An Evening Celebrating Film Music and Two World Premieres

© Jonas Wiemann and Joshua Sammer

On the eighth day of the Zurich Film Festival, the «Cinema in Concert» gala, together with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, celebrated the art of sound. Academy Award winner Hildur Guðnadóttir was honored with the Career Achievement Award and at the same time chaired the jury of the International Film Music Competition, which was won by emerging newcomer Mikal Grigorowitsch. In addition to this musical highlight, two world premieres – the SRF sitcom UNSERE KLEINE BOTSCHAFT and Paprika Steen’s comedy TO NEW BEGINNINGS – lit up the Green Carpet and the big screen.

The eighth day of the ZFF was all about film music. At this year’s «Cinema in Concert» gala in the Tonhalle Zurich, the Oscar-winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir received the Career Achievement Award. Guðnadóttir used the moment to reflect on her art: «I’ve been thinking a lot about the term ‘Career Achievement.’ Music has always been my whole life, for as long as I can remember. So I never consciously decided to pursue a career as a musician. For me, it’s something I’ve always done – like breathing», said the 43-year-old.

That same evening, Guðnadóttir chaired the jury of the 13th International Film Music Competition (IFMW). The compositions of the three finalists – Antonio Di Iorio, Mikal Grigorowitsch, and Gary Hirche – for the short film WILD LOVE, which had been nominated by the jury in advance, were premiered by the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. The competition was won by Mikal Grigorowitsch. Born in 2005, Mikal was the youngest participant and a newcomer to the world of film music. John Williams’ STAR WARS soundtrack first ignited Mikal’s passion for film and orchestral music at an early age. Their particular interest lies in the theoretical structures behind film music, which Mikal is currently exploring as part of a musicology degree at Humboldt University in Berlin. Mikal was awarded the CHF 10,000 Golden Eye for «Best International Film Music 2025».

© Jonas Wiemann

One evening – two world premieres

The audience was treated to another Swiss highlight: the world premiere of the country's first sitcom in 20 years. The cast and crew of UNSERE KLEINE BOTSCHAFT (Our Little Message) were in attendance, including Swiss personalities Susanne Kunz, Birgit Steinegger, and Anaïs Decasper. The guests then presented the first three episodes of the SRF production to the audience at Arthouse Le Paris.

«We are thrilled. The entire cast has not seen anything from the series yet, only a few excerpts. So, we are particularly pleased to see the whole thing, the first three episodes,» actress Susanne Kunz emphasized about the exciting world premiere at the ZFF.

© Jonas Wiemann 

Next on the green carpet were the filmmakers behind the Danish comedy To New Beginnings, which celebrated its world premiere at the 21st ZFF yesterday evening. Despite the cold, some fans had gathered next to the Green Carpet to welcome the filmmakers. Director Paprika Steen presented the film with some of her cast, including Tuva Novotny and Lars Brygmann.

© Joshua Sammer

The Zurich Churches Film Award has announced its winning film

Yesterday evening, the first film in the ZFF program was awarded. As part of the Zurich Churches Film Award, the documentary LIFE AFTER SAHIM by Namir Abdel Messeeh won the award. The documentary impressed the five-member expert jury with its lightness and simplicity, yet also its depth and willingness to experiment.

«With his courage to get close, his keen sense of nuance, his clear moral compass, and his eye for interpersonal relationships, Klaus Petrus is the ideal keynote speaker for the film award. This is especially true when the focus is on the winner, Namir Abdel Messeeh, and his universal reflection on family ties and the act of remembering, which is full of warmth, honesty, and emotion,» the Zürcher Kirchen said in their press release.