Gent, Belgium – 5 August 2025 — The countdown to one of the world’s most prestigious celebrations of film music has officially begun, as Film Fest Gent and the World Soundtrack Academy reveal the first wave of nominees for the 25th edition of the World Soundtrack Awards (WSA). With the highly anticipated ceremony set to take place on 15 October 2025 at Music Centre De Bijloke, the stage is set for a star-studded night marking a quarter-century of excellence in screen music.
Returning to the spotlight is last year’s Film Composer of the Year, Volker Bertelmann, who receives not one but two nominations this year—highlighting his remarkable work in both film and television scoring. Other nominees include global icons like Elton John, Alberto Iglesias, and John Powell, alongside emerging voices such as Ariel Marx and Daniel Blumberg.
Film Composer of the Year
This year’s nominees showcase the best in cinematic composition, from sweeping orchestral arrangements to genre-defying soundscapes:
- Volker Bertelmann – Conclave, The Amateur
- Daniel Blumberg – The Brutalist
- Kris Bowers – The Wild Robot
- Clément Ducol & – Camille – – Emilia Pérez
- Alberto Iglesias – The Room Next Door
- John Powell – How to Train Your Dragon
Television Composer of the Year
This category honours composers shaping television’s evolving sonic landscape:
- Volker Bertelmann – The Day of the Jackal, Dune: Prophecy, The Count of Monte Cristo
- David Fleming & Gustavo Santaolalla – The Last of Us (Season 2)
- Ariel Marx – Dying for Sex
- Bear McCreary – The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Season 2)
- Martin Phipps – Black Doves
- Theodore Shapiro – Severance (Season 2)
Best Original Song
This year’s Best Original Song category features chart-toppers and cinematic gems:
- “Beautiful That Way” – The Last Showgirl | Miley Cyrus, Andrew Wyatt, Lykke Li
- “El Mal” – Emilia Pérez | Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón
- “I Lied to You” – Sinners | Miles Caton
- “Never Too Late” – Elton John: Never Too Late | Elton John, Brandi Carlile
- “Winter Coat” – Blitz | Saoirse Ronan
Special Honors
This milestone year also pays tribute to two towering figures in contemporary classical and film music:
- Philip Glass
- Michael Nyman
Both will be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their profound impact on modern music and film scoring.
Best Original Composition by a Young Composer
Spotlighting the next generation:
- Neville Bharucha
- Théo Cascio
- Bongseob Kim
The second wave of nominations—featuring Discovery of the Year, Public Choice Award, Game Music Award, and Belgian Film Composer of the Year (powered by Sabam)—will be revealed on 4 September 2025.
The 25th World Soundtrack Awards Ceremony & Concert promises a grand celebration of film music’s past, present, and future, taking place during Belgium’s biggest international film festival, Film Fest Gent.
Stay tuned for more announcements as the world’s top composers and musicians prepare to take the stage this October in Gent.
For more updates, visit www.worldsoundtrackawards.com