Screen Music Awards head to Melbourne, announce changes

The 2017 Screen Music Awards head to Melbourne on November 13, and are set to feature some changes.

The International Achievement Award has been replaced by Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen.

This allows the awards – organised by APRA AMCOS and the AGSC (Australian Guild of Screen Composers) – to acknowledge a wider range of those who provide promotion, opportunities and education for Australian composers. 

These would include producers/directors, philanthropists, educators, music supervisors and event producers. 

“Whilst we composers often feel we toil alone in our music making, there are always other craftspeople not far off screen,” explains AGSC President Guy Gross.

“From technicians to educators, from conductors to scriptwriters… it’s patently obvious we’re a melodic cog in a larger story telling machine.

“We look forward to honouring those who have contributed to the industry and enabled us to do that voodoo that we do.”

For the first time, the awards will be hosted by comedian, writer, actor and author Denise Scott. 

Also coming aboard as Musical Director is Jessica Wells, who will lead the orchestra to perform some of the nominated pieces of the night.

Aside from being a composer in the classical, commercial and film music worlds, Wells also works as an orchestrator, arranger and copyist for other composers. 

Her most recent was the orchestral work for Nigel Westlake’s soundtrack for Paper Planes, and Jeffrey Walker’s just released Ali’s Wedding.

The Screen Music Awards are held on Monday November 13 at the Melbourne Recital Centre.

Nominees are announced on Thursday October 12.

The categories are:

Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia*  

Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas*  

Best Music for a Documentary 

Best Music for a Short Film

Best Original Song Composed for the Screen

Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie

Best Music for a Television Series or Serial

Best Television Theme

Best Music for Children’s Television

Best Feature Film Score

Best Music for an Advertisement

Best Soundtrack Album 

Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award (as determined by APRA AMCOS Board of Directors)

*Determined by statistical analysis