Highlights from the 2025 World Soundtrack Awards
The 2025 World Soundtrack Awards, held during the Film Fest Gent in Belgium, shone a spotlight on exceptional musical scores across movies and television. Theodore Shapiro, fresh from his Primetime Emmy win, continued his successful run by clinching the Television Composer of the Year for his work in the Apple TV+ series Severance. This accolade underscores his pivotal role in defining the series’ atmospheric tension through his music.
Among the notable winners was Volker Bertelmann, who had a highly competitive year with multiple nominations. Bertelmann took home the Film Composer of the Year for his outstanding contributions to Conclave and The Amateur, showcasing his versatility and creative prowess in film scoring.
The awards ceremony was not just about recognizing seasoned artists. Daniel Blumberg, previously decorated with an Oscar for The Brutalist, was named Discovery of the Year, highlighting his entrance into the cinematic music scene with aplomb.
Significant Wins in Music Categories
One of the ceremony’s highlights was the award for Best Original Song, which went to “El Mal” from the musical Emilia Pérez. The song, written by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard, and performed by Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón, had also won an Oscar, marking it a favorite in the international music scene.
In a celebrated recognition of longstanding contributions to the music industry, both Philip Glass and Michael Nyman were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards, celebrating their enduring legacies in shaping contemporary music landscapes.
The event also served as a platform to recognize upcoming talent in the category of Best Original Composition by a Young Composer, which was awarded to Bongseob Kim, spotlighting the innovative work of new artists in the industry.
With a broad array of categories, the World Soundtrack Awards not only celebrated established composers but also threw the spotlight on new, emerging talents who are set to redefine music in cinema and television.
Additional Category Winners
Other categories such as the Public Choice Award and the WSA Game Music Award were also closely contested. Laetitia Pansanel-Garric won the Public Choice Award for Hola Frida, while Lorien Testard took the WSA Game Music Award for his work on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, demonstrating the broad reach and diverse appreciation for soundtrack music across different media.
The Belgian Film Composer of the Year went to Ruben De Gheselle for his scores in Young Hearts; There was, There was not, highlighting the local talent at the event’s hosting nation.
As the curtain fell on the 2025 World Soundtrack Awards, it was clear that the event not only celebrated the achievements of the past year but also set the stage for future innovations in the world of soundtrack music.