Press release from Grand and Lafayette
The music scores from two major feature films that portray unique reflections of Australian history lead the 2009 Screen Music Award 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.”
Please see below for complete list of nominees in the following categories for the 2009 Screen Music Awards presented by APRA and the AGSC. 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.