The German composer Mikal Grigorowitsch is the winner of the 13th International Film Music Competition 2025, which took place at Tonhalle Zurich on 2 October 2025 during the 21st Zurich Film Festival. Grigorowitsch received the Golden Eye “Best International Film Music 2025“ 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 Hildur Guðnadóttir who recieved the ZFF’s Career Achievement Award during the same evening. Sandra Studer took the audience through the evening.

The three finalists were:

Antonio Di Iorio
(USA/Italy)

Mikal Grigorowitsch
(Germany)

Gary Hirche
(Germany)

The shortlisted three were chosen in a first round by an international expert jury (see below) out of 170 participants from 36 countries. Entrants were asked to score the 7‑minute short film WILD LOVE by Paul Autric, Quentin Camus, Léa Georges, Maryka Laudet, Zoé Sottiaux and Corentin Yvergniaux for symphony orchestra. The submission deadline was on 16 June 2025.

The members of the jury were:

President of the jury:
Hildur Guðnadóttir, film composer

Balz Bachmann, film composer

Jasmin Gordon, film director and producer

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.