And The Winner Is – Elliot Murphy!

One short film, three soundtracks: this year, the International Film Music Competition again relied on the now tried and tested formula. After the three scores were performed by the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich under Frank Strobel, the jury chose the Irishman Elliot Murphy as the winner. «His music gives the film an additional, very individual identity without stifling the film»: this was how jury president and Oscar winner Volker Bertelmann explained the decision. He then mentioned numerous details of the score that the jury had liked - such as the way a telephone ringing is transferred to the orchestra in the film.

Following the competition, jury president Volker Bertelmann himself was also honoured – with the Career Achievement Award of the Zurich Film Festival. He created his most successful film music for Edward Berger's «All Quiet on the Western Front», which celebrated its European premiere at last year's ZFF. The anti-war film won four Oscars, including one for best film music. «The minimalist 3-tone motif literally wafts over Edward Berger's battlefields. And as it makes its way, deep under our skin, it awakens this profound feeling of undefined melancholy,» said Christian Jungen, the ZFF's Artistic Director, in his laudatory speech.

A second focus of the concert programme was on the Swiss and New York-based film music composer Mark Bächle: he was presented with excerpts from three soundtracks as part of the Suisa Act.

Translated with DeepL.com