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Icelandic composer Hildur Gudnadóttir will receive the career achievement award at the 21st Zurich Film Festival, Zurich announced Thursday. An Oscar winner for her score to Todd Phillips’ Joker, making her the first-ever solo female artist to win the Academy Award for best score, Gudnadóttir is also known for her music for Todd Field’s Tár (2022) and Kenneth Branagh’s A Haunting in Venice (2023) and for her Emmy-winning score for HBO’s Chernobyl (2019). She will be honored at the festival’s “Cinema in Concert” gala on Oct. 2.

“Hildur Gudnadóttir is one of the most innovative composers of our time,” said festival director Christian Jungen. “She knows how to use experimental sounds to shape mainstream pop culture and lend it atmospheric depth. She is an inquisitive musician who develops her scores in dialogue with the filmmakers and their sequences, creating melodies that you might not hum to yourself on the way home,...

The Zurich Film Festival (Zff) will honor legendary film composer Howard Shore with its career achievement award. The triple-Oscar winner, best known for his iconic scores for Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies, will receive the award at the 20th Zff in October.

In addition, Shore will head up the Zff’s international film music competition for its 20th edition. As jury president, the Canadian composer will judge young talents each tasked with creating an original score to the same 8-minute short film. The three compositions will be performed live by the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich under the direction of Frank Strobel on Oct. 5 during Zurich’s Cinema in Concert gala in the presence of the three nominees. The winning composition will receive a Chf 10,000 ($11,500) cash prize.

“I am honored to come to Zurich for the festival’s 20th anniversary, to receive this career achievement...

Primetime Emmy-nominated composer Christopher Young has one hell of a resume in the horror world, lending his musical talents to fan-favorite films including A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, Hellraiser, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, The Fly II, Tales from the Hood, Urban Legend, Drag Me to Hell, Sinister, and more recently 2020’s The Empty Man.

The legendary composer is back here in 2024 with Christopher Young’s Nosferatu – A Symphony of Horror, taking to Kickstarter to fan fund a Double CD release of his own award-winning orchestral score for the 1922 horror classic directed by F.W. Murnau.

The Kickstarter campaign previews, “In 2022, Christopher Young was engaged by Europäische FilmPhilharmonie to compose original music for the film in celebration of its 100th anniversary…the results were spectacular. Inspired by the story’s gothic DNA, Young composed what can only be described as a dramatic, visceral, and utterly terrifying response to the...

One of the long-awaited crown jewels of silent cinema will be seen in its full glory soon. For nearly two decades work has been underway to restore Abel Gance’s 1927 epic Napoleon to as close as possible to its “Apollo version,” a seven-hour cut that screened at the Apollo Theatre in Paris in 1927. As led by Georges Mourier and backed by Cinémathèque Française, with financing from Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée and Netflix, among others, this definitive version will now premiere this summer in Paris.

This new version will hold its world premiere across two evenings on July 4 and 5 at the Seine Musicale, located in the western suburbs of Paris, according to a news release (with a hat tip to our friend Peter Labuza). This special screening will feature a new live score by over 250 musicians from the National Orchestra of France, the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra,...

Bayon triumphed in the competition to score Seth Boyden’s animated short An Object At Rest.

Spanish composer Jason Bayon won the fifth International Film Music Competition taking place within the framework of this year’s Zurich Film Festival (Sept 22 - Oct 2) at the city’s renowned Tonhalle hall on Friday.

Bayon was awarded the $10,000 (Chf 10,000) Golden Eye for Best Film Music 2016. Romanian composer Lucian Zbarcea was given a special mention.

The event is organised jointly by Zff with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich in collaboration with the Forum Filmmusik.

For this year’s competition, applicants were asked to score Seth Boyden’s 2015 animated short An Object At Rest about a rock faced with the threat of human civilisation.

Bayon and Zbarcea were among five composers whose scores were shortlisted out of 202 submissions, alongside the Us’s Nic Danielson, Poland’s Marcin Sadowski and Sweden’s Joakim Unander.

All five scores were performed by Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, conducted...

Death doesn't take a holiday in this, the granddaddy of movies about the woeful duties of the Grim Reaper. Fritz Lang's heavy-duty Expressionist fable is as German as they get -- a morbid folk tale with an emotionally powerful finish. Destiny Blu-ray Kino Classics 1921 / B&W / 1:33 flat / 98 min. / Street Date August 30, 2016 / Der müde Tod / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring Lil Dagover, Walter Janssen, Bernhard Goetzke, Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Georg John. Cinematography Bruno Mondi, Erich Nitzschmann, Herrmann Saalfrank, Bruno Timm, Fritz Arno Wagner Film Editor Fritz Lang Written by Fritz Lang, Thea von Harbou Produced by Erich Pommer Directed by Fritz Lang

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari takes the prize for the most influential work of early German Expressionism, but coming in a close second is the film in which Fritz Lang first got his act (completely) together, 1921's Destiny (Der müde Tod). A wholly cinematic...

'Die Nibelungen: Siegfried': Paul Richter as the dragon-slaying hero of medieval Germanic mythology. 'Die Nibelungen': Enthralling silent classic despite complex plot and countless characters Based on the medieval epic poem Nibelungenlied, itself inspired by the early medieval Germanic saga about the Burgundian royal family, Fritz Lang's two-part Die Nibelungen is one of those movies I can enjoy many times without ever really understanding who's who and what's what. After all, the semi-historical, fantasy/adventure epic is packed with intrigue, treachery, deceit, hatred, murder, and sex. And that's just the basic plotline. As seen in Kino's definitive two-disc edition, artistically and cinematically speaking Die Nibelungen contains some of the greatest visual compositions I've ever seen. Filmed mostly in long shots that frame the imaginative sets and high ceilings, each static shot is meticulously composed with such symmetry and balance that, even though Die Nibelungen takes the viewer through a mythical fantasia,...

Six newly-restored films from Germany, Japan, Taiwan and the Us.

The Berlinale Classics strand at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 11-21) is to include premieres of six films: two German and four international productions, five of them world premieres.

Us film The Road Back directed by James Whale in 1937, references a slice of German history. It is based on the eponymous Erich Maria Remarque novel about four German infantrymen who face a difficult road back to civilian life.

In 1939, after protests from Germany, Universal Studios re-edited the film without consulting the director. The festival is showing a reconstruction of Whale’s original 1937 theatrical release version, preserved by the Library of Congress in collaboration with NBCUniversal and Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation. David Stenn and the UCLA Film & Television Archive provided skills and film footage.

Heiner Carow’s semi-autobiographical film The Russians are Coming (Die Russen kommen, Gdr, 1968) is set in...

Upcoming Us composer receives Golden Eye award from Hans Zimmer.

Us composer Leeran Z. Raphaely has won the third International Music Film Competition at the Zurich Film Festival (Sept 25 - Oct 5).

Raphaely received the Golden Eye Award at Zurich’s Tonhalle last night (Oct 1), which includes a cash prize of CHF10,000 ($10,500).

The jury chose the winner from finalists that also included Matteo Pagamici (Switzerland), Richard Ruzicka (Germany), Dominik Giesriegl (Austria), and the duo Lidia Kalendareva and Alin Cristian Oprea (Germany/Russia/Rumania).

The five finalists were chosen in an initial round from 231 scores by composers from more than 40 countries.

The competition required entrants to compose a score for symphony orchestra for the six-minute short film Maximall by Axel Tillement, Axelle Cheriet, Hadrien Ledieu and Nawel Rahal.

The five best scores as chosen by a jury of experts were world premiered in the evening at the Tonhalle Zürich under the baton of Frank Strobel.

The jury included...

A flurry of press releases from the Berlinale today, and the one you may find most interesting isn't the newsiest. You already knew that the Retrospective, The Red Dream Factory, will be featuring Eisenstein's October (Oktjabr, 1928), but today's announcement has details on the new restoration and the presentation on February 10: "Conducted by Frank Strobel, the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra will perform the original score as composed by Edmund Meisel."

The second release of the day reveals that 12 titles have been added to the lineup of the Berlinale Special program, in addition to the six previously announced (here and here). Seems we can assume the first three events will be happening on Potsdamer Platz:

To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the film journal Positif: Volker Schlöndorff's Der Fangschuss (Le coup de grâce, 1975) with Matthias Habich, Margarethe von Trotta, Rüdiger Kirschtein, Mathieu Carrière and Valeska Gert.

The European premiere of...

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films has announced the nominations for The 37th Annual Saturn Awards. Among others, Director Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic, Inception leads the pack with 9 nominations. Director Joseph Kosinski‘s long-awaited Tron: Legacy pulled in 7 nominations, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 earned 5 nominations.

Check out all the nominees below!

The 37th Annual Saturn Award Nominees

Best Science Fiction Film:

Hereafter (Warner Bros.)

Inception (Warner Bros.)

Iron Man 2 (Paramount/Marvel)

Never Let Me Go (Fox Searchlight)

Splice (Warner Bros.)

Tron: Legacy (Walt Disney Studios)

Best Fantasy Film:

Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Studios)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (20th Century Fox)

Clash of the Titans (Warner Bros.)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Warner Bros.)

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Universal)

Twilight: Eclipse (Summit Entertainment)

Best Horror/Thriller Film:

The American (Focus)

Black Swan...

Well it is awards season, and the Annual Saturn Awards have announced their nominees. For those playing at home the Saturn Awards are ‘The Academy Of Science Fiction Fantasy & Horror Films‘ aka the stuff we love here at Killer Film! The winners get announced in June, so take a look at the nominee’s.

Film

Best Science Fiction Film

Hereafter

Inception

Iron Man 2

Never Let Me Go

Splice

Tron: Legacy

Best Fantasy Film

Alice in Wonderland

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Clash of the Titans

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Best Horror/Thriller Film

The American

Black Swan

Kick-Ass

Let Me In

Shutter Island

The Wolfman

Best Action/Adventure Film

The Expendables

The Green Hornet

Red

Robin Hood

Salt

True Grit

Unstoppable

Best Actor

Jeff Bridges, Tron: Legacy

George Clooney, The American

Leonardo DiCaprio,...

It's that time of year again: The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films has announced the nominations for its 37th Annual Saturn Awards.

From the Press Release:

Leading the charge is Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending sci-fi thriller “Inception” with 9 nominations. Overture/Relativity Media’s “Let Me In” and Disney’s “Tron: Legacy” downloaded 7 nominations apiece; Clint Eastwood’s thought-provoking “Hereafter” received 6; while “Alice in Wonderland,” “Black Swan,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1,” “Never Let Me Go” and “Shutter Island” earned 5 nominations each.

In the television categories, Frank Darabont’s zombie-drama “The Walking Dead” (AMC) came to life with 6 nominations. “Breaking Bad” (AMC), “Lost” (ABC) and “Fringe” (Fox) tied with 5 nominations. “Leverage” (TNT) and “True Blood” (HBO) earned 4 apiece, followed by “Dexter” (Showtime) and “V” (ABC) with 3 and “The Closer” (TNT), “Smallville” (CW) and “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” (Starz) with 2.

The Academy was founded in 1972 by noted...

The full list of award nominations have been unleashed for The 37 Annual Saturn Awards. Inception rules the nomination list with nine, Let Me In and Tron: Legacy also took seven nominations each. As for TV The Walking Dead it ended up walking away with the most nominations with six, and Breaking Bad, Lost and Fringe got five noms each. This is an award ceremony all of us geeks can get behind.

The 37th annual Saturn Awards take place in June in Burbank. Heres the complete list of film and TV nominations below:

Film

Best Science Fiction Film

Hereafter

Inception

Iron Man 2

Never Let Me Go

Splice

Tron: Legacy

Best Fantasy Film

Alice in Wonderland

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Clash of the Titans

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Best Horror/Thriller Film...

"The King's Speech" is likely to dominate the 83rd Annual Academy Awards on Sunday (February 27), but if zombies, aliens, vampires and dream hijackers are more your speed, just hang tight until June.

The Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films have announced the nominations for the 37th Annual Saturn Awards, which honor excellence in all things gruesome, awesome and everything in between for both movies and television.

Christopher Nolan's "Inception" leads the pack in the film categories with nine nominations (one more than its outstanding Oscar nom total), including Best Science Fiction Film, Best Writing and Best Director for Nolan. He'll square off against directors Darren Aronofsky ("Black Swan"), Clint Eastwood ("Hereafter"), Matt Reeves ("Let Me In"), Martin Scorsese ("Shutter Island") and David Yates ("Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1").

"Inception" will also vie for Best Special Effects, Best Writing (Nolan), Best Music (Hans Zimmer...

I love Saturn Awards! Of course, if you’re fan of science fiction, fantasy and horror film, you love them too.

So, you’ll be glad to hear that Saturn Awards nominations for the 37th Annual Saturn Awards were announced this Wednesday by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror and that we already have a leader!

And it’s Christopher Nolan‘s Inception that led with nine nominations, including best sci-fi pic, as well as Let Me In, Tron: Legacy,Hereafter, Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 which all garnered multiple nominations also.

On the other hand, AMC’s The Walking Dead led all TV series with 6 nominations, while Breaking Bad, Fringe, and Lost with 5 each.

When it comes to actors, we’re not surprised to see that Jeff Bridges, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr. and Ryan Reynolds gained their nominations for Best Actor,...

The first time I saw Fritz Lang's Metropolis was three years ago when a proposed remake was supposedly in the works. That remake hasn't been heard from since, but this 1927 classic continues to make noise and the noise got louder in 2008 when 25 assumed-to-be-lost minutes were found at the Muso del Cino in Buenos Aires.

The news was massive as this was footage that hadn't been seen since the film opened in 1927 and was thought to never be seen again. Now, not only can you see it, you can watch it in the highest form of home video entertainment available and Kino has done a fantastic job delivering the film as best as possible. But that isn't to say this Blu-ray is perfect. In fact, outside of the film, it is a bit lacking.

First off, the film is presented in its "complete" version (some scenes still remain lost and...

Chicago – One of the cinematic highlights of my life happened earlier this year when I was lucky enough to see “The Complete Metropolis” on the big screen. Fritz Lang’s legendary film is not only riveting by virtue of being one of the most influential of all time but the story that developed after it was made is a historically fascinating one. Almost a century after it was released, we can now see “Metropolis,” recently released on Blu-ray, in a more complete manner than ever before.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

The fact is that most early filmmakers and film watchers had no concept of where we would be today in terms of the longevity of the medium. Most historians estimate that a majority of the films released before 1930 are completely gone, likely destroyed and never to be found. Even the films we do have from that era are often truncated with whole reels lost to history.

Metropolis returns on DVD and Blu-ray November 16Fritz Lang's 1927 sci-fi classic Metropolis will be re-released on both DVD and Blu-ray in a fully-restored "complete" edition on November 16. This new release will contain 25 minutes of lost footage which was found in a museum in 2008, making this 147-minute version the most complete version of the film since it's initial premiere. The new DVD will be priced at $29.95 Srp while the new Bd will be priced at $39.95 Srp. You can take a look at the special features below and read more about the history of the film and its restoration:

Metropolis takes place in 2026, when the populace is divided between workers who must live in the dark underground and the rich who enjoy a futuristic city of splendor. The tense balance of these two societies is realized through images that are among the most famous of the 20th century, many of which presage...

Cologne, Germany -- A restored version of Fritz Lang's original cut of his silent classic "Metropolis" will have its premiere Feb. 12 at the Friendrichtstadtpalast as part of the 60th Berlin International Film Festival.

Lang's science fiction opus premiered in its original 153-minute version at the Ufa Palast in Berlin on Jan. 10, 1927. But it was a huge flop with audiences and critics at the time and was chopped down substantially. Much of the original footage disappeared and was thought lost forever.

Even the famed 2001 restored version of "Metropolis," which also premiered at the Berlin festival, was a good half-hour shorter than Lang's original.

But last year, an original 16 mm negative print, likely the last in existence, was discovered at the Museo del Cine Pablo in Buenos Aires. The Wilhelm-Murnau Foundation, together with broadcasters Zdf and art and Berlin film museum the Deutsche Kinemathek, have restored the film to its original form.