De World Soundtrack Awards, opgericht in 2001, zijn een jaarlijkse reeks prijzen voor beste filmmuziek, die worden uitgereikt tijdens Film Fest Gent. De World Soundtrack Academy ondersteunt de kunst van filmmuziek door middel van culturele, educatieve en professionele activiteiten. Het evenement vindt jaarlijks plaats in Gent, België, met de ceremonie in de Capitole of in de Bijloke.
Awards De awards zijn: Film Composer of the Year Television Composer of the Year Best Original Song Discovery of the Year Game Music Award WSA Industry Award Public Choice Award Lifetime Achievement Award Best Original Composition by a Young Composer Best Original Score for a Belgian Production
Achtergrond De prijswinnaars worden bekendgemaakt tijdens het jaarlijkse World Soundtrack Awards Concert & Ceremony. Tijdens het concert brengt Brussels Philharmonic, onder leiding van Maestro Dirk Brossé, muziekdirecteur van Film Fest Gent, een selectie muziek van de eregast en de winnaar van de Lifetime Achievement Award. Traditioneel wordt de winnaar van Film Composer of the Year uitgenodigd om het jaar daarop in Gent een avondvullend concert te brengen met zijn muziek.
De officiële instelling achter de WSAwards is de World Soundtrack Academy. De WSAcademy is een internationale gemeenschap van filmcomponisten en professionals uit de industrie die de kunst van filmmuziek ondersteunt door middel van culturele, promotionele, educatieve en professionele activiteiten. De WSAcademy promoot filmmuziek wereldwijd door de jaarlijkse uitreiking van de WSAwards en door de ontwikkeling van andere promotionele activiteiten. De WSAcademy ondersteunt zowel opkomende als gevestigde componisten voor film en televisie.
Door de organisatie van filmmuziekseminaries, masterclasses, workshops en andere activiteiten op Film Fest Gent draagt de WSAcademy actief bij tot de opleiding en studie van filmmuziek. De WSAcademy zet zich in voor het behoud van de geschiedenis van filmmuziek door middel van cd-opnames, publicaties en de ontwikkeling van een archief.
Het festival kreeg veel lof voor de manier waarop het als een van de eerste festivals filmmuziek een centrale rol gaf. Daarin speelde het een belangrijke pioniersrol. Ook de vele concerten die het festival organiseerde, waaronder het allereerste concert ooit van muziek van Hans Zimmer, oogstten veel bijval.
Winnaars
2025
Film Composer of the Year: Volker Bertelmann (Conclave, The Amateur) Television Composer of the Year: Theodore Shapiro (Severance S02) Best Original Song: "El Mal" uit Emilia Pérez , geschreven door Clément Ducol, Camille, Jacques Audiard; uitgevoerd door Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón Discovery of the Year: Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist) Public Choice Award: Laetitia Pansanel-Garric (Hola Frida) Game Music Award: Lorien Testard (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) Belgian Film Composer of the Year: Ruben De Gheselle (Young Hearts; There was, There was not) Award for Best Original Composition by a Young Composer: Bongseop Kim Lifetime Achievement Award: Philip Glass & Michael Nyman WSA Industry Award: Composers Diversity Collective
2024
Film Composer of the Year: Jerskin Fendrix (Kinds of Kindness, Poor Things) Television Composer of the Year: Nathalie Holt (Loki S02) Best Original Song: "What Was I Made For?" uit Barbie, geschreven door Finneas O'Connell, Billie Eilish; uitgevoerd door Billie Eilish Discovery of the Year: Jerskin Fendrix (Poor Things) Public Choice Award: Umberto Scipione (La Guerra dei Nonni) WSA Game Music Award: Brandon Boone (Slay the Princess) SABAM Award for the Best Original Composition by a Young Composer: Florian van der Reijden Best Original Score for a Belgian Production: Amenra (Skunk) Lifetime Achievement Award: Elliot Goldenthal WSA Industry Award: Maggie Rodford
2023 Film Composer of the Year: Hauschka (War Sailor, All Quiet on the Western Front, Memory of Water) Television Composer of the Year: Nicholas Britell (Andor, Succession) Best Original Song: "Your Personal Trash Man Can" from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (written by Thomas Mizer & Curtis Moore, performed by Phillip Attmore, Jake Corcoran, RJ Higton, Tommy Sutter & Cast) Discovery of the Year: Simon Franglen (Avatar: The Way of Water) Best Original Score for a Belgian Production: Dirk Brossé (Onze Natuur) SABAM Award for the Best Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Alec Sievern Public Choice Award: Amelia Warner (Mr. Malcolm's List) Game Music Award: Narayana Johnson (Cult of the Lamb) Lifetime Achievement Award: Nicola Piovani en Laurence Rosenthal WSA Industry Award: Robert Townson
2022 Film Composer of the Year: Jonny Greenwood (The Power of the Dog, Spencer) Television Composer of the Year: Nicholas Britell (Succession) Best Original Song: "No Time to Die" from No Time to Die (Billie Eilish, Finneas O'Connell, Steph Jones, Jordan Powers & Taura Stinson) Discovery of the Year: Eiko Ishibashi (Drive My Car) Public Choice Award: Joseph Metcalfe, John Coda, Grant Kirkhope (The King’s Daughter) SABAM Award for the Best Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Giacomo Rita Best Original Score for a Belgian Production: The Penelopes for the movie SpaceBoy Lifetime Achievement Award: Bruno Coulais WSA Industry Award: Catherine Joy for Alliance for Women Film Composers
2021 Film Composer of the Year: Daniel Pemberton (Rising Phoenix, Enola Holmes & The Trial of the Chicago 7) Television Composer of the Year: Carlos Rafael Rivera (The Queen’s Gambit & Hacks - Season 1) Best Original Song: "Call Me Cruella” from Disney’s Cruella (Nicholas Britell, Florence Welch, Steph Jones, Jordan Powers & Taura Stinson) Discovery of the Year: Nainita Desai (The Reason I Jump) Public Choice Award: Benji Merrison (SAS: Red Notice) Lifetime Achievement Award: Eleni Karaindrou SABAM Award for the Best Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Dougal Kemp
2020 Film Composer of the Year: Hildur Guðnadóttir for Joker Television Composer of the Year: Nicholas Britell for Succession Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: "Stand Up" from Harriet (written by Joshuah Brian Campbell, Cynthia Erivo and performed by Cynthia Erivo) Discovery of the Year: Bryce Dessner for The Two Popes Best Original Score for a Belgian Production: Torpedo by Hannes De Maeyer Public Choice Award: Klaus (Alfonso González Aguilar) Lifetime Achievement Award: Gabriel Yared SABAM Award for the Most Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Ana Kasrashvili
2019 Film Composer of the Year: Nicholas Britell for If Beale Street Could Talk, Vice Television Composer of the Year: Hildur Guðnadóttir for Chernobyl, Ófærð (Trapped) Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: "Shallow" from A Star is Born (written by Lady Gaga, Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando, Mark Ronson, and performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper) Discovery of the Year: Michael Abels for Us Best Original Score for a Belgian Production: Duelles (Mothers' Instinct) by Frédéric Vercheval Public Choice Award: John Powell for How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Lifetime Achievement Award: Krzysztof Penderecki and Frédéric Devreese SABAM Award for the Most Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Pierre Charles
2018 Film Composer of the Year: Jóhann Jóhannsson for Last and First Men, Mandy, Mary Magdalene (co-composed with Hildur Guðnadóttir), The Butcher, The Whore and the One-Eyed Man, and The Mercy Television Composer of the Year: Ramin Djawadi for Game of Thrones (Season 7), The Strain (Season 4), and Westworld (Season 2) Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: "Black Panther" from Black Panther (Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Spears, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer and Matt Schaeffer) Discovery of the Year: Tamar-kali for Mudbound Best Original Score for a Belgian Production: Zagros by Rutger Reinders Public Choice Award: Nostalgia (Laurent Eyquem) Lifetime Achievement Award: Philippe Sarde SABAM Award For the Most Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Logan Nelson
2017 Film Composer of the Year: Jóhann Jóhannsson for Arrival Television Composer of the Year: Rupert Gregson-Williams for The Crown Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: "City of Stars" from La La Land (Justin Hurwitz) Discovery of the Year: Nicholas Britell for Moonlight Best Original Score for a Belgian Production: Sprakeloos by Jef Neve (film of Hilde Van Mieghem) Public Choice Award: Viceroy's House (A.R. Rahman) Lifetime Achievement Award: David Shire SABAM Award For the Most Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Gavin Brivik
2016 Film Composer of the Year: Carter Burwell for Carol Television Composer of the Year: Jeff Beal for House of Cards Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: "None of Them Are You" from Anomalisa (Charlie Kaufman and Carter Burwell) Discovery of the Year: Joe Kraemer for Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation Best Original Score for a Belgian Production: Cafard by Hans Helewaut Public Choice Award: Carol (Carter Burwell) Lifetime Achievement Award: Ryuichi Sakamoto SABAM Award For the Most Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Sándor Török
2015 Film Composer of the Year: Michael Giacchino for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Inside Out, Jupiter Ascending, Jurassic World, and Tomorrowland Best Original Film Score of the Year: Birdman (Antonio Sánchez) Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: "The Apology Song" from The Book of Life (Paul Williams and Gustavo Santaolalla) Discovery of the Year: Antonio Sánchez for Birdman Public Choice Award: The Maze Runner (John Paesano) Lifetime Achievement Award: Patrick Doyle SABAM Award For the Most Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Peer Kleinschmidt
2014 Film Composer of the Year: Alexandre Desplat for The Grand Budapest Hotel, Godzilla, The Monuments Men, Venus in Fur, Philomena, Zulu, and Marius Best Original Film Score of the Year: The Grand Budapest Hotel (Alexandre Desplat) Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: "Happy" from Despicable Me 2 (Pharrell Williams) Discovery of the Year: Daniel Pemberton for Cuban Fury, The Counselor Public Choice Award: Marina (Michelino Bisceglia) Lifetime Achievement Award: Francis Lai SABAM Award For the Most Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Cyril Molesti
2013 Film Composer of the Year: Mychael Danna Best Original Film Score of the Year: Life of Pi (Mychael Danna) Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: "Skyfall" from Skyfall (Adele) Discovery of the Year: Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin Public Choice Award: The Butterfly's Dream (Rahman Altin) Lifetime Achievement Award: Riz Ortolani SABAM Award For the Most Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Gilles Alonzo
2012 Film Composer of the Year: Alberto Iglesias for Le Moine Best Original Film Score of the Year: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (Alberto Iglesias) Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: "Lay Your Head Down" from Albert Nobbs (Brian Byrne and Glenn Close) Discovery of the Year: Brian Byrne for Albert Nobbs Public Choice Award: W.E. (Abel Korzeniowski) Lifetime Achievement Award: Pino Donaggio SABAM Award For the Most Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Valentin Hadjadj
2011 Film Composer of the Year: Alexandre Desplat for A Better Life Best Original Film Score of the Year: Inception (Hans Zimmer) Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: "We Belong Together" from Toy Story 3 (Randy Newman) Discovery of the Year: Alex Heffes for The First Grader Public Choice Award: 127 Hours (A. R. Rahman) Lifetime Achievement Award: Giorgio Moroder SABAM Award For the Most Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Gabriel Heinrich
2010