The annual Screen Music Awards presented by APRA AMCOS in conjunction with the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC) took place last month (29th October) in Melbourne, Australia. The ceremony acknowledges excellence and innovation in the field of screen composition across the small and large screen. 

UMP writers took home three awards on the night including the top spot for Feature Film Score of the Year, Best Music for Children’s Programming and Best Music for Unscripted & Reality Television Series. UMP received more awards than any other publisher at this event. 

Taking out Feature Film Score of the Year was Jed Kurzel with music for Monkey Man. Directed by and starring Dev Patel, Jed brought the action revenge thriller to life with his music. Jed Kurzel is a multi-award winner, with his score for Snowtown named Feature Film Score of the Year in 2011 and a second win for Slow West in 2015. 

The Best Music for Children’s Programming went to UMP composers Joff Bush, Jazz D’Arcy, Daniel O’Brien and Joe Twist for Bluey’s 28-minute episode, titled ‘The Sign’, which resolved the question of whether the family would move house. With the music for Bluey often described as the voice of the show itself, this season finale episode saw Bluey, Bingo and Chilli coming to terms with leaving their beloved family home and made headlines around the globe for reducing adults to tears.

UMP also won the inaugural award for Best Music for Unscripted & Reality Television Series for LEGO Masters.

Photo: Bluey composers Joe Twist, Joff Bush, Jazz D'Arcy and Daniel O'Brien win Best Music for Children's Programming
Photograph by Lucinda Goodwin