‘Conclave’, ‘The Brutalist’ composers lead winners at 2025 World Soundtrack Awards

Volker Bertelmann has won the film composer of the year prize at the 25th World Soundtrack Awards (WSA), which took place tonight (October 15), at the closing night of Film Fest Gent in Belgium.

Scroll down for full list of winners

Bertelmann, who also won the award in 2023, was honoured for his scores for Conclave and The Amateur.

Daniel Blumberg, also nominated for composer of the year, picked up the discovery of the year award for his work on The Brutalist, which earned multiple other awards including best original score at the Oscars.

Theodore Shapiro took home the television composer of the year award for his score for the second season of Severance. Emmy-winner Shapiro is also known for composing the scores for The Devil Wears Prada, Tropic Thunder and Bombshell.

Best original song went to ‘El Mal’ from Emilia Perez, written by Clément Ducol, Camille and Jacques Audiard, and performed by Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón. The song previously won the equivalent prize at the Oscars.

The WSA lifetime achievement awards were presented to Philip Glass and Michael Nyman.

World Soundtrack Awards 2025

Film Composer of the Year
Volker Bertelmann – Conclave, The Amateur 

Television Composer of the Year
Theodore Shapiro – Severance (Season 2) 

Best Original Song
‘El Mal’ from Emilia Pérez - Clément Ducol, Camille, Jacques Audiard 

Discovery of the Year
Daniel Blumberg – The Brutalist 

Public Choice Award
Laetitia Pansanel-Garric – Hola Frida 

Game Music Award
Lorien Testard – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 

Belgian Film Composer of the Year
Ruben De Gheselle – Young Hearts, There was, There was not 

Award for the Best Original Composition by a Young Composer
Bongseop Kim 

Lifetime Achievement Award
Philip Glass and Michael Nyman

• “He doesn’t want the same sauce over and over”: German composer Volker Bertelmann on his long-running collaboration with Edward Berger