Volker Bertelmann is Jury President of the Film Music Competition

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 public_locally 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_local and receive input for their work is of great importance to me, and I am looking forward to the interaction immensely."

As in previous years, the jury will include the German conductor Frank Strobel, who will conduct the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich on the gala evening. Additionally, the international award-winning film score composer and Emmy-winner Mark Baechle will make a special guest appearance and, with the support of Fondation SUISA , a medley of his best-known works will be performed in his honour. Further members of the jury are the award-winning director Sophie Linnenbaum, who presented her debut THE ORDINARIES in the 18th ZFF's Focus Competition, and director and animator Gabrielle Selnet, whose short film AU REVOIR JÉRÔME! (GOODBYE, JEROME) was selected for the competition. Created by Gabielle Selnet, Adam Sillard and Chloé Farr, the short film to be scored is about a multifaceted and bittersweet love story in the afterlife.

Jury: Volker Bertelmann (composer & pianist / Germany / jury president) Frank Strobel (conductor & musician / Germany) Mark Bächle (composer / Switzerland, USA) Sophie Linnenbaum (director / Germany) Gabrielle Selnet (director & animator / France)

Compositions for the competition are being accepted until June 2. The three nominees will be announced in mid-July.

Everything you need to know about the Cinema in Concert is available now at www.filmmusikwettbewerb.ch.