only! STZ participants will receive a separate invitation shortly.

· International Film Music Competition Apéro
Thursday, 29.09.2022 | 18.00 – 19.00 | Tonhalle Zürich
By invitation only!

· International Film Music Competition Flying Dinner
Thursday, 29.09.2022 | 22.00 | Tonhalle Zürich
By invitation only!

SoundTrack_Zurich 03: The full program is now online Zürich · 27.-30. September 2022

Oscar-winning film composer Rachel Portman (Chocolat, The Cider House Rules), trumpet player Nils Petter Molvær (European Film Award 2021 Best Score), Fatima Dunn (Swiss Film Award 2022 Best Score), and Zeltia Montes (Spanish Goya Award for Best Score 2022) are only a few of the 60 Speakers at the 3rd edition of SoundTrack_Zurich (STZ).

As a vital part of the Zurich Film Festival‘s Industry Program, STZ is the central business hub for Switzerland's film and media music scene. The conference is a close cooperation between Zurich Film Festival (ZFF), Tonhalle Zürich, ZHdK, and SoundTrack_Cologne, the leading European event on music in film and media. It is organized by Forum Filmmusik.

Focus: Networking and new commissions

“Our main focus is the effective crosslinking of the Swiss and European composers with the ZFF film guests and the international film industry to initiate future jobs and licensing deals”, says Michael P. Aust, head of SoundTrack_Zurich.

Each day starts with 30mins of speed matching. One of the central networking events at STZ is the Swiss Music Export Business Mixer on Thursday. A matchmaking event for women in media music only is organized in cooperation with SWAN, WIFT, and the American AWFC.

The successful colleagues: Best practice

An industry undergoing a process of radical change: On two days in two parallel strands STZ presents important composers and case studies from Switzerland and Europe. Additionally, current issues, like eg. online remuneration, or the score of the new Netflix hit series THE SANDMAN, are covered in workshops, case studies, and discussions. A Dolby Atmos workshop and the IMMSANE meeting of the university scene take place at ZHdK on Friday. The Swiss composers are always right at the forefront with four events covering Swiss projects like HORS SAISON and TSCHUGGER.

www.soundtrackzurich.com

RED: Re-Educating Digitisation Erasmus+ project

This project aims to provide the cultural sector with the necessary tools to bring its marketing to the next level. We will be publishing a guide to set up reporting tools that facilitate data analysis of social media channels, ticketing data, website tracks and newsletter clicks, which can be set up without any IT support. This will provide valuable insights to one's online marketing. In order to retain the visitors that cultural organizers already have, it is important to evaluate the program. Research has shown that both formulating questionnaires correctly and analyzing them is not yet a strength of the cultural sector. Likewise, non-visitor research is hardly possible without professional (but expensive) help. We want to change this with 2 online courses.

© Andreas Rentz/ Gettyimages for ZFF

The springboard for talented film music composers from around the globe: International Film Music Competition 2022

The 10th International Film Music Competition will take place during the 18th Zurich Film Festival (22 September – 2 October 2022) and is organised by Zurich Film Festival, Tonhalle-Gesellschaft Zürich AG, and Forum Filmmusik. Participants are invited to score the 6‑minute short film THE FOUNDLING by Barney Cokeliss for symphony orchestra.

A jury of internationally renowned music professionals and filmmakers will nominate three works from the competition entries. These three winning compositions will be premiered at the Tonhalle Zürich during the Zurich Film Festival on September 29, 2022 by the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich under the musical direction of Frank Strobel and in the presence of the nominees. A jury of experts will select a winner, who will receive the Golden Eye for “Best International Film Music 2022”, an award endowed with a 10’000 Swiss franc cash prize.

Registration will be possible starting 11 April 2022. The registration fee is CHF 85. Decide quickly and pay only CHF 55 by taking advantage of our early-bird discount offer until 2 May 2022.

> Submission deadline: 6 June 2022

> A download link for the film to be scored can be requested here (free of charge).

> The terms and conditions of the competition are available here.

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.


> www.filmmusikwettbewerb.ch