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