German composer Volker Bertelmann, also known as Hauschka, was honored with the Film Composer of the Year award at the prestigious World Soundtrack Awards during the Ghent Film Festival on Wednesday. He received this accolade for his exceptional scores for Edward Berger’s “Conclave” and James Hawes’ “The Amateur.” This recognition marks Bertelmann’s second win in this category, following his previous win two years ago for his compositions for “War Sailor,” “Memory of Water,” and his Oscar-winning score for “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
Unable to be present at the event, Bertelmann expressed his gratitude through a video message, thanking both directors for allowing him the opportunity to explore creatively. He shared, “It’s so wonderful to have directors who facilitate experimentation and allow you to stretch the limits. Ultimately, while collaboration is vital, discovering your unique voice remains essential.”
British composer Daniel Blumberg, who won the Oscar for Best Original Score for his work on Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist,” received the Discovery of the Year award. Additionally, multiple honors were awarded during the evening, which featured a performance by the Brussels Philharmonic under the baton of Dirk Brossé. Theodore Shapiro was recognized as Television Composer of the Year for his score for “Severance,” while Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard repeated their Oscar success by winning Best Original Song for “El Mal” from “Emilia Pérez.”
While accepting his award, Shapiro acknowledged, “I want to express my appreciation for working on a show that generously allows music to take on a significant voice and character. Not all projects afford music that kind of space, so I’m especially grateful to Ben Stiller for his vision of the show’s language. I consider myself fortunate to call him a friend.”
This year’s celebration marks the milestone 25th edition of the World Soundtrack Awards. The event originated from Belgium’s Film Fest Ghent, which recognized the necessity to distinguish itself from other film festivals in the 1980s. The festival’s dedication to film music eventually evolved into the establishment of the World Soundtrack Academy and its accompanying awards in 2001.
To commemorate this milestone, the WSA aimed for “unique celebrations,” choosing to honor two “absolute legends” in the field—Philip Glass (“The Hours”) and Michael Nyman (“The Piano”). Both received Lifetime Achievement Awards and are being further celebrated with a special concert titled “Minimalism in Motion: Glass, Nyman and Beyond” on Thursday. This concert will feature performances of their works alongside contemporary minimalists Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch and Martin Phipps.
The WSA also spotlighted two distinguished guests, Debbie Wiseman and A. R. Rahman. Wiseman is renowned as one of Britain’s most prolific composers for film and television, known for her works on “Tom & Viv” and “To Olivia and Wilde.” Rahman, a two-time Oscar winner, is considered one of the most significant Indian composers actively working, with vast contributions to Bollywood and an Academy Award for his score in Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire.”
Jerskin Fendrix, composer for “Bugonia,” made a remarkable return to Ghent after previously making history at the awards in 2024, becoming the first individual to simultaneously win both Film Composer of the Year and the Discovery of the Year Award for his work on Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things.” Addressing the audience before his score was performed live, Fendrix stated that he feels compelled to continue collaborating with the visionary director.
Reflecting on his journey, he said, “I was writing songs even before my collaboration with Yorgos began. Songwriting can be an inherently self-focused endeavor, but working on projects like ‘Poor Things’ requires you to set aside personal inclinations. Through composing for Yorgos, I cultivated a deeper artistic empathy, which has been immensely beneficial. I am fortunate to have his support throughout this process.”
In celebration of the 25th anniversary, the WSA presented a triple album featuring: “Debbie Wiseman: Music for Film and Television,” which includes all-new studio recordings from the acclaimed composer of “Edie” and “Tom and Viv”; “Craig Armstrong: Music For Film,” which expands upon the first album released by the festival in 2007; and “World Soundtrack Awards – 25th Anniversary Celebration,” a limited-edition vinyl compilation that encapsulates over two decades of WSA history, showcasing live recordings from notable performances previously held at the festival.
Complete list of award winners below:
Film Composer of the Year:
Volker Bertelmann – “Conclave,” “The Amateur”
Television Composer of the Year:
Theodore Shapiro – “Severance” (Season 2)
Best Original Song:
“El Mal” from “Emilia Pérez” – written by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard; performed by Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón
Discovery of the Year:
Daniel Blumberg – “The Brutalist”
Public Choice Award:
Laetitia Pansanel-Garric – “Hola Frida”
Game Music Award:
Lorien Testard – “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33”
Belgian Film Composer of the Year (Powered by Sabam):
Ruben De Gheselle – “Young Hearts,” “There Was, There Was Not”
Award for the Best Original Composition by a Young Composer (Powered by Vienna Synchron Stage):
Bongseop Kim
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Philip Glass and Michael Nyman
