15th World Soundtrack Awards Announces Composer of the Year - Michael Giacchino

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Oct. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Soundtrack Academy announced the 15th World Soundtrack Awards winners on October 24th, which closed the event of the 42nd Film Fest Gent at Kuipke in Ghent. Birdman composer Antonio Sanchez won "Best Original Film Score of the Year" for Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and "Discovery of the Year" at the awards show and concert. While accepting his award, Antonio Sanchez first thanked the World Soundtrack Academy by saying, "It's great that THIS Academy recognized me!"; an inside joke since his Birdman score was deemed ineligible for the Academy Awards. 

The World Soundtrack Awards are presented by the World Soundtrack Academy represented by composers and film music executives from around the globe.  Other winners included Michael Giacchino for Composer of the Year (Discovery winner 2005), and Patrick Doyle for the Lifetime Achievement Award.  The evening included the world premiere performances of the scores for Steve Jobs (Daniel Pemberton. last year's Discovery winner), Cinderella (Doyle) and The Walk (Silvestri).  The second half of the evening was a tribute to Silvestri which included his scores to Forrest Gump, Mummy Returns, The Walk and and the 30th anniversary of Back to the Future.  All honorees were in attendance except Giacchino who was in France for a concert performance of Ratatouille. 

The previous evening, there was a tribute concert to British Cinema with special guests Stephen Warbeck (Shakespeare in Love), Patrick Doyle (Much Ado About Nothing) and Craig Armstrong  who premiered the world premiere of Far from the Madding Crowd.  Both concert evening performances were by the Brussels Philharmonic under the direction of Dirk Brusse.

Best original song written directly for film was awarded to "The Apology Song" from The Book of Life (music by Gustavo Santaolalla, lyrics by Paul Williams, performed by Diego Luna). Peer Kleinschmidt won the Sabam award for best young composer while John Paesano's work took home the public choice award for The Maze Runner.

See the complete list of winners below.

Best Composer of the year
Michael Giacchino

Best Original Film Score of the Year
Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) by Antonio Sanchez

Best Original Song Written for a Film
"The Apology Song" from The Book of Life
Music by Gustavo Santaolalla, lyrics by Paul Williams, performed by Diego Luna

Discovery of the Year
Antonio Sanchez for Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Sabam Award for Best Young Composer
Peer Kleinschmidt

Public Choice Award
The Maze Runner by John Paesano

Lifetime Achievement Award
Patrick Doyle

PHOTOS AT http://filmfestgent.photoshelter.com/gallery/Day-12-24-10-2015/G0000KleCM9.5jBA/C00008emMSa7v6_o

Press Contact: Ray Costa | Nicole Albert
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SOURCE World Soundtrack Awards