Jed Kurtzel, who has already brought home three feature film scores, is chasing his fourth victory at this year’s Screen Music Awards.
Kurtzel was nominated for the Top of the Evening Award for his work in the action drama Tornado in John McLean’s era, and competed against Samuel Dixon for how to make gravy, Elliot Wheeler for Spit, and born James Brown. The composer won last year at Monkeyman, Snowtown in 2011 and Slow West in 2015.
He is one of several composers who have received three nominations this year, along with Antony Perts, Adam Gock, Cathy Tu, Dinesh Wicks and Mitch Stewart.
The Screen Music Awards, hosted by Apra Amcos and The Australian Guild of Screen Composers, will be held for the first time at Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, spanning 16 categories.
The evening chair will be actor David Wenham am, with guest presenters Mark Coles Smith (who, who also produces music under the alias Karaj) and Natalie Morris. Erkki Veltheim will return as music director and lead a selection of live orchestras from nominated works.
Kurzel has also been nominated for Best Music in TV Drama for the Narrow Road to Deart North and Best Soundtrack Album for our crime thriller The Order.
With over 20 screen music awards in his name, Partos has won the best music for documentaries for his work for the TV comedy of Paradise (Jackson Milas) Return To Paradise (Jackson Milas) and the best music for HBO Max Spot ads.
The office team of DA GOCK, Wick and Stewart has won three awards each for Lego Monkey Kid: “Harbinger” – Best Music for Kids Programming. Postman Portrait – Best Music for Documentaries. And the million dollar secrets for the best music for script and reality television series.
Two nominations each are Caitlyn Yeo, Cornell Willckek, David Brugemann, Jackson Milas, James Mountain, Luna Pan and Samuel Marks.
Alongside Kruzel for the narrow road to Deep North, other nominees for the TV Drama Awards include Black Snow for Isharam Das four years later, Cornell Wilkek, and Jed Palmer and Ziggy Ramo of Alex Olijnik.
The TV comedy categories include Josie Man and Mira from Bump Season 5, Yoh of the Last Days of the Space Age, Brendan Caulfield from Yoro: Rainbo Trinity, Pulse and Mira to Paradise.
Alongside Portman’s portrait, he was nominated in the documentary category, with Golden Spertre (Simon Bruckard) and Yurulu | Country (Helena Zaika).
Winners for outstanding services to well-known services appointed to the APRA Board of Directors will be announced in early October. The winner of Australia and the most performed screen composer, and the winner of the most performed screen composer overseas, will be revealed at night.
The Screen Music Awards will be held on October 28th.
Complete list of nominations:
2025 Screen Music Award nomination:
Best music for advertising
Feels new in Sydney
Composed by Lukas Farry/Alejandro Gomez Sanchez
HBO Max
It is composed by Antony Partos
Published by Sonar Music
NodeFest 2024
Scott Langley composed
Published by Smith and Western Studios
Title: Toyota CH-R Diamond
Composed by Lance Gurisik
Published by MassivePublishing
Perfect music for kids programming
LEGO Monkey Kid: “Harbinger”
Dinesh Wicks* / Adam Gock / Mitch Stewart / Cassie to / Richard Labrooy / David Bruggemann / Samuel Marks / David Huxtable / Luna Pan / Anthony Ammar
Published by Cooking Vinyl Publishing*
Piki Lullaby
Composed by Christine Anu/Rhyan Clapham*
Universal Music Publishing / Published by Sony Music Publishing*
Rant
Composed by Iain Grandage/Josh Hogan
Spooky File: “The Greatest Bad”
Composed by Pascal Babare
Perfect music for documentaries
Postman portrait
Dinesh Wicks / Adam Gock / Mitch Stewart / Emma Greenhill / Cassie to / Samuel Marks / Composed by Henry Bird
Deeper
It is composed by Antony Partos
Published by Sonar Music
The golden spur
Composed by Simon Brookard
Yurulu | Country
Composed by Helena Chaika
Perfect music for short films
Ningaloo Nursery
Composed by Mara Schwerdtfeger
Oil and water
Hamish Francis / composed by James Mountain
Shirt from the back
Composed by Joel Byrne/Wade Keigran
Published by Gaga Music
I’m going home
Composed by Dale Cornelius
Published by Concord Music Publishing
Perfect music for TV comedy
Bump (Season 5 Episode 1)
Josie Mann/Commented by Jackson Milas
Published by Sonar Music
Return to Paradise (Season 1 Episode 1)
Composed by Jackson Milas/Antony Partos
Published by Sonar Music
The Last Day of the Space Age (Episode 1)
Composed by Caitlin Yeo
Published by Universal Music Publishing
Yoro: Rainbow Trinity (Season 3 Episode 7)
Composed by Brendan Caulfield
Published by Universal/MCA Music Publishing
Best Music for TV Dramas
Black Snow (Season 2 Episode 6)
Composed by Jed Palmer/Ziggy Ramo*
Published: Sony Music Publishing / Peermusic*
Fake (Season 1 Episode 5)
Cornell Wiltzek/Compositioned by Alex Orizik
Four Years Later (Season 1 Episode 3)
Composed by Isha Ram Das
The Narrow Road to Deep North (Season 1 Episode 5)
Composed by Jed Kurzel
Perfect music for scripts and reality TV series
Eat the invaders
It is composed of Benjamin speed
The Secret of a Million Dollar
Dinesh Wicks / Adam Gock / BrontëHorder / Mitch Stewart / Cassie to / David Bruggemann / Rory Chenoweth / Adam Sofo
Published by BMG
Murder below: Body in a barrel
Amara Primero / Isabella Lavenuta* / Jenna Pratt* / Melany Thompson*
Cooking Vinyl Publishing / Published by Primechord Music*
Convened dog
Composed by Mark Walmsley
Published by Universal Music Publishing Obo Ambience Entertainment
Perfect music for video games and other interactive media
Feed deep food
Composed by Cedar Jones
Pinball Spirit
Composed by Sterlingtan
Rebel Moon: Descend
Composed by David Barber
Tempopo
Composed by Jeff Van Dyke
Best opening title TV theme
In her nature
Composed by Tammy Ali
The last day of the space age
Composed by Caitlin Yeo
Published by Universal Music Publishing
The Last King of the Cross (Season 2)
Composed by Raphael May
Published by Rogue Nation Publishing
Survivors
Composed by Thomas Rouch*/Cornel Wilczek
Published by Concord Music Publishing Anz
The best original song composed for the screen
“Dreams” from how to make gravy
Composed by Megan Washington
Published by Origin Music Publishing
NCIS’s “Five Walls”: Sydney (Season 2 Episode 7)
Composed by Alana Wilkinson
Kobalt Music Publishing Obo Lillipilli IP
“Warrwurnum” by Journey Home, David Gulpiilil
Composed by David Bridie*/Yirrmal Marika
Published by Mushroom Music*
First Moon title: “Monster”
Composed by Dominique Kabushi/Bronte Marie O’Neill
Alba Australia Music Publishing Obo Published by Alba Blue Music Publishing
Best Soundtrack Album
Blue: Rug Island
Joff Bush* / Theo Dimathaya Burarrwanga / Pluto Jonze / Roy Kellaway^ / Campbell Messer / Lachlan Nicholson / Steve Peach / Lewis Stiles / YirrŋaGotjiringu Yunupingu^
Universal Music Publishing* / Published by Sony Music Publishing^
Moana 2
Consisting of Opetaia Tavita Foa’i/Mark Mancina
Published by Universal Music Publishing
order
Composed by Jed Kurzel
Universal Music Publishing / Published by Sony Music Publishing
Raftsman
Composed by Fin Clark
This year’s feature film score
Basis
Composed by James Brown
How to make gravy
Composed by Samuel Dixon
Published by Downtown Music Publishing
Spit
Composed by Elliot Wheeler
tornado
Composed by Jed Kurzel
Emerging Screen Composer of the Year
Ida Akbar
Felix Wallis
James Mountain
Luna Pan
