“This has been such an incredible journey—I’m grateful to have shared it with our amazing team, bringing this powerful and timely story to life,” says Marcin Mazurek, composer of Rock, Paper, Scissors which won Best British Short Film at the BAFTAs.
Marcin Mazurek at the 2025 BAFTAs
The poignant 20-minute film, with Ukrainian actor Oleksandr Rudynskyy playing the lead role of Ivan, was directed by Franz Böhm and produced by Hayder Rothschild Hoozeer. Based on a true story, a father and son running a makeshift hospital in Ukraine on the front line of war, face a tough decision when a platoon of soldiers approaches their building. They must find a way to protect both their patients and themselves.
Marcin’s work on the film is an example of how music can transcend traditional scoring to become an integral part of the narrative. He explains, “In Rock, Paper, Scissors, the music wasn’t just inspired by the images—it was rooted in the specifics of the location and events. One of our inspirations was the sound of an air raid alarm, a terrifying echo from the streets of Ukraine. We transformed this sound into a musical instrument, experimenting with various techniques to integrate it into the film’s auditory landscape.”
The score began its development while the script was still being written, giving the team the freedom to experiment and treat the music as a canvas for the entire film. Marcin adds, “Since the film presents events from the perspective of the main character, we wanted the music to reflect his emotions and thought processes—especially the pressure of making quick, difficult decisions in an alien war zone.
“The music’s aim was not only to convey the protagonist’s inner turmoil but also to intertwine seamlessly with the sound design, enhancing the film’s atmosphere. We wanted to create a feeling of alienation, where Ivan’s world shifts from familiarity to a war zone with dangers lurking around every corner.”
Before the BAFTAs, Marcin was nominated for Best Score at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards for his work on this project.
Marcin moved to the UK from a small town near Kraków to study Film Music at Leeds Conservatoire, having been surrounded by music since an early age. He notes, “Leeds is a fantastic city to study in, offering a vibrant community of talented students and societies, while remaining compact and less overwhelming than London, which is great, especially if you are moving from a smaller town abroad.”
Studying on the conservatoire’s Film Music course helped him gain a deeper understanding of all aspects of the craft, learning from tutors with their own areas of expertise within the film and music industries plus their different perspectives:
“Coming from a very classical music background, I feel I particularly benefitted from being encouraged to watch more films, especially catching up on the classics, which we would then analyse and discuss in class. The course also gave me the opportunity to connect with amazing course mates, and discussing our work during film nights helped me refine my skills and gain a better understanding of how the audience may perceive my music.”
Marcin ensures his music stays versatile by not limiting his creativity to a certain style or genre and proactively seeking challenging opportunities across very different projects.
