On Wednesday, June 25, during the Keep an Eye Filmacademie Festival at the Eye Filmmuseum, the Keep an Eye Filmscore Award 2025 was presented to composer Xiangming Niu (Master Composing for Film, Class of 2025) for the graduation film kus kus beng beng. Composer Pablo González Cardona received a special mention for his music for the graduation film Beneath the Baobab Tree.
The jury on the winner of the Keep an Eye Filmscore Award
The jury consisted of Mojan Alaiyeh (composer), Michel Schöpping (sound designer), and Bob Zimmerman (composer and jury chair). Once again, they were deeply impressed by the music composed for the Filmacademie graduation films.
From the jury rapport
For the jury, the winning composer is the one who did write a remarkably diverse score, sometimes far beyond the classical background. The score is original, surprising, versatile and gives proof of deep dramatic insight, hard study and shows cognitive as well as social and creative intelligence. (..) By deliberately not choosing the primary subject of the film as the theme for the composition, the music enhances a deeply layered experience.
The Keep an Eye Filmscore Award includes a cash prize of € 3.500 (winner) and € 500 (special mention), to be used for equipment and further professional development. The award is made possible by the Keep an Eye Foundation.
The winning students graduated from the Master Composing for Film, a programme offered by the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in collaboration with the Netherlands Film Academy
Keep an Eye Filmacademie Festival
The Keep an Eye Filmacademie Festival runs through July 6 at the Eye Filmmuseum, Het Documentaire Paviljoen and the Netherlands Filmacademy. More information about the programme: www.filmacademiefestival.nl
Keep an Eye Filmacademie Festival is made possible by the Keep an Eye Foundation. The Foundation keeps an eye out for young, promising creative talents and encourages cross-disciplinary exchange between different art schools and fields — to offer new perspectives on students' work.