‘The Brutalist,’ ‘Nosferatu,’ ‘Sentimental Value’ Composers Among Nominees for Discovery of the Year Award at World Soundtrack Awards

The 25th World Soundtrack Awards, a prestigious international ceremony honoring the year’s finest achievements in film and television music, has revealed its complete roster of nominees, with a special spotlight on the Discovery of the Year category. Organized by the World Soundtrack Academy and Film Fest Gent, the event recognizes exceptional scores from recent productions. The awards gala, which serves as the closing event of the annual Film Fest Gent, will honor both established and up-and-coming composers across multiple categories. Earlier announcements had already unveiled shortlists for Film Composer of the Year, Television Composer, and Best Original Song.

This year’s Discovery of the Year category showcases a compelling blend of emerging and seasoned talent. Among the nominees is Daniel Blumberg, who previously won an Academy Award for Best Original Score for “The Brutalist.” Blumberg is also shortlisted for Film Composer of the Year, with the Academy commending his “raw, textural, and jazz-inflected” musical language. Robin Carolan receives a nomination for his unsettling, industrial-inspired score for Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu,” described as “expressionist, tragic, and eerie.”

Jung Jae-il, celebrated for his Emmy-nominated “Squid Game” soundtrack and BAFTA-winning work on “Parasite,” is nominated for “Mickey 17,” marking his continued partnership with director Bong Joon-ho. The Academy praised his “classical and sensuous musical palette.” Also in the running is Dave Metzger, a veteran orchestrator for Disney and Broadway, recognized for his sweeping and lyrical contributions to “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which reinterprets the musical legacy of the original film. Rounding out the category is Polish composer Hania Rani, whose genre-defying score for “Sentimental Value” delves into themes of memory and reconciliation in Joachim Trier’s intimate drama.

Other notable awards include the Public Choice Award, Game Music Award, and Belgian Film Composer of the Year. The Public Choice nominees reflect a wide stylistic and geographic range, from David Cerquetti’s “Buio come il cuore” to Stephen Gallagher’s epic “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.” The Game Music Award shortlist features scores from “Doom: The Dark Ages” and “Dune: Awakening,” highlighting the growing artistic recognition of video game soundtracks. As film music scholar Dr. Elena Rossi notes, “This year’s selections reflect a fascinating fusion of orchestral, electronic, and cross-cultural influences, pointing toward an exciting evolution in the art form.”

Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to Philip Glass and Michael Nyman, two pioneering minimalists whose work has profoundly shaped contemporary film scoring. The ceremony will also spotlight new talent through the Best Original Composition by a Young Composer category, which includes Neville Bharucha, Théo Cascio, and Bongseob Kim. The 25th World Soundtrack Awards will take place on October 22, 2025, in Ghent, Belgium—a city with a deep cinematic heritage—bringing together composers, filmmakers, and music enthusiasts from around the world.