The Canadian composer Ahmed Soroko is the winner of the 12th International Film Music Competition 2024, which took place at Tonhalle Zurich on 5 October 2024 during the 20th Zurich Film Festival. Soroko received the Golden Eye “Best International Film Music 2024“ endowed with a 10 000 Swiss franc cash prize.

The award ceremony took place during a film music concert. Under the baton of Frank Strobel, Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra world-premiered the compositions of the three finalists and performed pieces by jury president Howard Shore. During the same evening Shore recieved the ZFF’s Career Achievement Award. Sandra Studer took the audience through the evening.

The three finalists were

Krzysztof Dobosiewicz
(Poland/Finland)

Théo Schmitt
(Switzerland/USA)

Ahmed Soroko
(Canada)

The shortlisted three were chosen in a first round by an international expert jury (see below) out of 192 participants from 37 countries. Entrants were asked to write a symphony orchestra score for the 8‑minute short film THE FLYING SAILOR by Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby.

The members of the jury were:

President of the jury:
Howard Shore, film composer
Photo: E. Bealovega

Rachel Braunschweig, actor
Photo: Lara Raselli

Nicolas Rabaeus, film composer
Photo: Rebecca Bowring

Frank Strobel, conductor of the award concert
Photo: Kai Bienert

The event is organised by Zurich Film Festival, Tonhalle-Gesellschaft Zürich AG, and Forum Filmmusik.