25th anniversary edition: Debbie Wiseman & A. R. Rahman
Film Fest Gent's music prizes yearly welcomes the international film music scene to honour the art of composing for screen ― an often neglected field in the audiovisual industry. The World Soundtrack Awards is now celebrating their 25th birthday, an anniversary edition that should be celebrated accordingly ― with two guests of honour: Debbie Wiseman & A. R. Rahman. Wiseman is one of the most prolific British and television composers of her time. Her work can be heard in staples of British cinema such as Tom & Viv, To Olivia and Wilde, and also in TV series like Wolf Hall, Father Brown and Judge John Deed. A. R. Rahman is a two-time Oscar winner and is arguably the biggest Indian composer for screen working today. He has numerous credits in Bollywood and is widely recognised for the scores he has written for Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire (winner of eighth Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song) and the director's follow-up 127 Hours (nominated for six Oscars, including two for Rahman's music).
Jerskin Fendrix
Joining the line-up is last year's Discovery of the Year winner Jerskin Fendrix, who managed to make waves at the 2024 WSAwards, becoming the first ever to win both the Discovery of the Year and the Film Composer of the Year Award in the same year. Starting at the top rather than the bottom, Fendrix' first film score, for Poor Things, has brought him immediate international acclaim, including Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations. His music for Yorgos Lanthimos' multiple Oscar-winning film, along with his score for the director's more recent Kinds of Kindness (and the upcoming Bugonia) confirm that Fendrix has already exceeded the 'discovery' part of his career.
Lifetime Achievement Awards & Minimalism in Motion
A celebratory year asks for unique celebrations. This year, we honour two absolute legends of the game. The 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are masters of minimalism Philip Glass & Michael Nyman. They and their legacy will be honoured at the film music concert Minimalism in Motion: Glass, Nyman and Beyond on Thursday 16 October. Their music will be performed live alongside the work of contemporary minimalists Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch and Martin Phipps.
Music & Awards
Besides featuring live performances by Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by maestro Dirk Brossé, of compositions by Debbie Wiseman, A. R. Rahman and Jerskin Fendrix, the WSA Ceremony & Concert presents awards in the following categories: Film Composer of the Year, Television Composer of the Year, Best Original Song, Discovery of the Year, Best Original Composition by a Young Composer (powered by Vienna Synchron Stage), Public Choice Award, Game Music Award, and Belgian Film Composer of the Year (powered by Sabam).