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CHIGIANA INTERNATIONAL FILM
SCORING COMPETITION
II EDITION 2025
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MEET THE FINALISTS
Amid an exceptionally fierce competition, these twelve finalists have showcased remarkable talent and creativity through their rescoring of the scene from Marco Bonfanti’s movie “L’Uomo senza Gravità (2019)”
THE FINALISTS ARE: (in alphabetical order):
- Hubert Aouattah (Belgium)
- Angela Maria Feo (Italy)
- Camilo José Franco (Colombia)
- Jonathan Gonzalo Ghidotti (Mexico – Italy)
- Marco Graziosi (Italy)
- Satoshi Kanno (Japan)
- Filipe Marcelo Mação Magalhães (Portugal)
- Dahye Nam (South Korea)
- Giacomo Rendine (Italy)
- Massimo Sciannamea (Italy)
- S Neal Thompson (USA)
- Juan Villodre (Spain)
The winners will be announced on March 31, 2025.
We sincerely thank all the composers who contributed their talent and creativity to the Chigiana International Film Scoring Competition – II Edition 2025. The level of creativity and expertise showcased in the submissions was truly outstanding! Stay tuned!
I FINALISTI
HUBERT AOUATTAH (BELGIUM)
Hubert Aouattah was introduced to music at the age of four when he began playing the piano. His parents both transmitted him the love for movies and music of every genre with their own way of perceiving it. His passion for cinema and music made him particularly eager to specialize in original soundtrack. Hubert Aouattah flourished watching a wide variety of movies ranging from work by Leone or Hitchcock to legendary productions such as Spielberg’s. As a composer, Hubert Aouattah is immensely dedicated to the cinematography, the storytelling, and what is beyond. He is always ready and eager to experiment new ways to compose music in order to fit and enhance the movie in the best way possible.
ANGELA FEO (ITALY)
Angela Feo is a 27-year-old Italian guitarist, producer, and composer with a degree from the Naples Conservatorio San Pietro a Majella. Initially drawn to pop music, she later pursued classical studies and developed a deep passion for film composition. Her journey into film scoring began at AEMAS Academy in Naples and continued at Accademia del Cinema Renoir in Rome, where she was recognized as the most outstanding student, winning the Atelier Renoir award. This achievement led her to work as an assistant on various Italian film productions. Beyond film music, she is the conductor of the Santa Maria degli Angeli polyphonic choir, where she arranges both original and existing pieces and organizes charity concerts in the province of Salerno. Her musical exploration extends to pop, having studied songwriting with producer and pianist Mario Fanizzi, participated in a gospel workshop with WakeUp Gospel Project, and trained in production and mixing. As a producer and composer, she collaborates with emerging artists from different countries and also releases her own music as a solo artist. Her compositional style is influenced by a diverse range of artists, including Thomas Newman, Hans Zimmer, Geoff Zanelli, Martin Garrix, Lauv, LANY, and Tommee Profitt.
CAMILO JOSE FRANCO (COLOMBIA)
Camilo José Franco is a Colombian composer and multi-instrumentalist. A member of MUCINE, the Colombian Association of Film Composers, he earned his B.M. in Composition from the Pontifical Xavierian University and pursued film scoring and orchestration studies there and at CIBEF. His credits include the feature films 6 Hours Away and A Contraluz, along with award-winning short films. Passionate about orchestral music, Camilo blends romantic orchestration with modern sensibilities to create a sound that is both expressive and innovative. Alongside his film work, he is currently growing his audience through social media while reconnecting with his rock band roots.
JONATHAN GONZALO GHIDOTTI (MEXICO – ITALIA)
Composer and educator, in 2018 he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Musicology from the University of Pavia. At the same time he began studying Composition at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Como, where in 2023 he obtained his second Bachelor’s degree, graduating with honours. He is currently in his second year of a master’s degree in Composition for Audiovisual Media and Sound Design. First place at the second Luis Bacalov International Composition Competition and special award from the Magna Grecia orchestra. Third prize at the Indie Game Music Contest and special Popularity Prize.
MARCO GRAZIOSI (ITALY)
I’m an Italian aspiring musician who has worked here and there but never found my place. A few years ago, I returned to Italy to study music, and now I’m a composition student at Saint Louis College of Music in Rome. I was afraid of the competition, and now I’m even more so. Not sure how I got here, but glad people like what I’ve made.
SATOSHI KANNO (JAPAN)
Satoshi Kanno was inspired by his father, a jazz vibraphonist, to begin playing the marimba at a young age. He went on to study at the Percussion Department of Tokyo College of Music, where he honed his skills as a performer. After graduation, while working as a marimba player, he expanded his musical horizons by studying composition and jazz. His passion for film music was sparked by Akira Kurosawa’s Ran and the evocative score by Tōru Takemitsu, which led him to explore the world of film composition. He pursued further studies in film music, orchestration, and contemporary music through Berklee Online. Beyond film scoring, Satoshi has contributed to J-POP and anime songs, showcasing his versatility as a composer and arranger. His talent has been recognized in international competitions such as: the Stelvio Cipriani International Composition Competition (finalist – Italy, 2022), the FMC-Film Music Contest (Semi-finalist), and Tōru Takemitsu Composition Award (Entrant). Additionally, he won the Excellence Award in the Percussion Section of the Kobe Music Competition.
FILIPE MARCELO MAÇÃO MAGALHÃES (PORTUGAL)
I began studying electronic organ at 9 years old, developing a foundation in classical music. Alongside formal training, I taught myself guitar and played in several bands over the years. At 28, I discovered a passion for music production and have since then been expanding my skills. I also play djembe, ukulele, harmonica, and Portuguese guitar. Throughout my journey, I’ve collaborated on various projects, including promotional videos and advertisements. My passion for blending diverse instruments and sounds fuels me and allows me to explore the boundaries of my creativity.
DAHYE NAM (SUD COREA)
Nam Dahye began studying piano at the age of five, cultivating an early passion for music. During her teenage years, she immersed herself in classical repertoire, exploring a wide range of works from Vivaldi to Schönberg. She later entered the College of Music at Yonsei University, where she majored in composition and pursued an in-depth study of classical music. Her master’s studies were profoundly shaped by Stravinsky’s structural techniques, Mahler’s deep harmonic language, and Ravel’s innovative approaches to orchestration. Over the years, Nam Dahye has developed a distinctive musical voice that seamlessly blends classical traditions with the emotive essence of Korean musical heritage. One of her notable works, Arirang for violin and string chamber orchestra, was performed in 2020 by the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn at Schloss Neuenstein.
GIACOMO RENDINE (ITALY)
Born in Rome in 1989, he studied Applied Music at the “S. Cecilia” Conservatory, graduating with top honors. In 2022, he completed a Master’s in Film Scoring at the same conservatory, in collaboration with Digital Records, earning a 110 with honors and a special mention. From the outset, he collaborated with various composers, including Emanuele Bossi, Michele Braga, Andrea Farri, Giuliano Taviani, and Nicola Tescari, working as an arranger and orchestrator while composing additional music for films and series such as La Stranezza, Elf Me, Il Commissario Ricciardi 3, and others. Additionally, he orchestrated the music for Il Gattopardo and Fino Alla Fine, collaborating with composer Paolo Buonvino.
MASSIMO SCIANNAMEA (ITALY)
Massimo Sciannamea, born in Molfetta (BA) on March 4, 1991, graduated with top honors in Piano Performance (V.O.) and Electronic Music from the “N. Piccinni” Conservatory in Bari in 2010 and 2014, respectively. As a pianist, he has won several national and international competitions. Over the years, he has composed numerous soundtracks for television commercials and events, collaborating with major brands such as Zalando, Nike, Amazon, Fila, Costa Crociere, and many others. He has also written and arranged orchestral scores for several songs featured in the Sanremo Music Festival (2018, 2019, 2021, 2023).
S NEAL THOMPSON (USA)
Drawn to the powerful link between story and sound since his childhood writing music and filmmaking, Neal’s musical journey began in the punk/emo/alt rock scenes, honing his understanding of musical storytelling and emotional resonance. Driven by a desire to pursue his passion after becoming a father, he transitioned from a software engineering directorship to film composing in 2025. His credits include multiple album releases through the bands ‘Heretics and Heroes‘ and ‘Strange Her‘, scoring a virtual reality video game and numerous short film projects.
JUAN VILLODRE (SPAIN)
Juan Villodre is a Spanish composer and conductor. He studied at the “Conservatorio Superior de Música de Murcia” and earned a Master Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Valencia. He holds a Master’s in Orchestration for Film and TV from Berklee College of Music. His works have been performed worldwide, and his arrangements are published by Hal Leonard. He has conducted major works like Mozart’s Requiem and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. Currently, he is the principal conductor of the Joven Orquesta de Albacete. He has also composed for short films, commercials, musicals, and the feature film “Donde paran los Tomates”. juanvillodre.com
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