Film Festival Ghent celebrates 10th anniversary World Soundtrack Awards
The World Soundtrack Awards, an awards presentation honoring the best in film music established by the Ghent International Film Festival’s World Soundtrack Academy in 2001, has announced an all star line up to usher in its 10th year. Ten world class composers will be appearing live in concert at the awards presentation in Ghent, Belgium on October 23rd. Those confirmed include Oscar winners Howard Shore (Lord Of The Rings), Elliot Goldenthal (Frida), Gabriel Yared (The English Patient), Gustavo Santaolalla (Motorcycle Diaries), Stephen Warbeck (Shakespeare In Love) as well as Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks), Craig Armstrong (Love Actually), Alberto Iglesias (Todo Sobre Mi Madre), Bruno Coulais (Océans), Frédéric Devreese (Un Soir, Un Train) and brilliant young composer Nico Muhly (The Reader)
Known as the world’s premiere festival for celebrating and honoring film music the Ghent International Film Festival, which is celebrating its 37th year, formed the World Soundtrack Academy to honor composers in six different categories including Film Composer of the Year, Best Original Film Score of the Year, Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film, Discovery of the Year, and their Lifetime Achievement Award. The World Soundtrack Awards 10th anniversary gala will include a six minute suite from each composer performed by the Brussels Philharmonic – the Orchestra of Flanders, conducted by Dirk Brossé, and accompanied by a selection of illustrative film excerpts.

Comprised of more than 300 music professionals from all over the world the World Soundtrack Awards has emerged in the last decade as the premiere honor for film composers, and is renowned for its vibrant live concerts featuring the 80 piece Brussels Philharmonic – the Orchestra of Flanders.

“We are overwhelmed by the positive response we received from composers all over the world about our anniversary celebration,” stated Jacques Dubrulle, Secretary General of the festival. “Film music is a unique and vibrant 20th century art form and is a singular force in making motion pictures an emotional experience, which is why it has superstar status at Ghent,” he continued.

In addition to the annual awards the World Soundtrack Academy also organizes workshops, master classes and seminars. Some of its greatest achievements include concerts by music legends including Ennio Morricone, Maurice Jarre, John Williams, Howard Shore and Hans Zimmer among others.

On October 21st five time Oscar winner, John Barry, will join the list of festival composers in a one-off concert of his music which he will attend. The Brussels Philharmonic - the Orchestra of Flanders, conducted by Nicholas Dodd, will perform suites from his wide ranging body of work and that same evening he will be presented with the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Ghent International Film Festival, which is considered one of Europe’s most respected fall film events and the largest in the Benelux countries will run from October 12-23rd. This annual gathering attracts over 125,000 visitors including 60,000 students and screens over 150 films, shorts, and documentaries in and out of competition.

For more information, go to www.filmfestival.be