Prof. Bernd Ruf is one of the pioneers in classical crossover. Already nominated for a Grammy in 2001 for an orchestral production with the Cuban jazz musician Paquito D'Rivera as conductor, he has pursued his musical credo of bringing together different musical genres and cultures over the decades. Film music, as such, stands for a maximum stylistic breadth and thus logically forms a focal point of Bernd Ruf's work. He has been the musical director of the annual Film Music Days Saxony-Anhalt in Halle since 2008. He has conducted soundtracks for national and international television and cinema films, including the music for the "Albert Schweitzer - A Life for Africa" feature film. In addition to film music, Bernd Ruf has also conducted soundtracks for many games, such as "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened" and the German computer game series "Anno." As a professor, Bernd Ruf heads the popular music, jazz, and world music department at the Lübeck University of Music. In addition to film music, Bernd Ruf is a sought-after expert for symphonic crossover projects in jazz, rock, and world music. He has worked as a conductor with Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Bobby Kimball (Toto), Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, Richie Beirach, the African musician Patrick Bebey, the bandoneon master Raul Jaurena and international orchestras. Prof. Bernd Ruf's love for Taiwan was ignited during his first stay in October and December 2015, on the occasion of the symphonic concerts of the Taiwanese band Sodagreen in the Taipei Arena. This love led to regular visits until the Corona period. In 2016, his commitment was recognized when he was awarded the Golden Melody Award as conductor for Sodagreen's "Winter Endless" album. Since then, he has regularly recorded for Sodagreen / Oaeen with his own orchestra, the GermanPops Orchestra. In 2017, he started a cooperation between his university, the Lübeck University of Music, with the Taipei National University of the Arts, and the National Chiayi University. With his university ensembles, MHL-Bigband, and MHL-Vocal Band "Vox Mandala," he was an artist at the Taichung Jazz Festival in 2017 and 2018. He will also perform there with his son Ilja Ruf's trio this year. Prof. Bernd Ruf is part of the jury at the Kuandu International Animation Festival for the second time this year, following his first participation in 2020.