Screen Music Awards go live again and head to Melbourne in 2022

After two years of virtual events, the Screen Music Awards are returning to a live format.

Initially APRA AMCOS and the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC) were set to stage the 2021 version in November to honour the best Australian music composers in film, television, documentary and advertising.

Now they are held on February 22 at the Forum, Melbourne.

APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston emphasised that the celebrations going live for the first time since 2019 would add to the spirit of the event.

“It will be truly wonderful to gather once again in Melbourne and honour the extraordinary soundscape Australian screen composers give to films, television series, advertisements and documentaries with the orchestra performing those nominated soundtracks in the beautiful Forum Melbourne,” Ormston said.

He added there was a greater sense of purpose this time.

“This year, we will also celebrate an extraordinary year of advocacy with APRA AMCOS and the AGSC fighting hard for new legislation that will see a significant boost to local screen production to enhance the livelihoods of screen composers.”

He called them “the unsung heroes of our country’s screen industry.”

Pictured: Nakkiah Lui, Akina Edmonds & Uncle Jack Charles

Co-hosting the first live celebration of the Screen Music Awards since 2019 will be Nakkiah Lui, Akina Edmonds and Uncle Jack Charles.

Nakkiah is a writer/actor and Gamillaroi/Torres Strait Islander woman whose stage and screen credits include ABC’s Black Comedy and Preppers; television series Kiki and Kitty and her award-winning play Black Is The New White.

Singer and actor Akina Edmonds appeared in high-profile theatre productions like Hairspray, An Officer And A Gentleman and The Lion King.

She is currently playing Angelica Schuyler in the Australian production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton.

The legendary Uncle Jack Charles is a Boon Wurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung man, an elder, actor, musician and activist.

He is acknowledged as the grandfather of Aboriginal theatre in Australia, co-founding the first Aboriginal theatre company Nindethana in 1972. With an acting career spanning over six decades, he is currently appearing alongside Nakkiah Lui in Preppers.

The awards will feature the presentation of thirteen awards including music for ads, children’s programming, documentaries, mini-series/ telemovies, short films and feature films.

Composers will be acknowledged for original screen song, soundtrack album, TV theme and film score.

The most performed screen composer in Australia and overseas will be determined by statistics while the Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen gong will be decided by the APRA board.

Traditional highlights of the night are interpretations of the four Feature Film Score of the Year nominations, performed by the Screen Awards orchestra, led by Musical Director Jessica Wells.