ABOUT MIRJAM

Mirjam Skal is a freelance film composer based in Zurich. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Composition for Film from the Zurich University of the Arts. Known for her signature blend of synthetic textures and orchestral elements, she writes music for documentaries, feature films, and television.

As a synaesthete, her approach to composition is very intuitive and visually driven. Mirjam is especially drawn to rare and unconventional instruments such as the theremin and hurdy-gurdy, and she often develops custom instrumental sound palettes for each project. She is particularly fascinated by the interplay between acoustic instruments and electronic soundscapes—crafting immersive, evocative textures that serve each film’s unique world.

In 2021 Mirjam has been selected as a sound studio participant in Berlinale Talents, which has been a mind opening experience for her. In the same year Mirjam has been chosen to be part of the AWFC Mentorship program under the guidance of renowned composer Mychael Danna (Life of Pi). Following the mentorship, Mychael Danna invited Mirjam to compose additional music for the film WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING.

Since then, she has been active in both national and international film and TV productions, composing music for two Zurich Tatort episodes and for Jasmin Gordon’s debut feature LES COURAGEUX. In November 2024, she was awarded the Rolf-Hans Müller Prize for Best Film Score at the Televisionale Baden-Baden for her soundtrack to the Tatort episode “Von Affen und Menschen”. In May 2025, she received the German Documentary Film Music Award for her score for Max Carlo Kohal’s film VRACHT.