Finalists for the SOUNZ Contemporary Award, Best Music in Film & Best Music in a Series have been announced.
The awards will be given out at the 2018 APRA Silver Scroll Awards in Auckland on the 4th of October.
All finalists were selected by a judging panel of independent industry representatives.
SOUNZ Contemporary Award finalists
University of Auckland senior lecturer Leonie Holmes’ work ‘Dance of the Wintersmith’ for violin and piano was written for Andrew Beer and Sarah Watkins. The piece drew inspiration from the book of the same name by Terry Pratchett.
Leonie Holmes Photo: Gareth Watkins / Lilburn Trust / Wallace Arts Trust
Auckland based Rosie Langabeer receives her first SOUNZ nomination for her work ‘Occulmente’ for string quartet written for US group Friction Quartet. It was inspired by the sounds of her subconscious mind.
Rosie Langabeer Photo: Supplied
Nominated for the fifth time, award winning Wellingtonian composer Michael Norris returns with ‘Sygyt’ for throat singer, ensemble and live electronics. The piece was commissioned by Stroma for Jonny Marks and explores the different styles of throat singing.
APRA Best Original Music In A Series finalists
This award recognises excellence in composition for series.
- Karl Steven – Dear Murderer
- Matt Caradus – The Cul De Sac
- Samuel Flynn Scott, Lukasz Pawel Buda & Thomas Conrad Wedde – Cleverman
Karl Steven, of Supergroove fame, is nominated for his Dear Murderer, a historical TV series. His dramatic composition adds to the true-life story telling of NZ legal figure Michael Bungay.
Karl Steven Photo: supplied
Dunedin based Matt Caradus has been nominated for his work on the post-apocalyptic teen sci-fi drama The Cul De Sac. It’s the first time the talented folk musician and composer of work for film, tv and games, has been nominated.
Members of the Phoenix Foundation, Luke Buda, Samuel Scott, and Thomas Wedde have been nominated for their work on Cleverman, an Australian based futuristic drama with roots in Aboriginal mythology. The group compose for screen under the name Moniker.
Samuel Flynn Scott of the Phoenix Foundation Photo: RNZ/Kirsten Johnstone
APRA Best Original Music In A Feature Film finalists
This category recognises excellence in feature film scores.
- David Long – McLaren
- Sean Donnelly (aka SJD) – The Free Man
- Stephen Gallagher – Human Traces
The Muttonbirds’ David Long is a finalist for his work on McLaren - a documentary about New Zealand race driver Bruce McLaren. He’s prolific in the industry, composing soundtracks for various Peter Jackson films and other television work.
David Long Photo: Grant Maiden
Songwriter and composer Sean Donnelly (aka SJD) is nominated for his score for Toa Fraser’s extreme-sports documentary The Free Man. It follows freestyle skier Jossi Wells and The Flying Frenchies as they engage in base jumping, wingsuit flying and tightrope walking.
The score for local sub-Antarctic thriller Human Traces by Stephen Gallagher is the final nominee in the category. The highly skilled composer adds his touch to tell the story of the secrets threatening to derail the marriage of a couple working on the sub-Antarctic island.
Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
