The World Soundtrack Awards, launched in 2001, are the annual awards for best film music, presented during the Film Fest Gent. The World Soundtrack Academy supports the art of film music through cultural, educational and professional activities. The event takes place yearly in Ghent, Belgium with the ceremony usually at the Capitole Concert Hall.
Awards 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 Sabam Award for the Best Original Composition by a Young Composer Best Original Score for a Belgian Production
Background The award winners are announced during the annual World Soundtrack Awards Concert & Ceremony. At the concert, Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Maestro Dirk Brossé, music director of Film Fest Gent, performs a selection of music by the guests of honour and the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The official institution behind the WSAwards is the World Soundtrack Academy. The WSAcademy is an international community of screen composers and industry professionals that supports the art of film music through cultural, promotional, educational and professional activities. The WSAcademy promotes film music worldwide through the annual presentation of the WSAwards, as well as through the development of other promotional activities. The WSAcademy supports both emerging and established composers for screen.
Through the organisation of film music seminars, masterclasses, workshops and other activities at Film Fest Gent, the WSAcademy actively contributes to the education and study of this art form. The WSAcademy engages itself in the preservation of the history of film music through recordings, publications and the development of an archive.
The festival is praised as one of the first cultural organizations to turn the spotlight on film music, which gave it the status of a pioneer. It has built up a strong reputation by organizing concerts, such as the very first concert of music by Hans Zimmer.
Award winners 2025 Film Composer of the Year: Volker Bertelmann for Conclave and The Amateur Television Composer of the Year: Theodore Shapiro for Severance (season 2) Best Original Song: "El Mal" from Emilia Perez (written by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard; performed by Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón) Discovery of the Year: Daniel Blumberg for The Brutalist Public Choice Award: Laetitia Pansanel-Garric for Hola Frida! Game Music Award: Lorien Testard for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Belgian Film Composer of the Year: Ruben De Gheselle for Young Hearts and There Was, There Was Not Award for the Best Original Composition by a Young Composer: Bongseop Kim Lifetime Achievement Award: Philip Glass and Michael Nyman
2024 Film Composer of the Year: Jerskin Fendrix for Kinds of Kindness and Poor Things Television Composer of the Year: Natalie Holt for Loki (season 2) Best Original Song: "What Was I Made For?" from Barbie (written by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell; performed by Billie Eilish) Discovery of the Year: Jerskin Fendrix for Poor Things Best Original Score for a Belgian Production: Amenra for Skunk Sabam Award for Best Original Composition by a Young Composer: Florian van der Reijden Public Choice Award: Umberto Scipione for La Guerra dei Nonni Game Music Award: Brandon Boone for Slay the Princess Lifetime Achievement Award: Elliot Goldenthal WSA Industry Award: Maggie Rodford
2023 Film Composer of the Year: Hauschka for War Sailor, All Quiet on the Western Front, and Memory of Water Television Composer of the Year: Nicholas Britell for Andor (season 1) and Succession (season 4) Best Original Song: "Your Personal Trash Man Can" from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (written by Thomas Mizer and Curtis Moore; performed by Phillip Attmore, Jake Corcoran, RJ Higton, Tommy Sutter & Cast) Discovery of the Year: Simon Franglen for Avatar: The Way of Water Best Original Score for a Belgian Production: Dirk Brossé for Onze Natuur SABAM Award for the Best Original Composition by a Young International Composer: Alec Sievern Public Choice Award: Amelia Warner for Mr. Malcolm's List Game Music Award: Narayana Johnson for Cult of the Lamb Lifetime Achievement Award: Nicola Piovani and Laurence Rosenthal WSA Industry Award: Robert Townson
2022 Film Composer of the Year: Jonny Greenwood for The Power of the Dog and Spencer Television Composer of the Year: Nicholas Britell for Succession (season 3) Best Original Song: "No Time to Die" from No Time to Die (written by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell; performed by Billie Eilish) Discovery of the Year: Eiko Ishibashi for Drive My Car Public Choice Award: Joseph Metcalfe, John Coda, and Grant Kirkhope for 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 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 for Rising Phoenix, Enola Holmes, and The Trial of the Chicago 7 Television Composer of the Year: Carlos Rafael Rivera for The Queen's Gambit and Hacks (season 1) Best Original Song: "Call Me Cruella" from Disney's Cruella (Nicholas Britell, Florence Welch, Steph Jones, Jordan Powers, and Taura Stinson) Discovery of the Year: Nainita Desai for The Reason I Jump Public Choice Award: Benji Merrison for 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 (season 2) Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: "Stand Up" from Harriet (Joshuah Brian Campbell and Cynthia Erivo) Discovery of the Year: Bryce Dessner for The Two Popes Best Original Score for a Belgian Production: Hannes De Maeyer for Torpedo Public Choice Award: Alfonso González Aguilar for Klaus 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 and Vice Television Composer of the Year: Hildur Guðnadóttir for Chernobyl and Ófærð (Trapped) Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: "Shallow" from A Star is Born (Lady Gaga, Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando, and Mark Ronson) Discovery of the Year: Michael Abels for Us Best Original Score for a Belgian Production: Frédéric Vercheval for Duelles (Mothers' Instinct) 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 Film Composer of the Year: Alexandre Desplat for Julie & Julia Best Original Film Score of the Year: Fantastic Mr. Fox (Alexandre Desplat) Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film: "The Weary Kind" from Crazy Heart (Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett) Discovery of the Year: Abel Korzeniowski for A Single Man