Around 400 members of the film, tv and music industries attended a celebration of Simon Leadley’s life held at Trackdown Scoring Stage in Sydney on 4 March, 2010. Simon passed away 24 February 2010 after a long struggle with a number of cancers. He was with his partner Kerry at the time. Simon was an authority on all aspects of ProTools, specialising in recording, editing and mixing surround music for film and television. Credits are numerous and films include Australia (composer, David Hirschfelder); Happy Feet (composer: John Powell) Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World (composers Iva Davies and Christopher Gordon) and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (composer, Guy Gross). All the above mentioned Australian composers were present at the memorial service and a live link-up to LA allowed another thirty friends and colleagues to take part, including Hans Zimmer.
Simon’s work received international acknowledgement and included three a Golden Reel nominations (also known as the Technical Oscars) from the Motion Pictures Sound Editors, USA and he won for Moulin Rouge.
As close friend Peter Miller most fittingly stated, Simon was “One of our very best and most likeable gentlemen” and Mark Walmsley reflected Simon “shone very bright”
The AGSC extends their condolences to Simon’s family, work colleagues and friends.
Entries are invited for the Johnny Dennis Music Awards.
There are three awards and each award carries a cash prize of $5,000. Entry is free and open to all. Entries will be accepted until Tuesday, 16 March 2010 (they can be received or postmarked 16 March or earlier.) The categories are as follows and for an entry form and regulations please email the Australian Guild of Screen Composers at agsc@cia.com.au with “JD Awards - Request for Entry Form” in the title.
- Best Popular Song Award Prize: $5,000 cash
- Best Instrumental Award Prize: $5,000 cash
- Best Movie Theme Award Prize: $5,000 cash
MAX TROPSCORE is the exciting national competition where film and music come together like never before. In its second year, MAX TROPSCORE provides a creative platform for musicians to participate in the art of writing a score for a short film as well as to be part of the world’s largest short film festival – Movie Extra Tropfest. MAX TROPSCORE entrants must create an original musical score or synch for a three- minute short film that has been produced by Sam Curtain, one of Australia’s talented up and coming directors and producers.
Following the entry deadline, a panel of industry representatives will review a shortlist of twenty, which will be culled to three finalists. Of these three, one winner will get the chance to perform their score live at the festival to a live national audience of more than 150,000 people, and have their piece included on the 2010 Movie Extra Tropfest Finalist DVD in The Sydney Morning Herald. They will also receive a fantastic Gibson DSM Dreadnaught acoustic guitar and one-year membership for the Australian Guild of Screen Composers. Conditions apply.
To be a part of MAX TROPSCORE 2010, register your entry online at www.maxtv.com.au/tropscore and supply your completed score or synch compiled with the vision on DVD to Movie Extra Tropfest by Thursday 14 January 2010.
Balibo Strikes a Chord at 2009 Screen Music Awards!
At a glamorous black tie event presented by APRA and the AGSC, the music compositions for the critically acclaimed Australian feature film Balibo have come up trumps at the 2009 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS. A number of first time winners have also received maiden nods at the SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS reflecting the healthy state of screen composition in Australia.
It was a wonderful night of celebration at the City Recital Hall, especially for the key composers of writer/director Robert Connolly’s film Balibo. In an emotional win, East Timorese-born composer Ego Lemos received the award for Best Original Song Composed for the Screen for the title-track “Balibo”. And world-renowned composer Lisa Gerrard has received the coveted Best Feature Film Score award for her musical contribution to Balibo.
Multiple Screen Music Award winner Cezary Skubiszewski has won the award in the category Best Soundtrack Album, for his work on the Gillian Armstrong feature film Death Defying Acts.
Amanda Brown, composer and former member of the much-loved Australian band The Go-Betweens, has taken out the award in the category of Best Music for a Documentary for the ABC Television feature Sidney Nolan: Mask and Memory. This is Amanda’s first Screen Music Award.
The winner in the category of Best Music for a Television Series or Serial is another first-time Screen Music Award recipient. Alastair Ford has received the award for his compositions for McLeod’s Daughters - Episode 224 - The Long Paddock.
First time winners Cameron Giles-Webb and Colin Simkins have taken out the Screen Music Award in the category of Best Television Theme Showtime Australia’s Satisfaction, a series that delves into the secret world of sex workers.
The award for Best Music for a Short Film has gone to first-time winner, composer Brett Aplin for Lucy Wants to Kill Herself, a short film that has been described as “a flabbergastingly amazing animated surreal black comedy about a melodramatic suicidal writer and her pet cat Mishima”.
Acclaimed screen composer Roger Mason has received the Screen Music Award for Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie for The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce, the ABC telemovie that follows the final days of Irish convict Alexander Pearce as he awaits execution.
Multiple Screen Music Award winner Bruce Heald has again proven himself to be a virtuoso in the field of composing for advertisements taking out the category of Best Music For an Advertisement for the composition “Whale Song” for Optus. This is his third Screen Music Award in this category.
Composer/writer/director Sean Peter has won the Screen Music Award (his first) in the category of Best Music for Children’s Television for The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry, a children’s movie based on the books by Australian author Bob Graham, which tells the story of two very different ten year olds and the trials and tribulations of their friendship.
Composer Jay Stewart was named the Most Performed Composer – Australia for the fourth year in a row. And for the second year in a row Neil Sutherland was given the award for Most Performed Composer - Overseas.
The prestigious International Achievement Award was presented to Sydney composer Guy Gross for his stellar achievements in screen composition abroad.
The 2009 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS (presented by APRA and the AGSC) were held on Monday November 2nd at City Recital Hall in Sydney. This unique event is the only one of its kind to recognize and celebrate the efforts of the often-anonymous Australian screen composers.
Special guest presenters on the evening were Bruce Beresford, Robert Connolly, Jonathan Biggins, Steve Knapman, Julia Zemiro, Peter Garrett, and Susie Porter.
The awards were hosted by The Chaser’s Chris Taylor and Andrew Hansen and featured nominated compositions performed by a live ensemble conducted by Paul Grabowsky.
Screen Music Award nominee Ego Lemos performed the winning composition “Balibo” from the Australian feature film of the same title. And a live ensemble accompanied the ethereal Lisa Gerrard in a performance of an extract titled “The Invasion” from her musical score for Balibo.
APRA and the AGSC wish to heartily congratulate all the winners and thank all entrants to the 2009 Screen Music Award.
The 2009 Screen Music Awards are supported by Screen Australia and ABC Television.
Full List of Winners
The 2009 Screen Music Award winners were:
International Achievement Award
Guy Gross
Most Performed Screen Composer - Australia
Jay Stewart
Most Performed Screen Composer - Overseas
Neil Sutherland
Best Feature Film Score
Title Balibo
Composer Lisa Gerrard
Publisher Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L
Best Music for a Documentary
Title Sidney Nolan: Mask and Memory
Composer Amanda Brown
Publisher Sandcastle Music Pty Ltd
Best Music for a Short Film
Title Lucy Wants to Kill Herself
Composer Brett Aplin
Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
Title McLeod’s Daughters
Composer Alastair Ford
Publisher Nine Films & Television Pty Ltd
Best Music for an Advertisement
Title Optus “Whale Song”
Composer Bruce Heald
Publisher Noise International Pty Ltd
Best Soundtrack Album
Title Death Defying Acts
Composer Cezary Skubiszewski
Publisher Albert Music
Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
Title The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce
Composer Roger Mason
Publisher Sandcastle Music Pty Ltd
Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
Title Balibo
Composer Ego Lemos
Publishers SFM Publishing administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L
Best Television Theme
Title Satisfaction
Composers Cameron Giles-Webb / Colin Simkins
Publisher Gusto Music Pty Ltd
Best Music for Children’s Television
Title The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry
Composer Sean Peter
The music scores for two major feature films that portray unique reflections of Australian history, Australia and Balibo, lead the 2009 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS nominations.
To be held on Monday November 2nd, the SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS presented by APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) and the AGSC (Australian Guild of Screen Composers) recognise excellence in screen composition, and this year’s nominees are no exception. Acknowledging music composers across 12 categories representing feature films, children’s television, advertising, documentaries, short films and everything in between, the SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS hold a unique place on the entertainment calendar, being the only ceremony celebrating the achievements of Australian screen composers.
Music compositions for Baz Luhrmann’s epic blockbuster Australia and Robert Connolly’s political thriller Balibo feature heavily across this year’s nominations. Distinguished composers David Hirschfelder and Lisa Gerrard are both nominated for their work in the category of Best Feature Film Score for Australia and Balibo respectively. This category also features nominations for composers Graeme Koehne and Antony Partos for Disgrace and David Bridie for Two Fists One Heart.
Music compositions for Balibo and Australia appear again in the category of Best Soundtrack Album along with nominations for accomplished composers Cezary Skubiszewski for Death Defying Acts and Elliott Wheeler for Restraint. They also appear in the category of Best Original Song Composed for the Screen with composer Ego Lemos acknowledged for the Balibo title track, and composers Angela Little, Baz Luhrmann, Felix Meagher, Anton Monsted and Schuyler Weiss for their song By the Boab Tree from Australia. They are joined in the category for Best Original Song by Jamie Saxe for his piece Mother’s Lament from Essence of the Game and Cameron Bruce for This Isn’t Easy from the TV series Chandon Pictures.
Internationally awarded Sydney-based composer Antony Partos has received three nominations for the 2009 Screen Music Awards. In addition to his abovementioned nomination in the Best Feature Film Score category he is also nominated for Best Music for a Documentary for Contact and Best Music for a Mini Series or Telemovie for Saved which starred Claudia Karvan.
A number of composers have received two Screen Music Awards nominations. They include previous Screen Music Award winner Burkhard Dallwitz who is nominated for in the category of Best Music for a Television Series or Serial for Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities - Episode 9 - Judas Kiss and also in the category of Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie for his work on False Witness. Other composers who have also received two nominations for the 2009 Screen Music Awards are Elliott Wheeler, Cezary Skubiszewski, Alastair Ford, Neil Sutherland and Guy Gross.
Composers to receive nominations in Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia category are Nick Perjanik, Jay Stewart, Neil Sutherland and Brenton White. Nominated in the category of Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas category are Alastair Ford, Ric Formosa / Danny Beckerman, Guy Gross and Neil Sutherland.
Other nominees for the 2009 Screen Music Awards are: Scott Langley, Basil Hogios, Ash Gibson Greig, Bruce Heald, Yantra de Vilder, Amanda Brown, Benjamin Speed, Alan Harding, Pete E Neville, Brett Aplin, Michael Darren and Luke Jurevicius, Russell Thornton, Sean Peter, Jan Skubiszewski, Travis Conneeley, Martin Eden, Cameron Giles-Webb and Colin Simkins, Nerida Tyson-Chew, Michael Lira, Stephen Rae, Eric Chapus (Endorphin) and Roger Mason.
On this year’s Screen Music Awards nominations AGSC President Clive Harrison said, “This year’s nominations show the depth and diversity of Australian screen composing talent. From advertisements to feature films, and all in between, Australian composers are producing some extraordinary music. Congratulations to all nominees.”
The recipient of the INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD will be announced prior to the awards and awarded on the night.
The incomparable composer Paul Grabowsky, will be conducting a live orchestra performing a selection of this year’s nominated compositions, and will also direct musical proceedings for the 2009 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS. Chris Taylor and Andrew Hansen from The Chaser’s War On Everything will host the event.
APRA and the AGSC would like to congratulate all nominees for the 2009 SCREEN MUSIC AWARDS and the 2009 Screen Music Awards nominees are:
Best Music for an Advertisement
Earth Hour Candle Everybody’s Singing This Song Composer: Elliott Wheeler
H & R Block Paper-Man Composer: Scott Langley Publisher: Nylon Publishing Pty Ltd
Wedgwood Timeless Composer: Basil Hogios
Whale Song (Optus) Composer: Bruce Heald Publisher: Noise International Pty Ltd
Best Music for a Documentary
Contact Composer: Antony Partos
Death of the Megabeasts Composer: Ash Gibson Greig
Rainforest the Secret of Life Composer: Yantra de Vilder
Sidney Nolan: Mask and Memory Composer: Amanda Brown Publishers: Sandcastle Music Pty Ltd
Best Music for a Short Film
Cat Piano Composer: Benjamin Speed
Dear Diary Composer: Alan Harding
Liebermans in the Sky Composer: Pete E Neville
Lucy Wants to Kill Herself Composer: Brett Aplin
Best Soundtrack Album
Australia Composer: Various Publishers: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd obo TCF Music Publishing Inc
Balibo Composer: Various Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L
Death Defying Acts Composer: Cezary Skubiszewski Publisher: Albert Music
Restraint Composer: Elliott Wheeler Publisher: Nylon Publishing Pty Ltd
Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
Balibo Composer: Ego Lemos Publisher: SFM Publishing administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L
By the Boab Tree – Australia Composers: Angela Little, Baz Luhrmann*, Felix Meagher, Anton Monsted, Schuyler Weiss Publishers: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd obo TCF Music Publishing Inc / Bazmark*
Mother’s Lament from Essence of the Game Composer: Jamie Saxe
This Isn’t Easy from Chandon Pictures Composer: Cameron Bruce Publisher: Shadowfax TV Pty Ltd
Best Music for Children’s Television
Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist - Episode 26 – Hidden Assets Composer: Guy Gross Publisher: SLR Productions Pty Ltd
Figaro Pho Composers: Michael Darren & Luke Jurevicius
Master Raindrop - Episode 126 – Wisdom Composer: Russell Thornton
The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry Composer: Sean Peter
Best Television Theme
Carla Cametti PD Composers: Cezary Skubiszewski* / Jan Skubiszewski Publisher: Albert Music*
Gonna Be On Top (Australia’s Next Top Model, Opening Theme) Composers: Travis Conneeley, Martin Eden* Publisher: Song Zu Publishing Pty Ltd*
Satisfaction Composers: Cameron Giles-Webb / Colin Simkins Publisher: Gusto Music Pty Ltd
The Stamp of Australia Composer: Nerida Tyson-Chew
Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
Bogan Pride - Episode 6 - The Dance Battle Composer: Michael Lira
McLeod’s Daughters - Episode 224 - The Long Paddock Composer: Alastair Ford Publisher: Nine Films & Television Pty Ltd
Rush - Episode 11 Composer: Stephen Rae Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Southern Star Entertainment Pty Ltd
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities - Episode 9 - Judas Kiss Composer: Burkhard Dallwitz
Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
False Witness Composer: Burkhard Dallwitz
Saved Composer: Antony Partos
The Informant Composer: Eric Chapus Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L
The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce Composer: Roger Mason Publisher: Sandcastle Music Pty Ltd
Best Feature Film Score
Australia Composer: David Hirschfelder Publishers: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd obo TCF Music Publishing Inc
Balibo Composer: Lisa Gerrard Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L
Disgrace Composers: Graeme Koehne / Antony Partos
Two Fists One Heart Composer: David Bridie Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia (based on statistical analysis)
Composer: Nick Perjanik
Composer: Jay Stewart
Composer: Neil Sutherland
Composer: Brenton White
Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas (based on statistical analysis)
Composer: Alastair Ford
Composer: Ric Formosa/Danny Beckerman
Composer: Guy Gross
Composer: Neil Sutherland
The Australian Guild of Screen Composers and APRA are pleased to invite nominations for the 2009 APRA-AGSC Screen Music Awards.
The closing date for entries is Monday, 3 August 2009.
Categories open for nominations are:
- Best Music for an Advertisement
- Best Music for a Documentary
- Best Music for a Short Film
- Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
- Best Soundtrack Album
- Best Music for Children’s Television
- Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
- Best Television Theme
- Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
- Best Feature Film Score
Please find attached Entry Form.
09-screenawards_callforentries.pdf
For further information please contact:
Jana Gibson
Ph: 02 9935 7986
Fax: 02 9935 7970
Email: jgibson@apra.com.au
8 April, 2009
A joint submission into the Federal Government review into the Producer Offset was signed by the Australian Guild of Screen Composers, Australian Cinematographers Society, Australian Screen Editors Guild, Australian Screen Sound Guild, Australian Writers’ Guild and Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance. It stated:
“The fees and/or salaries for anyone engaged on an approved production who is neither an Australian citizen nor an Australian resident should not qualify for QAPE
(Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure), even when that person physically performs that work in Australia. This position is not intended to oppose the employment of non-Australian residents or citizens per se in approved productions. However, the use of Australian taxpayers money should not go towards subsidising the salaries of non-Australians.”
Other groups that put in submissions to the Review were the ABC, ASTRA, Australian Directors Guild, Australian Screen Editors and Australian Cinematographers Society (joint submission), Beyond International, Free TV Australia, Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Premium Movie Partnership, SBS, Screen Australia and the Screen Producers Association of Australia. Please see the media release below.

Federal Govt Media Release
The Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Chris Bowen MP and Minister for the Arts, the Hon Peter Garrett MP, today released the review into the refundable tax offsets contained in Division 376 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. The review examined the impact of the film tax offsets, introduced in 2007, on levels of production by independent and in-house production by Australian television broadcasters.
The refundable tax offsets are designed to support and develop Australia’s screen media industry by providing producers with tax offsets for their Australian expenditure when making films and television programs.
Thirteen submissions to the review were received in response to an issues paper released by the Government last October.
The review found that the overall level of Australian and co-production television drama was higher in 2007-08 than in previous years, and the balance of television production between independent and in-house production has remained stable since the offsets were introduced.
“Although the review has not found that the tax offsets have affected the share of independent production, it is still early days for the new tax arrangements for television and film production in Australia,” Mr Bowen said.
“Several industry stakeholders raised other issues regarding the ongoing operation and administration of the tax offsets. These issues were outside the scope of this statutory review, but will be examined in a broader review into the independent production sector expected in 2010.”
“A number of submissions to the statutory review specifically raised concerns with the current timing of payments from the offsets. The Government recognises the importance of this issue to the industry and is examining the issue more closely as a matter of priority,” Arts Minister, Peter Garrett said.
“The tax offset is a new arrangement and it is essential that we allow further production and other data to be collected before undertaking the broader review we committed to in New Directions for the Arts.”
The issues paper, submissions and review report are available at www.treasury.gov.au
The review report can also be downloaded as a PDF review_of_film_tax_offsets.pdf
In May 2008 the Australian Government announced the review of Australia’s tax system.
Comments to the AGSC should be received by 1 April, 2009.
Please refer to Policy page of the website for further information.
Hitting the Right Notes The Composer/Director/Sound Designer Relationship
Jointly presented by the Australian Directors Guild, Australian Guild of Screen Composers and Australian Screen Sound Guild
The right music and sound is integral to the success of any production. And an excellent working relationship between the director, composer and sound designer is essential to achieving that success. This free seminar will reveal the secrets on how the director, composer and sound designer can effectively collaborate (and communicate) to obtain the best possible music and sound for a production. And how it can be done on a budget.
With a swag of awards - and pedigrees in film, sound and music - the presenters are Jonathan Ogilvie (writer/director), Chris Abrahams (composer) and Liam Egan (sound designer). Jonathan and Chris first worked together in 1995 on the short film, The Despondent Divorcee (which will be screened at the seminar) which went on to have international success including being nominated for the prestigious Palme D’Or, the highest award at the Cannes Film Festival. Jonathan then went on to win first prize at Tropfest with his next short, This Film is a Dog.
The seminar will include case studies of their recent feature films, The Tender Hook (starring Rose Byrne and Hugo Weaving, it was nominated for five AFI Awards, including Best Sound and Best Original Music Score) and the nano-budget feature film Emulsion (it cost the same as a mid range new car).
Jointly presented by the Australian Directors Guild, Australian Guild of Screen Composers, and the Australian Screen Sound Guild, this promises to be an informative and entertaining seminar. The evening will include complimentary wine and a light supper and will be an ideal opportunity to chat to other filmmakers, directors, producers, composers and sound designers.
Date: JULY 2009 FOR REPEAT SESSION. DATE TO BE ADVISED.
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Venue: APRA, 16 Mountain Street, Ultimo
Cost: Free. Includes complimentary wine and light supper.
Book: agsc@cia.com.au
“The Tender Hook is a refreshingly stylish, slick and sexy change of pace for Australian cinema.”
Check out the trailer for Emulsion at http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=V-ARL0UKHOc (Warning: adult content)
Special thanks to APRA and the NSW Film & TV Offices for their generous support for this event.
2008 APRA – AGSC Screen Music Awards
The 2008 APRA – AGSC Screen Music Awards were held November 3rd, at the City Recital Hall in Sydney. The Awards ceremony opened with a brilliant live performance of a work titled November, written specially for the event by this year’s Musical Director, CEZARY SKUBISZEWSKI. The ensemble continued to delight audiences throughout the evening with their superb interpretations of the winning entries and Best Feature Film nominees.The annual celebration delivered the major award for BEST FEATURE FILM SCORE to internationally renowned composer DAVID HIRSCHFELDER for his work on the critically acclaimed movie Children of the Silk Road. With his most recent screen music project (Baz Luhrmann’s Australia) bound to attract plenty of attention, this is DAVID HIRSCHFELDER’s 7th Screen Music Award and the 5th he has received in the category of BEST FEATURE FILM SCORE.
The Awards revealed two multi-award winners; composers whose music reflected the light and shade of society. It was a brilliant night for Sydney based composer MICHAEL YEZERSKI. A former recipient of the APRA Professional Development Award in 2001, (a grant designed to identify and invest in the talents of emerging composers) the music composer for the uplifting Australian feature film The Black Balloon has received two nods at the 2008 APRA – AGSC Screen Music Awards in the category of BEST SOUNDTRACK ALBUM (The Black Balloon) and BEST ORIGINAL SONG COMPOSED FOR THE SCREEN, an award he shares with co-composer JOSH PYKE for the song “When We Get There”. A highlight of the evening was JOSH PYKE performing the winning song.
It was also a stellar night for scores from the darker side. Seasoned composer BURKHARD DALLWITZ has also received two Screen Music Awards for his work on the gritty, hit television series Underbelly. He has taken out the categories of BEST TELEVISION THEME for the suspenseful Underbelly. He has also received the APRA – AGSC Screen Music Award for Underbelly – Episode 5 in the category of BEST MUSIC FOR A TELEVISION SERIES OR SERIAL.
The evening’s musical director CEZARY SKUBISZEWESKI received the Screen Music Award in the category of BEST MUSIC FOR A DOCUMENTARY for his beautiful orchestral work on Night.
The award for BEST MUSIC FOR A SHORT FILM has gone to first time winner, composer GEOFFREY RUSSELL for Noir Drive a short film about a private investigator who is shanghaied into a web of lies and deceit following the murder of a wealthy businessman. ELLIOTT WHEELER has again proven himself to be a dynamo in the field of composing for advertisements taking out the category of BEST MUSIC FOR AN ADVERTISEMENT for the original ad Herringbone ‘Hands’. He last won an APRA – AGSC Screen Music Award in this category in 2006.
The multitalented CHRISTOPHER ELVES has won the award for BEST MUSIC FOR CHILDREN’S TELEVISION for the animated kid’s television series Animalia. He received the award for the episode, “Butterfly Winter”. This is his 5th Screen Music Award and his 2nd in the category of music for children’s television.
RICHARD PLEASANCE has received the award for BEST MUSIC FOR A MINI SERIES OR TELEMOVIE. The former member of Boom Crash Opera and record producer has emerged as one of Australia’s most versatile composers, and was recognised in 1999 by AGSC for his work on SeaChange. He receives this APRA AGSC award in 2008 for his work on the Channel Ten drama Emerald Falls.
Prolific composer, legendary jazz keyboardist, music manager, record label creator and recipient of this Award in 2006 and 2007 JAY STEWART was named the MOST PERFORMED COMPOSER – AUSTRALIA, while NEIL SUTHERLAND was given the award for MOST PERFORMED COMPOSER – OVERSEAS. Well known for his work on television shows such as Getaway, Dancing with the Stars and MythBusters, Neil Sutherland took out the Most Performed Composer - Australia in 2005, and Best Television Theme in the same year.
The prestigious INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD was handed to the successful composing duo of GARRY McDONALD and LAURIE STONE for their achievements in screen composition abroad.
Special guest presenters on the evening were DAVID HIRSCHFELDER, NADINE GARNER, FERGUS LINEHAN, TODD SAMPSON, MARTIN ARMIGER, LEAH PURCELL, BARRY OTTO, THE HONORABLE PETER GARRETT MP and RHYS MULDOON.
The 2008 Screen Music Award winners were:
International Achievement Award
Garry McDonald and Laurie Stone
Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia
Jay Stewart
Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas
Neil Sutherland
Feature Film Score of the Year
Children of the Silk Road
David Hirschfelder
Best Music for a Documentary
NightCezary Skubiszewski
Best Music for a Short Film
Noir Drive
Geoffrey Russell
Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
Underbelly - Episode 5
Burkhard Dallwitz
Best Music for an Advertisement
Herringbone ‘Hands’
Elliott Wheeler
Best Soundtrack Album
The Black Balloon
Michael Yezerski
Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
Emerald Falls
Richard Pleasance
Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
When We Get There - The Black Balloon
Josh Pyke and Michael Yezerski
Best Television Theme
Underbelly
Burkhard Dallwitz
Best Music for Children’s Television
Animalia: “Butterfly Winter”
Christopher Elves