The Screen Music Awards are Australia's leading awards for screen composition, presented annually by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC) since 2002. The awards recognize excellence and innovation in music for film, television, documentary, advertising, video games, and interactive media across 16 categories. The 2025 ceremony took place on October 28 at Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, marking the first time the event was held in that city.
How the Screen Music Awards Work
The awards cover 16 categories spanning every area of screen composition:
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Submission: APRA AMCOS members and AGSC members submit their work for consideration. Submissions are screened for eligibility and category fit.
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Judging: A panel of screen music professionals appointed by APRA AMCOS and AGSC evaluates submissions and votes to determine winners in each category. The judging panel changes each year to ensure fresh perspectives.
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Most Performed Categories: Two categories (Most Performed Screen Composer Australia and Most Performed Screen Composer Overseas) are determined by APRA AMCOS performance data rather than judging panels. These awards recognize composers whose work received the most public performances during the eligibility period.
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Emerging Composer: The Emerging Screen Composer of the Year category targets early-career talent, recognizing distinctive voices and growing bodies of work.
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Distinguished Services: A special award honors a composer for extraordinary contribution to Australian screen music over their career.
The ceremony traditionally moves between Australian cities. The 2024 edition was held at Forum Melbourne, and the 2025 edition moved to Brisbane's Fortitude Music Hall for the first time.
Real-World Example: The 2025 Screen Music Awards
The 2025 ceremony, held on October 28 at Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, recognized 16 winners. Cornel Wilczek was the night's biggest winner, taking home two awards: Best Music for a Television Drama (for "Fake" alongside Alex Olijnyk) and Best Opening Title Television Theme (for Netflix's "The Survivors" with Thomas Rouch).
Jed Kurzel won Feature Film Score of the Year for "Tornado," his fourth win in that category following "Monkey Man" (2024), "Slow West" (2015), and "Snowtown" (2011). Joff Bush won Most Performed Screen Composer Overseas for his work on "Bluey," which was the most-streamed show in the US in 2024. This marked his second win in the category.
Megan Washington won Best Original Song Composed for the Screen for "Dream On" from "How to Make Gravy," the film adaptation of Paul Kelly's Christmas song. Electric Fields performed the song live at the ceremony. Ayda Akbal was named Emerging Screen Composer of the Year.
Adam Gock and Dinesh Wicks won Most Performed Screen Composer Australia for the 11th time, recognized for their work on "Farmer Wants a Wife," "LEGO Masters," "MasterChef," and "Travel Guides." Christopher Gordon received the Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen award, presented by director Bruce Beresford.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The Screen Music Awards are one of the few awards ceremonies dedicated specifically to screen composers rather than performers. This means independent composers working on independent films, short films, documentaries, and video games can receive recognition alongside composers on major productions.
The Emerging Screen Composer of the Year category specifically targets early-career talent. Ayda Akbal's 2025 win demonstrates that composers still building their reputations can take home major awards. The Best Music for a Short Film and Best Music for a Video Game categories provide platforms for composers working in smaller-format or emerging media.
If you are an independent screen composer, join APRA AMCOS to become eligible for submissions. Build relationships with Australian filmmakers and game developers. Use our Sync Licensing Fee Calculator to price your screen composition work competitively. Check the APRA AMCOS website for submission deadlines and category requirements.
Award Categories Explained
The Screen Music Awards presents honors across 16 categories covering every area of screen composition.
Film and television categories:
- Feature Film Score of the Year - recognizes the best original score for a feature film
- Best Music for a Television Drama - honors music composed for a TV drama series
- Best Music for a Television Comedy - recognizes music for a TV comedy series
- Best Music for a Documentary - honors documentary film scores
- Best Music for a Short Film - recognizes short film composition
- Best Music for Children's Programming - honors music for children's TV or film
- Best Music for an Advertisement - recognizes advertising music composition
- Best Music for a Video Game or Other Interactive Media - honors video game and interactive media scores (introduced in 2024)
- Best Opening Title Television Theme - recognizes the best TV theme music
- Best Original Song Composed for the Screen - honors an original song written for a film or TV show
- Best Soundtrack Album - recognizes a soundtrack album release
- Best Music for Unscripted and Reality Television Series - honors music for unscripted and reality TV
Career and performance categories:
- Emerging Screen Composer of the Year - targets early-career talent, recognizing distinctive voices and growing bodies of work
- Most Performed Screen Composer - Australia - determined by APRA AMCOS performance data, not a judging panel
- Most Performed Screen Composer - Overseas - determined by APRA AMCOS performance data for international performances
- Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen - a special award honoring extraordinary contribution to Australian screen music over a career
Notable Past Winners
| Year | Category | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feature Film Score of the Year | Jed Kurzel (Tornado) |
| 2025 | Best Music for a Television Drama | Cornel Wilczek and Alex Olijnyk (Fake) |
| 2025 | Best Opening Title Television Theme | Thomas Rouch and Cornel Wilczek (The Survivors) |
| 2025 | Most Performed Screen Composer - Overseas | Joff Bush (Bluey) |
| 2025 | Best Original Song Composed for the Screen | Megan Washington (Dream On from How to Make Gravy) |
| 2025 | Emerging Screen Composer of the Year | Ayda Akbal |
| 2025 | Most Performed Screen Composer - Australia | Adam Gock and Dinesh Wicks |
| 2025 | Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen | Christopher Gordon |
| 2024 | Feature Film Score of the Year | Jed Kurzel (Monkey Man) |
| 2024 | Best Music for Children's Programming | Joff Bush, Jazz D'Arcy, Daniel O'Brien, Joe Twist (Bluey: The Sign) |
| 2024 | Emerging Screen Composer of the Year | Alex Olijnyk |
| 2024 | Best Music for a Television Drama | Cezary Skubiszewski and Jan Skubiszewski (High Country) |
| 2023 | Feature Film Score of the Year | Benjamin Speed (The Portable Door) |
| 2023 | Best Television Theme | Michael Yezerski (Ivy + Bean) |
| 2023 | Most Performed Screen Composer - Overseas | Joff Bush (Bluey) |
| 2023 | Most Performed Screen Composer - Australia | Adam Gock and Dinesh Wicks |
| 2022 | Feature Film Score of the Year | Salliana Seven Campbell (The Drover's Wife) |
| 2022 | Best Television Theme | Caitlin Yeo (New Gold Mountain) |
| 2022 | Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen | Nigel Westlake |
The 2025 ceremony was held on October 28 at Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, the first time the event was held in that city. Jed Kurzel won Feature Film Score of the Year for the fourth time with "Tornado."
Video Highlights
Eligibility and Submission Info
Submissions are open to APRA AMCOS members and Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC) members. Composers submit their work across 16 categories covering film, television, documentary, advertisement, video game, and interactive media composition.
There is no submission fee. Composers must be APRA AMCOS members to submit. Membership is open to any songwriter or composer who has created an original musical work and costs AUD 100 for songwriters. Join at apraamcos.com.au.
A panel of screen music professionals appointed by APRA AMCOS and AGSC evaluates submissions and votes to determine winners in each category. The judging panel changes each year to ensure fresh perspectives.
Two categories (Most Performed Screen Composer Australia and Most Performed Screen Composer Overseas) are determined by APRA AMCOS performance data rather than judging panels. No submission is required for these categories.
The Emerging Screen Composer of the Year category targets early-career talent. The 2024 winner, Alex Olijnyk, went on to co-win Best Music for a Television Drama in 2025, demonstrating the career progression the category supports.
Check the APRA AMCOS website for submission deadlines and category requirements.
Related Resources
- Sync Licensing Fee Calculator - Price your screen composition work for film and TV placements
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance of your soundtracks
- 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Build revenue streams alongside screen composition
- When and How to Hire a Music Manager - A manager can help coordinate screen composition opportunities
- Sync Licensing Companies - Find licensing companies that place music in film and TV
Similar Awards
- Art Music Awards - Also presented by APRA AMCOS, for contemporary classical and jazz composition
- APRA Music Awards - APRA AMCOS awards for contemporary songwriting
- Academy Award Best Original Song - American film music awards
- Golden Globe Best Original Song - American film and TV music awards
- Goya Award Best Original Song - Spanish film music awards
