Film, Commercial & Game Music

Music as Story

I’m Ivan Smirnoff, a composer creating music for film, commercials, and games. From my studio, I work with a warm, hands-on approach, building music that follows story, shapes emotion, and gives each project its own character.

I treat film and game scoring as an art form, and I bring that same mindset into commercial work. Whether it’s a narrative scene or a short format piece, I approach it not as a task to fill, but as something that deserves intention, taste, and its own voice.

My background in post-production helps me think beyond music alone and how it sits with dialogue, space, and silence. Clients value that I’m reliable, flexible, and ready to adapt, while keeping a clear sense of direction and musical identity.

Along the way, my work has picked up a few awards, not a finish line, but a sign I’m moving in the right direction.

Explore Selected Work Contact
Ivan Smirnoff in his studio
Studio guitar setup

What I do

I compose music and collaborate across the full audio pipeline, ensuring that music works as part of the overall sound and storytelling.

Original Score

Music for film, series, and narrative-driven projects, built around story, pacing, and emotional structure.

See film music examples

Game Music

Music designed with implementation in mind, adaptable to interactive systems and gameplay dynamics.

See game music examples

Sound Collaboration

Close work with sound designers, editors, and audio programmers to ensure cohesive results across music and sound.

Production & Delivery

Clean, mix-ready stems, alternative versions, and revisions aligned with production workflows.

Selected Work

A selection of commercial, film, and music work presented by format and project type.

Featured Commercial Video

A fast-paced commercial example built around timing, motion, and brand clarity.

  • Commercial
  • Self-hosted video
  • Preview format

Commercial Video Highlights

Featured inDrive — Pakistan appears above. This grid focuses on additional distinct campaign examples.

inDrive — Peru

A short-form branded piece focused on rhythm, timing, and editorial clarity.

PepsiCo BreakOut

A commercial example combining musical energy with clean visual pacing.

Campaign2 variations

Agama Campaign

Two short-form commercial variations built around concise product-focused scoring and timing-sensitive edit support.

Campaign2 spots

Sprite Campaign

Commercial work built around a shared musical identity adapted across multiple campaign edits.

Film Work

Feature, short film, and documentary work available on their original platforms, with inline playback where supported.

200 Years of Russian Thought

Documentary · 2023

Role: Composer

A documentary tracing major ideas in Russian philosophy, from historical foundations to contemporary thought.

Watch on YouTube ↗

Reborn

Drama Short · 2020

Role: Composer

A dramatic short film centered on transformation, grief, and identity through an intimate emotional arc.

Watch on Tubi in supported regions

Tubi availability varies by region. Supported markets include the US, Canada, Australia, Mexico, and the UK.

Watch on Tubi ↗

Music Videos & Competition Work

Music-led external examples organized by released vocal material and competition-focused scoring work.

Songs / Vocal Releases

Official release Song Vocal

Almitra — On Love

Official release · 108Record

Role: Composer / Producer

A vocal release shaped with song-driven structure and cinematic production detail.

Listen on YouTube Music ↗
Award-winning 3rd Place · FMC 2020 Competition

Perpetual Motion — Film Music Contest Winning Entry

Competition Work · Award-winning

Role: Composer

Award-winning competition entry focused on cinematic storytelling, orchestral writing, and strong thematic development.

Watch on YouTube ↗

Other Competition Work

Uplifting Synth Competition

Can’t Stop

ADAM Audio Soundtrack Competition · 2022

Role: Composer

An uplifting synth-driven piece created for the ADAM Audio Soundtrack Competition, with a forward pulse and disco-inflected electronic energy.

Watch on YouTube ↗
Cinematic Oceanic Contest

Orchid of Oceania

8Dio Score This: The Captain

Role: Composer

A cinematic piece paired with ocean and island imagery, written for the 8Dio Score This: The Captain contest.

Watch on YouTube ↗
Ethnic Mystical Finalist

Semilla Seed — Rescored Soundtrack

Rec Change Soundtrack Contest · Finalist

Role: Composer

A mystical, ethnic-flavoured rescored soundtrack piece that reached the finals of the Rec Change Soundtrack Contest.

Watch on YouTube ↗
Game Audio Gameplay Finalist

Rec Change Audio Contest Finalist

Gameplay Audio · Finalist

Role: Music & Audio

A match-3 gameplay example featuring original soundtrack and audio design, selected as a finalist in the Rec Change Audio Contest.

Watch on YouTube ↗

Cinematic Highlights

Cinematic

Curated cinematic pieces focused on atmosphere, narrative arc, and emotional lift.

Veiled Histories

Dark melancholic cinematic theme built around celesta and strings.

Dark · Melancholic · Celesta & Strings

Hot Night in Wajir

A dramatic orchestral cue with forward motion and cinematic scale.

Cinematic · Dramatic · Orchestral

Two Minutes With an Angel

A lyrical cinematic cue with melodic focus and emotional warmth.

Lyrical · Melodic · Emotional

Game Music & Audio

Gameplay Audio Examples

Curated in-game cues shaped for tension, player feedback, and momentum.

Alarm (In-Game)

Reactive alarm cue designed for gameplay tension and forward drive.

Metal · Tension · Action

Gameplay Music

Propulsive in-game cue built to support continuous gameplay flow.

Gameplay · Rhythmic · Driving

Menu Music

Atmospheric menu theme crafted to set tone before gameplay begins.

Dark · Menu · Atmospheric

About

I'm a composer and sound designer with professional experience across film, television, commercials, and game-related projects.

My background includes not only composition, but also Foley, ADR, editing, and mixing. This allows me to approach music as part of the full audio landscape, not in isolation.

I focus on delivering music that supports the scene, works with dialogue and sound design, and integrates naturally into the final mix.

My work has been used in commercial campaigns and film productions, and has received recognition in international competitions.

I approach each project with a clear goal: deliver reliable, high-quality work that strengthens the final result, both technically and artistically.

I am open to remote collaboration and international projects.

Studio loudspeaker and headphones
Working in studio at the production desk

How I work

Every project starts with understanding the story, the mood, and what the music needs to do.

If there is a reference, I first break down what makes it work: arrangement, instrumentation, structure, and the musical moments that matter most for the brief. Then I build my own version, keeping the mood while making the music original.

If there is no reference, I usually start at the piano. I sketch ideas, follow the emotional flow of the scene, and test what works before moving into arrangement and production.

From there, the process stays flexible. I move between writing, sound design, recording, and refinement depending on what the project needs, always keeping the story in focus.

Studio

This is the place where most of my work starts and grows. Over the years, I’ve put it together around the way I write music, with real instruments, microphones, speakers, headphones, and the software I use every day.

It gives me the freedom to move between sketching, arranging, recording, editing, and shaping details without breaking the flow. The upright piano in the studio is often where I test ideas first, especially when I’m following the emotional movement of a scene and trying to find the right direction. From there, the music can grow into orchestral parts, textures, or more production-based work depending on what the project needs.

I’ve built this space step by step over many years so it supports the way I work – focused, flexible, and personal. It’s a place where creative instinct and technical work come together naturally, and where music can take shape from first idea to final version. And if you stay on the piano for a moment, it might answer back.

Grand piano in studio

Recognition

Main awards

  • 3rd Place - Film Music Contest (FMC), 2020
  • Finalist - Rec Change (Game Audio), 2020
  • Finalist - Rec Change (Film Music), 2020

Contributions to award-winning productions

  • Sensoria - Audience Jury Award, Fantasporto
  • Executioner - Golden Eagle Award

Contact

If you have a project, feel free to reach out with a brief, reference, or rough idea. I'll get back to you and we can define the direction together.

Or send a quick message