Ghent – September 5, 2023: In a much-anticipated announcement, Film Fest Gent, in partnership with the esteemed World Soundtrack Academy, has revealed the second wave of nominations for the 23rd edition of World Soundtrack Awards (WSA) – a celebration of outstanding achievements in film music.
The impressive list of nominees for WSA2023 boasts a diverse array of talent, featuring both seasoned musicians and emerging artists who dedicated themselves to the craft of film music over the past year. Among the noteworthy newcomers are Japanese sensation RADWIMPS & Kazuma Jinnouchi, as well as the acclaimed saxophonist Colin Stetson (known for collaborations with Arcade Fire and Bon Iver). Additionally, returning favorite Nainita Desai, who previously claimed the Discovery of the Year Award in 2021, graces the nominations once again, this time for the newly introduced WSA Game Music Award. With this announcement, the roster of nominees for WSA2023 is now complete.
A month ago, Film Fest Gent and the World Soundtrack Academy unveiled the first wave of nominations, which included categories like Film Composer of the Year, Television Composer of the Year, and Best Original Song. Now, with this second and final wave of nominations, the spotlight shines brightly on emerging talents and various other accolades.
Discovery of the Year Award
The Discovery of the Year Award, a category designed to recognize emerging film music talent, showcases this year’s nominees – individuals relatively new to film composition but possessing extensive experience in music production and diverse musical genres. Among the nominees, Dascha Dauenhauer stands out with her evocative scores, which have previously captivated audiences in productions like “The Swarm” and “Berlin, Alexanderplatz.” Simon Franglen, a seasoned industry veteran with collaborations ranging from Whitney Houston to Howard Shore, takes on the mantle of composer for “Avatar: The Way of Water.” The renowned anime soundtracks by RADWIMPS, in collaboration with composer Kazuma Jinnouchi, secure a nomination for the latest Makoto Shinkai film, “Suzume.” Herdís Stefánsdóttir impresses with her dark score for “Knock at the Cabin,” directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Lastly, Colin Stetson receives a nomination for “The Menu,” adding to his list of remarkable scores, which includes “Hereditary” and “The Color Out of Space.” Stetson will also grace Film Fest Gent with a live performance based on his soundtracks during the VIDEODROOM program and will participate as a guest in a live podcast recording during the WSA Film Music Days.
Public Choice Award
As tradition dictates, the general public had the opportunity to cast their votes for their favorite film score from the past year, vying for the coveted Public Choice Award. Notably, Daniel Pemberton, already nominated for Film Composer of the Year, adds another nomination to his list with his work on “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” Amelia Warner, a familiar face in WSA nominations, returns with “Mr. Malcolm’s List.” Belgian composer Michelino Bisceglia, a 2022 nominee, is back in the running this year with “My Sailor, My Love.” Fabrizio Mancinelli, with “The Land of Dreams,” and Mark Smythe, with “The Reef: Stalked,” round out the strong competition in this category.
WSA Game Music Award
In an exciting addition for 2023, the WSA introduces the Game Music Award, presented during the game music concert PRESS PLAY: Music in Games. The nominees include River Boy (aka Narayana Johnson) for the enchanting game “Cult of the Lamb,” Maclaine Diemer for the puzzle and adventure game “Firmament,” Nainita Desai for “Immortality,” a mystery in the film industry, Gareth Coker, Grant Kirkhope, and Yoko Shimomura for “Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope,” and Gregory Nicolett for the enchanting potion shop simulator “Potionomics.”
Best Original Score for a Belgian Production
Belgium continues to gain recognition on the international stage, and its film scores are no exception. In the category of Best Original Score for a Belgian Production, the nominees include Valentin Hadjadj for “Close” by Lukas Dhont, which served as the opening film of FFG2022; FFG music director Dirk Brossé for the beloved nature documentary “Onze Natuur”; and Hannes De Maeyer for “Rebel” by director duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.
Sabam Award for Best Original Composition by a Young Composer
Finally, the Academy announces the nominations for the Sabam Award for Best Original Composition by a Young Composer, a prestigious prize worth 2,500 euros. Competing for this honor are young film music talents who were challenged to compose a score for a scene from the game “Abzû,” originally scored by Austin Wintory, the host of Film Fest Gent’s game music concert PRESS PLAY: Music in Games. The French composers Emma Kélalèche and Emile Cooper Leplay, along with American composer Alec Sievern, exhibit their exceptional skills in this captivating competition.
Overview of 2023 World Soundtrack Awards nominations
Discovery of the Year
- Dascha Dauenhauer | Golda
- Simon Franglen | Avatar: The Way of Water
- RADWIMPS, Kazuma Jinnouchi | Suzume
- Herdís Stefánsdóttir | Knock at the Cabin
- Colin Stetson | The Menu
Public Choice Award
- Daniel Pemberton | Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- Amelia Warner | Mr. Malcolm’s List
- Michelino Bisceglia | My Sailor, My Love
- Fabrizio Mancinelli | The Land of Dreams
- Mark Smythe | The Reef: Stalked
WSA Game Music Award
- River Boy (Narayana Johnson) | Cult of the Lamb
- Maclaine Diemer | Firmament
- Nainita Desai | Immortality
- Gareth Coker, Grant Kirkhope, Yoko Shimomura | Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
- Gregory Nicolett | Potionomics
Best Original Score for a Belgian Production
- Valentin Hadjadj | Close
- Dirk Brossé | Onze Natuur
- Hannes De Maeyer | Rebel
Sabam Award for Best Original Composition by a Young Composer
- Emma Kélalèche
- Emile Cooper Leplay
- Alec Sievern
Film Composer of the Year
- Volker Bertelmann | Krigsseileren (War Sailor), All Quiet on the Western Front, Veden vartija (Memory of Water)
- Carter Burwell | The Banshees of Inisherin, Catherine Called Birdy, To Catch a Killer
- Alexandre Desplat | Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, The Lost King, Tirailleurs (Father & Soldier), Asteroid City, A Cooler Climate
- Hildur Guðnadóttir | Women Talking, Tár
- Daniel Pemberton | See How They Run, Enola Holmes 2, Amsterdam, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- John Williams | The Fabelmans, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Television Composer of the Year
- Chris Bacon & Danny Elfman | Wednesday
- Nicholas Britell | Andor, Succession S04
- Bear McCreary | The Serpent Queen, The Witcher: Blood Origin, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
- Gustavo Santaolalla & David Fleming | The Last of Us
- Cristobal Tapia de Veer & Kim Neundorf | The White Lotus S02
Best Original Song
- “Carolina” from Where the Crawdads Sing | written by Taylor Swift | performed by Taylor Swift
- “Ciao Papa” from Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio | written by Alexandre Desplat, Guillermo del Toro, Roeban Katz | performed by Alexandre Desplat, Dominique “Solrey” Lemonnier, Gregory Mann
- “Keep Rising” from The Woman King | written by Jessy Wilson, Jeremy Lutito, Angélique Kidjo | performed by Jessy Wilson, Angélique Kidjo
- “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | written by Temilade Openiyi, Robyn Fenty, Ludwig Göransson and Ryan Coogler | performed by Rihanna
- “Your Personal Trash Man Can” from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel S05 | written by Thomas Mizer, Curtis Moore | performed by The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Cast
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Nicola Piovani
- Laurence Rosenthal
With such a stellar lineup of nominees, the 2023 World Soundtrack Awards promise to be an unforgettable celebration of the art of film music. The winners will be unveiled at the prestigious awards ceremony, set to take place at Film Fest Gent later this year. Stay tuned for more updates and mark your calendars for this remarkable event celebrating the magic of cinematic music.
