Screen Music Awards Announce 2022 Winners

Last night ushered in a new group of winners for the 2022 Screen Music Awards, presented by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC).

Held in Naarm/Melbourne, the awards aim to celebrate the essential contribution of Australian composers and artists to the Film and TV Industry. Boasting a mix of established and first-time winners, The Screen Music Awards have patiently picked the music makers who best represent the magic of Australian Film Music.

Caitlin Yeo took out two awards last night, Best Television Theme and Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie, for her work on New Gold Mountain. The tracks used a blend of strings, traditional Chinese instruments and even a gold pan as a percussion instrument to enhance the story told of 1857 Chinese gold miners living in Ballarat.

Salliana Seven Campbell took out the big Feature Film Score of the Year award for her composition for The Drover's Wife, The Legend of Molly Johnson.

Didgeridoo player and composer William Barton, and Australian Chamber Orchestra Artistic Director Richard Tognetti, took out their first-ever win earning the Best Soundtrack Album Award and Best Original Song Composed for the Screen for their work on the motion picture River. Piers Burbrook de Vere also contributed to the track and shared the win.

Composer Hylton Mowday has scored the win for Best Music for a Documentary for the Emmy award-winning Aussie doco Puff: Wonders of The Reef.

Acclaimed composer Nigel Westlake has received the Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award for his body of work across film and television. His long-time collaborator, the director, producer, and screenwriter Robert Connolly was on hand to present the honour.

A complete list of the winners can be found below:

Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award

Nigel Westlake

Feature Film Score of the Year

Title: The Drover’s Wife, The Legend of Molly Johnson

Composed by Salliana Seven Campbell

Best Television Theme

Title: New Gold Mountain

Composed by Caitlin Yeo

Published by Kobalt Music Publishing obo Lillipilli IP

Best Music for a Television Series or Serial

Title: Total Control