Awards and Nominations

2025
- As a ZHdK graduate in composition and former participant of the What’s next_Compass programme, Jakob Eisenbach (MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2020/21) has made a name for himself in the world of music production through his hard work as a versatile audio expert. In his studio in Zurich, he talks about his career, reflects on the realities of life as an artist and entrepreneur and gives insights into how he balances creativity and business.
  → Read the interview with Jakob Eisenbach
- Double award for Mirjam Skal (Alumna MA MA in Composition for Film, Theater, and Media 2022) at the DOK.fest München:
  
  VRACHT by Max Carlo Kohal, produced by Dynamic Frame and ZHdK Zürcher Hochschule der Künste wins the German Documentary Film Music Award 2025
  → Success story
  
  THE ANGEL MAKER by Marina Klauser produced by Marisa of tellfilm, GmbH wins the DOK.Composition Award, from the jury: “The composer succeeds convincingly in making the audience feel the tremendousness of the events and the subject matter that the film depicts. With great aplomb, Mirjam Skal avoids any kitsch or compositional complacency.”
- Pablo Jokay (Alumnus MA in Composition for Film, Theater, and Media 2023) wins a prize of the Alexis Victor Thalberg Stiftung for the music for «Flying Scents - of plants, people and bumblebees», a documentary film about plant communication
  → Success story
- Andrzej Ojczenasz (MA in Composition for Film, Theater, and Media) is one of the two winners of the "Suisa en scene" funding project. Suisa en scene () is a new funding project for composers supported by SUISA and Murten Classics. The commissioned works of the two winners, Andrzej Marcin Ojczenasz and Gaudenz Werner Wigger, will premiere at Murten Classics in August 2025.
  → Success story
2024
- Alumna Mirjam Skal (MA in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2022) has been awarded the Rolf -Hans Müller Prize for Film Music 2024, which is endowed with 5000 EUR. She impressed the jury with her composition for the SRF crime thriller ‘Tatort – Von Affen und Menschen ’. The jury praised the film music for its high level of musicality and creative depth.
  The award was handed over on 29 November 2024 as part of the Televisionale Film and Series Festival in Baden-Baden.
  → Read the article online at SRGD Deutschschweiz.
  → Read the article about the award ceremony online at the German Music Council's music information centre.
- Thomas Stolz (BA in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media) wins the New Talent Award at the 26th International Eyes & Ears Award Night in Munich with ‘Metamorphosis’ (bachelor thesis by Luca Bass, Cast / Audiovisual Media course). ‘Metamorphosis’ is an awareness campaign in collaboration with the Swiss Cancer League and the Zurich fashion house Closnea.
- Sebastian Androne-Nakanishi (MA in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2022) wins the Crystal Pine Award for Best Original Score in a Feature Film at the International Sound and Film Music Festival (ISFMF) for the film “Enescu, Skinned Alive” (2024 by Toma Enache).
- Michael Künstle and Matteo Pagamici, both alumni of the MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media (2016/17), write an “official Super Bowl commercial” (123.4 million viewers).
  → Click here for the article in “Voyage LA Magazine”
- The country needs new sounds.
  10 world premieres, 10 orchestras, 3 language regions, 1 mission. The music education project “zusammen, insieme, ensemble” initiated by orchester.ch and its members is awarding 10 composition commissions to composers working in Switzerland. These include the following 3 alumni:
  
  Rodolphe Schacher: Lecturer in composition for film, theatre and media between 2008 and 2015
  
  Fabian Künzli: MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2011
  
  Michel Barengo: MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2012
- David Hohl (MA in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2019) receives the Music Promotion Grant 2024 of the Canton of Solothurn in the amount of CHF 15,000.
- Alumna Mirjam Skal (MA in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2022) debuts with her first Tatort episode “Von Affen und Menschen” (Of Monkeys and Men). The music for the episode is available on all streaming services, here is the link to the album.
- The film “Sarebbe Statu” by Ella Rocca with music by Sina Frank (BA in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media) wins the Suissimage/SSA 2024 Young Talent Award at the Solothurn Film Festival.
- Qualification for the Oscar preliminary round: The Swiss short film “Ours” with music by alumnus Peter Leipold, CAS Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2021/22, is in the Oscar shortlist in the DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM category.
  → Watch the film “Ours” online on SRF
- MUNICH FILM AWARD – BEST SOUNDTRACK: after the “New York International Film Award (NYIFA)”, Sandra Stadler and Bänz Isler, both Alumni MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media graduates, have now also won the “Munich Film Award” in the 'Best Soundtrack' category for their work on “Peter K. – Alleine gegen den Staat” by Laurent Wyss.
2023
- Qualification for the 2024 Oscar shortlist:
  The animation graduation film “Reprise” with music by Andres Piller (BA in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media) has qualified for the 2024 Oscar shortlist.
- Madli Sinks (MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media) “Osmosis” represents Estonia at the ISCM World Music Days.
  The ISCM World (New) Music Days Festival first appeared in 1923 and has since been held over 90 times around the world. It showcases the diversity of contemporary music - currently from 24 November to 3 December in South Africa. → Read more ...
- “Syncope”, the film by Bachelor Film student Linus von Stumberg with music by Mirjam Skal (Alumna / MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2022) and Jonas Roulet (MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media), celebrates its international premiere at the Sapporo Short Fest in Japan and wins two prizes. → Read more and watch the trailer ...
- Louis Edlinger, Alumnus BA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2018,
  — is nominated for the Crystal Pine Awards 2023 in the category BEST ORIGINAL SCORE | SHORT with "LOCKPICKERS".
  — is nominated for the "2023 Mark Awards" in the category "Classical Track of the Year".
- The Peer Raben Music Award at this year’s STC went to Jan Willem de With, Alumnus in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2017. According to the jury, de With composition stood out for “its intelligent and courageous dramaturgical choices, captivating in its tactility and sensitivity”. The score “puts the storytelling, the images and the music in an intense dialogue and lets the film breathe, which generates a contrast to its very violent topic”, said the jury in its statement.
- Mirjam Skal and Pablo Jokay, both MA in composition for film, theater and media 2022/23, participate in the Z-Kubator funding programme. The What's next_Project enables ZHdK members to link projects in the arts, mediation and design with entrepreneurial strategies.
- Sandra Stadler und Bänz Isler, both Alumni MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media, win the prize for “Best Soundtrack” at the New York International Film Award (NYIFA) with ”Peter K. – Alleine gegen den Staat”.
- “Ours” by Morgane Frund (music: Peter Leipold), CAS in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2021/22) runs in the short film competition “Berlinale Shorts”. The film was made in 2022 as a final project in the Bachelor Video at HSLU and celebrated its festival premiere at the Winterthur Short Film Festival in November 2022, where it also won a prize.
- “Cascadeuses” (music: Marzia Celii and Ella Malherbe, MA in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media) is nominated in the category “Best Documentary” at the 58th Solothurn Film Festival.
2022
- The Academy awarded “Eigenheim” by Welf Reinhart (Music: Pablo Jokay, MA in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media) with the Student Oscar in Silver.
  → Read the press release
- Dorotea Crameri (BA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media) receives together with her sister
  Milena Crameri (dance and choreography) the Bündner Förderungspreis 2022. Together, the two sisters have implemented unique and original projects that further enhance their passion and individual skills in their respective fields (dance and music).
- Moritz Widrig (alumnus MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2021) wins “Documentary Film Prize 2022 of the Alexis Victor Thalberg Foundation” for his film music for «Love Will Come Later».
- Swiss Film Award 2022
  
  Best Film Score (“Soul of a Beast”): Fatima Dunn, Lorenz Merz, Julian Sartorius. Fatima Dunn is Alumna MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media (2013).
  
  Best Graduation Film (Love Will Come Later): Film scoring of Love Will Come Later is the master project of Moritz Widrig (Alumnus MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2021)
- Mirjam Skal (MA in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media) and Cédric Joël Ziegler (Alumnus BA in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media 2019) receive the Art Prize Zollikon 2022, endowed with CHF 5'000 each.
  → Further information
- Joel Schoch, MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media alumnus, receives a CHF 10,000 work grant from the Ausserrhodische Kulturstiftung.
  → Read the media release
- Louis Edlinger (Alumnus BA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media) is invited to the Berlinale Talents 2022 (Composition for Film):
  “Berlinale Talents is a talent development programme that explores the how and why of movie making.”
- Alumna Fatima Dunn is nominated together with Lorenz Merz and Julian Sartorius for the Swiss Film Award 2022 (“Best Film Score”) with “Soul of a Beast”.
- The Jury of the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) has announced Sebastian Androne-Nakanishi (MA in Composition for Film, Theater and Media) as «composer of the year 2022».
- Rahel Zimmermann (Alumna MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media, 2019) wins «Best Original Music Award for a Short Film» for “La Reine des renards” at Annecy Festival 2022.
2021
- Michael Künstle, alumnus of «Composition for Film, Theatre and Media», is awarded the Rolf-Hans Müller Prize for Film Music 2021, endowed with 10,000 euros, for his composition for «Jagdzeit». The jury praised the «very individual and special instrumentation, which skillfully combines unusual acoustic instruments with electronics, as well as partially incorporating sound sources from the film without distracting from it.»
- Maria Brendle’s short film «Aka», for which Martin Skalsky composed the music, is entering the Oscar race for Best Short Film. The film has already won 40 awards at nearly 70 festivals and is on the Academy’s shortlist.
- Jakob Eisenbach (Alumnus BA und MA FTM)
  «Tikal: Night Of The Blood Moon» is nominated as Best Music for an Exhibition/Themepark at the Hollywood Music In Media Awards.
  See the impressing list of nominees for Exhibits or Theme Park Rides
- Mirjam Skal (MA Composition for Film, Theatre and Media) was selected by the Alliance for Women Film Composers to participate in the «AWFC Mentorship Program 2021». For the next 6 months she will be mentored in her work as a film composer by Mychael Danna («Life of Pi», «Little Miss Sunshine» and others).
- Mirjam Skal (MA composition for film, theatre and media) is invited to the Berlinale Talents 2021 (composition for film). «Berlinale Talents is a talent development programme that explores the how and why of movie making. Since 2003, it has grown to become a festival within the larger festival and a one-of-a-kind forum for film professionals and cinema lovers alike, featuring talks, workshops, networking events and screenings. While the Berlinale showcases films in all their facets, we delve into how they are made and how to see the world through a different lens.»
2020
- Louis Edlinger, Alumnus in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media (Graduation BA FTM 2018), is nominated for the World Soundtrack Award for Best Composition by a Young Composer.
- “OUT OF THE ORDINARY” (Zurich University of the Arts, 2020, Music: Christoph Scherbaum, Paul Taro Schmidt) is nominated for the 2020 Student Academy Awards.
- Sandra Stadler and Bänz Isler (sonderfilmmusic.com), both MA graduates in composition for film, theater and media, won the New York International Film Award in the Best Soundtrack category with their soundtrack for “Der Bär in mir”. They are also nominated for the Paris Art & Movie Award, the Independent Music Award and the German Documentary Film – Music Prize.
- Sebastian Androne-Nakanishi, MA in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media, wins the 1st prize at the choral composition competition in Tokyo, Japan.
- The nominees for Peer Raben Music Award 2020 are:
  – Jakob Eisenbach, MA in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media, for LUX (Directed: Wendy Pillonel, Switzerland)
  – Pierre Funck, Alumnus in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media (graduation 2012), for “Autour de l’escalier” (Directed: Jonathan Laskar, Switzerland)
  
  The Peer Raben Music Award commemorates the great German film composer Peer Raben. Film scores with innovative and dramatically coherent use of music and sound in relation to the narrative will be honored. The competition screening takes place on Saturday, 22 August 2020.
- Jan de Witt, Alumnus in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media (Graduation BA FTM 2017), wins the 2nd Preis at the Oticons Faculty 2020 competition.
- Joel Schoch, alumnus in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media, wins with his Master-Project the Game Audio Award 2020 (Best Game Music) for ZHdK-Game “Far: Lone Sails”.
- Fabian Künzli, Alumnus in Composition for Film, Theatre and Media, wins the audience prize of the Rychenberg Competition 2020.
2019
- Alumnus Jan Willem de With wins with ZHdK-BA-Projekt “Foglä” (from Owley Samter) the Los Angeles Film Award in January 2019 for “Best Score” (Short), watch movie here
- Alumnus Michel Barengo wins the Get Going Grant 2019 by Fondation Suisa.
- Benedek Sulyok (MA FTM) is nominated for the Pannonia Film Music Competition.
- Dominic Röhtlisberger (MA FTM) wins the Förderpreis "Anzeigerverband Bucheggberg-Wasseramt" 2019 and the Premiowettbewerb with the project "Der Tag bevor ich vom Pferd fiel – oder all die Dinge, an die sich jeder erinnert, auch wenn sie nur jeder Zweite erlebt hat".
- “Tote Tiere” (Music: Moritz Wirdrig, MA FTM) is the winner for “Best Music” at Krampusnacht Filmfestival.
2018
- Alumnus Michael Künstle wins the "Get Going Grant“ by Fondation Suisa.
- The animation film “Coyote” by Lorenz Wunderle with music by MA-student Rahel Zimmermann is premiered at the Berlinale 2018. It has since won the awards “Best International Short” at Palm Springs International Shortsfest and “Best Animated Film” at Apen Film Shortsfest.
- The animation film “Perfect Town” by Anaïs Voirol with music by MA-student Joachim Flüeler wins the award “Best Student Animation” at Palm Springs International Shortsfest.
- The game “FAR: Lone Sails” with the soundtrack by MA-student Joel Schoch has next to numerous nominations been awarded 8 awards and has been praised by critics. Among others “Best Student Game” at Independent Game Festival and the “Indie Award” at Gamescom. The soundtrack is available on Spotify, iTunes, bandcamp and Play Music.
- The animation film “Living Like Heta” by Bianca Caderas and Isabella Luu with music by MA-student Moritz Widrig gets awarded with “Best International Film” at Camberley International Festival, “Best Student Animated Film” at Golden Kuker – Sofia, International Animation Film Festival, “Best Animated Film Award” at The Living Skies Student Film Festival, “Craft Award” at Balkanima – Evropski festival animiranog filma and “High Risk Swiss Award” at Fantoche Festival.
- The animation film “Proxy” by Haidi Marburger, Nina Hoffmann and Ramón Arango with music by BA-Student Louis Edlinger wins “Best Student Film” at the Phoenix Film Festival Melbourne.
- The animation film “Foglä” by Owley Samter with music by Jan Willem de With is screened at the Film Festival in Cannes.
- The animation film “Hypertrain” by Fela Bellotto and Etienne Kompis with music by Janos Mijnssen gets awarede “Best Experimental Film” at Festival du Cinéma européen in Lille, “Best Animation Award” at First Step Film Festival in Tirana and “Best Children’s Short” at ANIMAGE Festival
2017
- MA-Student David Hohl (“Sunnemilch”, Director: Silvan Zweifel, Switzerland) and Alumna Sandra Stadler (“Die Teufelsbrücke von Uri”, Director: Jochen Ehrmann, Switzerland) are nominated for the Peer Raben Music Award 2017.
- Master-Alumni Michael Künstle wins the Foundation SUISAvMusic Award 2017 as a Co-Composer for the soundtrack to the movie “Bis ans Ende der Träume” from Wilfried Meichtry (Music: Balz Bachmann, Co-Composers: Peter Bräker and Michael Künstle).
- Mirjam Schnedl and Matteo Pagamici have been nominated at the FMF YOUNG TALENT AWARD in Krakow. They will take part in a masterclass in film music with a.o. Howard Shore.
  
  Matteo Pagamici wins the 2nd Prize
  
  Mirjam Schnedl win the 7th Prize
- “La Femme et le TGV” by Timo von Gunten and Giacun Caduff (music: www.greatgarbo.com, orchestration: FTM-Alumni Jonas Zellweger) has been nominated for best short film at the OSCARS 2017.
2016
- With his score for the film “Little Infinity” Jan Willem de With wins seiner Musik the German film music award in the category “Beste Music in a Short Film”.
- “Whatever the Weather” by Remo Scherrer with the music by Rahel Zimmermann gets awarded the 1st prize and the special award for most atmospheric sound at the Swiss Youth Film Festival Lucerne “Upcoming Film Makers”.
- Yukio Elien Lanz gets nominated for the Peer Raben Music Award at Soundtrack Cologne for his sound track to the movie “Driven”.
- Michael Künstle and Matteo Pagamici are nominated at the FMF YOUNG TALENT AWARD in Krakow and will take part in a film music workshop with Harry Gergson-Williams a.o..
- The animations documentary “Whatever the Weather” by Remo Scherrer with the music by Rahel Zimmermann is premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The Cinéfondation presents 15–20 films from film schools around the world which are selected among roughly 2300 applications each year.
- The animation film “Cats and Dogs” by Jesus Perez with music by David Hohl gets awarded the Prix du Public at the Animation Festival in Geneva and is selected to be screened at the Berlinale 2016.
- Alumnus Michel Barengo gets the FONDATION SUISA Award for Best Video Game Music in the game “Schlicht”.
2015
- “JULIAN”, a documentary about the harpsichord builder Julian by Julia Furer (music: Moritz Widrig) got the Best Documentary Award at the London Shows Film Festival.
- The ZHdK graduation movie “PARVANEH” by Talkhon Hamnavi (music: Dominik Blumer) has been nominated for an OSCAR in the category “Live Action Short Film”!
- The projekt Musicalprojekt VERONA 3000, musical co-producer: Silvan Koch, is nominated for the YEAH! (Young EARopean Award). The YEAH!, to which more that 100 projects from Europe have applied, is an award for musical mediation.
- The XBOX game “Party Evolution” by Isabel Schacher has won the audience award at the ETH Game Programming Laboratory (music: Jakob Eisenbach and Daniel Mistric).
- Jan Willem de With wins the 1st prize in the German national category in chamber music with his piece "La Nostalgie" and is a finalist and gets a “Special Mention Certificate” in the international category at the International Composition Competition Maurice Ravel.
- For her masters project from 2013, the video installation and performance “Landfall”, Alumna Fatima Dunn gets awarded a scholarship by the Nico Kaufmann Foundation.
2014
- “Parvaneh”, the master graduation film by Talkhon Hamzavi (music: Dominik Blumer), gets shortlisted at the OSCARS 2015.
- “Zu Ende leben” by Rebecca Pavian (music: Roman Lerch) wins the audience award at the 10. Zurich Film Festival.
- Matteo Pagamici, gets nominated as a finalist at the International Film Music Competition 2014.
- For his soundtrack for the motion picture “SHANA – The Wolf’s Music” by Nino Jacusso, Roman Lerch gets awarded the Film Music Award 2014 by FONDATION SUISA. Watch the portrait on Arte-TV.
- Matteo Pagamici is nominated for the German Game Music Award.
- The documentary “I wanna surf” with the soundtrack by Sandra Stadler und Bänz Isler is premiered on 20 March in Bern (Ciné Bubenberg) and will be out in Swiss cinemas.
2013
- The Peer Raben Award 2013 at Soundtrack Cologne is awarded to Rosanna Zünd for “Best Music in a Short Movie” for her music in “Letzte Spuren” by Norbert Rottmann and Oliver Rogers.
- PARVANEH by Talkhon Hamzavi with the music from Dominik Blumer gets awarded the FIRST STEPS AWARD for Best Short Movie.It also gets awarded a STUDENT OSCAR at the Student Academy Awards in the category “Best foreign Film”.
- The game Journey of a Roach with the soundtrack by Olav Lervik wins the Call for Projects: Swiss Games 2012/2013 und is nominated at the Swiss Game Awards 2013.
2012
- Michael Künstle has been selected out of 128 composers from 23 countries and is in the finals ate the Concours International de Composition de Musique de Film d’Animation in Annecy.
- The short animation film “Effort” by Eleonora Berra with the music by Olav Lervik gets awarded the Prix Taurus Studio à l’innovation 2013 at the Neuchatel International Film Festival
- “PARVANEH” by Talkhan Hamzavi with the music by Dominik Blumer wins following awards:
  
  Public Prize Raiffeisen | Castellinaria Festival internazionale del cinema giovane Bellinzona
  
  PRIX INTERCULTUREL for Best Fostering Interculturel | Munich international Festival of film schools | München
  
  Special Mention | Festival Barbakan 2012 | European Competition | Banská Bystrica | Slovakia
  
  Best Director | SWIKOS Kurzfilmfestival | Stadtcasino Basel
- Michael Künstle wins the International Film Music Competition 2012 in Zürich. 145 composers from 27 countries have participated.
- The short animation film “Partition” by E. Berra, D. Hess and S. Lang with the music by Michel Barengo has been awarded the “Best Film ANIMA and LAB-Animation Film” at the Sedicicorto International Film Festival and has been awarded the 1st prize in the category “Student Competition” at the Athens Animfest.
- “Cappuccino” by Tamer Ruggli with the music by Pierre Funck wins the audience award at the elegetebéfest, Málaga 2012.
- The mobile game “Hollow Grounds” with the music and sound design made by Michel Barengo receives the 1st place in the Swiss iTunes download charts and the Gold Award “Must-Have-Award”
- Fatima Dunn is nominated for the Netzhdk-Award for her masters project “Landfall” (video installation and live performance in collaboration with the video artist Mirjam von Ow).

Awards and Nominations

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012