Film Music Reporter

Michael Giacchino has been named Film Composer of the Year 2015 at the 15th World Soundtrack Awards, tonight’s closing event of the 42nd Ghent Film Festival. The composer’s output over the last year includes such titles as Inside Out, Tomorrowland, Jupiter Ascending and this year’s highest grossing film, Jurassic World. Giacchino previously received a World Soundtrack Award in the Discovery of a Year category back in 2006. In the Best Original Film Score of the Year category, Antonio Sanchez was honored for his score to this year’s Best Picture winner at the Academy Awards, Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). The jazz drummer/composer also received the award in 2015’s Discovery of the Year category. The Public Choice Award went to composer John Paesano for his score for The Maze Runner. In addition, The Apology Song from the animated feature The Book of Life was named Best Original Song. The track was written by Gustavo Santaolalla, with lyrics by Paul Williams and performed by Diego Luna. The Sabam Award for Best Young Composer goes to Peer Kleinschmidt. Throughout the evening, the Brussels Philharmonic and the Flemish Radio Choir, conducted by Dirk Brossé, played a selection from the extensive oeuvre of this year’s guest of honor, Alan Silvestri, including a world premiere performance of his score for this year’s The Walk. Also performed was the music of last year’s Discovery winner, Daniel Pemberton, with the premiere of his score for Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs. In addition, music of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner Patrick Doyle was also performed at the event, including the premiere of his score for Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella. Check out our previous article for the nominations.