The 2025 Screen Music Awards took place on October 28 at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall, celebrating the achievements of talented composers in the Australian music industry. Among the notable winners were Joff Bush, the composer for the hit series Bluey, and Megan Washington, recognized for her original song contributions.
Joff Bush won the award for Most Performed Screen Composer — Overseas, a title he also secured in 2024. The beloved children’s series Bluey emerged as the most-streamed show in the United States during 2024, further solidifying Bush’s international acclaim. Washington earned the Best Original Song for the Screen award for her piece “Dream On,” created for the film adaptation of Paul Kelly‘s classic Christmas song, “How to Make Gravy.” The evening featured a live performance of her winning song, delivered by Electric Fields and a choir led by Deline Briscoe.
Key Winners and Highlights
Brisbane-based composer Cedar Jones took home the award for Best Music for a Video Game or Other Interactive Media for her work on “Feed the Deep.” The awards also showcased a range of nominated scores, from international hits like Moana 2 to local productions such as “The Last Days of the Space Age.”
The standout of the night was Cornel Wilczek, who, along with Alex Olijnyk, won Best Music for Television Drama for “Fake.” Wilczek also received the award for Best Opening Title Television Theme with Thomas Rouch for the adaptation of Jane Harper‘s “The Survivors.” Long-time collaborators Adam Gock and Dinesh Wicks won Most Performed Screen Composer — Australia for the 11th time, thanks to their work on popular shows including “Farmer Wants a Wife,” “LEGO Masters,” “MasterChef,” and “Travel Guides.”
In the feature film category, Jed Kurzel claimed his fourth award for Feature Film Score of the Year for the British period action-drama “Tornado.” His previous wins include scores for “Monkey Man,” “Slow West,” and “Snowtown.” Emerging talent Ayda Akbal was recognized as the Emerging Screen Composer of the Year for her distinctive body of work.
Another first-time winner was Finn Clarke, who received the award for Best Soundtrack Album for “The Raftsmen.” Additional accolades went to Iain Grandage and Josh Hogan for Best Music for Children’s Programming for “Runt,” Helena Czajka for Best Music for a Documentary for “Yurlu | Country,” and Benjamin Speed for Best Music for Unscripted & Reality Television Series for “Eat the Invaders,” hosted by Tony Armstrong.
Acknowledging Contributions to Screen Music
The night also featured a special recognition award for Christopher Gordon, who has composed scores for numerous prominent films, including “Master and Commander” and “Ladies in Black.” He was presented the award for Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen by director Bruce Beresford, highlighting his extensive contributions to the industry.
The event was hosted by actor David Wenham, alongside Mark Coles Smith and Nathalie Morris. A live orchestra, under the direction of Erkki Veltheim, performed selections from the nominated works, providing an engaging experience for attendees.
The Screen Music Awards, presented annually by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Guild of Screen Composers, honor excellence and innovation in screen composition. This year’s event showcased the remarkable talent within the Australian music landscape, affirming the nation’s vibrant contributions to the global entertainment industry.
