The upcoming Screen Music Awards, an event dedicated to honoring exceptional music composition in film, television, and interactive media, is set to introduce three exciting new categories this year.

This October, at the Forum Melbourne in Naarm, the ceremony will unveil a new category specifically aimed at recognizing the growing influence of the gaming industry: Best Music for a Video Game or Other Interactive Media. This category will celebrate the artistic excellence and commercial success of composers who create compelling scores for video games and other interactive experiences.

Additionally, the event on October 29 will introduce the Emerging Screen Composer of the Year award. This new category is designed to identify and foster rising talent in the industry, providing a platform for promising composers. It serves as a complementary accolade to the Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen award, which honors long-term contributions to the field.

With these new additions, the total number of award categories increases to 16. Another innovative category making its debut is Best Music for Unscripted & Reality Television. This category aims to address the unique musical requirements of reality TV, factual programming, and lifestyle shows, acknowledging the composers who enhance these genres with their music.

Australian Guild of Screen Composers President Dale Cornelius emphasized the importance of these additions: “These new award categories are a vital addition to the Screen Music Awards, acknowledging our industry’s full spectrum of talent by shining a well-deserved spotlight on the diverse range of work by composers contributing to Australia’s vibrant screen landscape.”

The ceremony will continue to feature long-standing categories such as Feature Film Score of the Year and Best Original Song Composed for the Screen. Furthermore, the existing Best Music for a Television Series category has been split into two distinct awards: Best Music for a Television Comedy and Best Music for a Television Drama. This change aims to better recognize the unique demands of these different genres.

Other categories include awards for children’s programming, documentaries, mini-series/telefilms, short films, and feature films. The most performed screen composer in Australia and overseas will be determined through statistical analysis, while the Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen award will be decided by the APRA board.

Comedian Susie Youssef will return as host for the event, with Erkki Veltheim once again serving as Musical Director. Veltheim will lead a live orchestra to perform nominated works during the ceremony.

Nominees for the 2024 Screen Music Awards will be revealed in late September, setting the stage for an evening that promises to celebrate and elevate the incredible talent within the screen music industry.