Ghent, Belgium – Acclaimed British composer Michael Nyman will be awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 25th World Soundtrack Awards (WSA), taking place during Film Fest Gent 2025. The tribute will culminate in a special concert, “Minimalism in Motion: Glass, Nyman and Beyond,” on 16 October 2025 at Music Centre De Bijloke in Ghent.
Nyman, widely celebrated for his evocative scores for films such as The Piano, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, and Gattaca, will join fellow minimalist icon Philip Glass, who was previously announced as another Lifetime Achievement honoree. The concert will feature the Brussels Philharmonic under the baton of Dirk Brossé, performing a curated selection of Nyman’s most notable compositions.
A towering figure in minimalist and contemporary classical music, Nyman has enjoyed a multifaceted career as a composer, critic, librettist, and musicologist. He is credited with coining the term “minimal music” in a 1968 article for The Spectator, a term that has since defined a major movement in modern composition.
His long-standing association with Film Fest Gent dates back to 1991, when he premiered his score for Prospero’s Books. His music has since been showcased in various festival concerts, celebrating his collaborations with directors like Peter Greenaway and Neil Jordan.
Nyman’s score for The Piano (1993) marked a commercial and critical breakthrough, with over three million copies sold globally. The hauntingly beautiful compositions, particularly The Heart Asks Pleasure First, earned him Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations and remain iconic in film music history.
While often linked to minimalism, Nyman’s work stands out for its fusion of baroque, folk, and modern elements, reflecting his deep musical scholarship and innovative spirit. As musicologist Pwyll ap Siôn noted, “Nyman composes with his ears to the past, and his eyes to the future.”
The WSA Film Music Days 2025, running from 14 to 16 October, will host numerous panels and concerts highlighting the art of film music. The World Soundtrack Awards ceremony takes place on 15 October, followed by the “Minimalism in Motion” concert on the final day.
Tickets for both events are available now at filmfestgent.be and worldsoundtrackawards.com.