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BAFTA Award for Best Original Music

British film industry award


British film industry award

FieldValue
nameBAFTA Award for Best Original Music
imageDaniel blumberg 2024.jpg
image_upright0.8
captionThe 2024 recipient: Daniel Blumberg
awarded_forExcellence in film music
presenterBritish Academy of Film and Television Arts
locationUnited Kingdom
holderDaniel Blumberg for The Brutalist (2024)
websitehttp://www.bafta.org/

The BAFTA Award for Best Original Music, formerly known as the Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music, is a film award that is presented to film composers by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. It has been presented annually at the British Academy Film Awards since 1968.

With seven wins out of sixteen nominations, John Williams is both the most nominated and most awarded in this category. Ennio Morricone is the only composer to win in consecutive years; for The Mission in 1987 and The Untouchables in 1988. Morricone also has the highest perfect score and record, with six wins from six nominations. George Fenton and Howard Shore share the record of most nominations without a win (six each).

Only six composers—John Williams (in 1978; his two mentions in 1975 counted as one nomination), Vangelis (in 1982), Maurice Jarre (in 1985), Hans Zimmer (in 2017), and the composing duo Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (in 2020)—have received two nominations in the same year. In 2019, Lady Gaga became the first woman ever to win this award for A Star Is Born. In 2020, Hildur Guðnadóttir became the first woman ever credited for a solo win in this category for Joker. In 2022, Hans Zimmer won this award on his tenth nomination for Dune, setting the record for most nominations in this category before the first win.

In the following lists, the titles and names in bold with a gold background are the winners and recipients respectively; those not in bold are the nominees. The years given are those in which the films under consideration were released, not the year of the ceremony, which always takes place the following year.

Winners and nominees

1960s

YearFilmComposer(s)Anthony Asquith Award for Original Film Music
*The Lion in Winter*John Barry
The Charge of the Light BrigadeJohn Addison
Live for LifeFrancis Lai
Romeo and JulietNino Rota
*Z*Mikis Theodorakis
Secret CeremonyRichard Rodney Bennett
The Thomas Crown AffairMichel Legrand
Women in LoveGeorges Delerue

1970s

YearFilmComposer(s)
*Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid*Burt Bacharach
Alice's RestaurantArlo Guthrie
Figures in a LandscapeRichard Rodney Bennett
The Railway ChildrenJohnny Douglas
*Summer of '42*Michel Legrand
Little Big ManJohn Hammond
ShaftIsaac Hayes
TrafficCharles Dumont
*The Godfather*Nino Rota
Lady Caroline LambRichard Rodney Bennett
The Tragedy of MacbethThird Ear Band
Young WinstonAlfred Ralston
*O Lucky Man!*Alan Price
Pat Garrett and Billy the KidBob Dylan
SounderTaj Mahal
State of SiegeMikis Theodorakis
*Murder on the Orient Express*Richard Rodney Bennett
ChinatownJerry Goldsmith
Happy New YearFrancis Lai
SerpicoMikis Theodorakis
The Three MusketeersMichel Legrand
*Jaws* / *The Towering Inferno*John Williams
The Godfather Part IINino Rota
The Taking of Pelham One Two ThreeDavid Shire
The Wind and the LionJerry Goldsmith
*Taxi Driver*Bernard Herrmann
Bugsy MalonePaul Williams
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestJack Nitzsche
The Slipper and the RoseRichard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
*A Bridge Too Far*John Addison
EquusRichard Rodney Bennett
The Spy Who Loved MeMarvin Hamlisch
A Star Is BornPaul Williams, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Ascher, Rupert Holmes, Leon Russell, Kenny Loggins, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman and Donna Weiss
*Star Wars*John Williams
Close Encounters of the Third KindJohn Williams
JuliaGeorges Delerue
Saturday Night FeverBarry Gibb, Maurice Gibb and Robin Gibb
*Days of Heaven*Ennio Morricone
AlienJerry Goldsmith
Apocalypse NowCarmine Coppola and Francis Ford Coppola
YanksRichard Rodney Bennett

1980s

YearFilmComposer(s)Best Original Film MusicBest Score for a FilmBest Original Film Score
*The Empire Strikes Back*John Williams
Breaking GlassHazel O'Connor
FameMichael Gore
Flash GordonJohn Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Howard Blake
*The French Lieutenant's Woman*Carl Davis
ArthurBurt Bacharach
Chariots of FireVangelis
Raiders of the Lost ArkJohn Williams
*E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*John Williams
Blade RunnerVangelis
GandhiGeorge Fenton and Ravi Shankar
MissingVangelis
*Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence*Ryuichi Sakamoto
FlashdanceGiorgio Moroder
Local HeroMark Knopfler
An Officer and a GentlemanJack Nitzsche
*Once Upon a Time in America*Ennio Morricone
CarmenPaco de Lucía
The Killing FieldsMike Oldfield
Paris, TexasRy Cooder
*Witness*Maurice Jarre
Beverly Hills CopHarold Faltermeyer
The Emerald ForestBrian Gascoigne and Junior Homrich
A Passage to IndiaMaurice Jarre
*The Mission*Ennio Morricone
Out of AfricaJohn Barry
A Room with a ViewRichard Robbins
Round MidnightHerbie Hancock
*The Untouchables*Ennio Morricone
Cry FreedomGeorge Fenton and Jonas Gwangwa
Hope and GloryPeter Martin
Wish You Were HereStanley Myers
*Empire of the Sun*John Williams
BirdLennie Niehaus
The Last EmperorRyuichi Sakamoto, David Byrne and Cong Su
MoonstruckDick Hyman
*Dead Poets Society*Maurice Jarre
Dangerous LiaisonsGeorge Fenton
Mississippi BurningTrevor Jones
Working GirlCarly Simon

1990s

YearFilmComposer(s)Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music
*Cinema Paradiso*Andrea Morricone and Ennio Morricone
The Fabulous Baker BoysDave Grusin
Memphis BelleGeorge Fenton
Postcards from the EdgeCarly Simon
*Cyrano de Bergerac*Jean-Claude Petit
Dances with WolvesJohn Barry
The Silence of the LambsHoward Shore
Thelma & LouiseHans Zimmer
*Strictly Ballroom*David Hirschfelder
Beauty and the BeastHoward Ashman and Alan Menken
Hear My SongJohn Altman
The Last of the MohicansRandy Edelman and Trevor Jones
*Schindler's List*John Williams
AladdinAlan Menken
The PianoMichael Nyman
Sleepless in SeattleMarc Shaiman
*Backbeat*Don Was
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the DesertGuy Gross
Four Weddings and a FuneralRichard Rodney Bennett
The Lion KingHans Zimmer
*Il Postino: The Postman*Luis Enríquez Bacalov
BraveheartJames Horner
The Madness of King GeorgeGeorge Fenton
Sense and SensibilityPatrick Doyle
*The English Patient*Gabriel Yared
Brassed OffTrevor Jones
EvitaTim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber
ShineDavid Hirschfelder
*Romeo + Juliet*Nellee Hooper, Craig Armstrong and Marius de Vries
The Full MontyAnne Dudley
L.A. ConfidentialJerry Goldsmith
TitanicJames Horner
*Elizabeth*David Hirschfelder
Hilary and JackieBarrington Pheloung
Saving Private RyanJohn Williams
Shakespeare in LoveStephen Warbeck
*American Beauty*Thomas Newman
Buena Vista Social ClubRy Cooder and Nick Gold
The End of the AffairMichael Nyman
The Talented Mr. RipleyGabriel Yared

2000s

YearFilmComposer(s)Best Music
*Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*Tan Dun
Almost FamousNancy Wilson
Billy ElliotStephen Warbeck
GladiatorLisa Gerrard and Hans Zimmer
O Brother, Where Art Thou?T Bone Burnett and Carter Burwell
*Moulin Rouge!*Craig Armstrong and Marius de Vries
AmélieYann Tiersen
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingHoward Shore
Mulholland Dr.Angelo Badalamenti
ShrekHarry Gregson-Williams and John Powell
*The Hours*Philip Glass
Catch Me If You CanJohn Williams
ChicagoFred Ebb, Danny Elfman and John Kander
Gangs of New YorkHoward Shore
The PianistWojciech Kilar
*Cold Mountain*T Bone Burnett and Gabriel Yared
Girl with a Pearl EarringAlexandre Desplat
Kill Bill: Volume 1RZA
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingHoward Shore
Lost in TranslationBrian Reitzell and Kevin Shields
*The Motorcycle Diaries*Gustavo Santaolalla
The AviatorHoward Shore
The ChorusBruno Coulais
Finding NeverlandJan A. P. Kaczmarek
RayCraig Armstrong
*Memoirs of a Geisha*John Williams
Brokeback MountainGustavo Santaolalla
The Constant GardenerAlberto Iglesias
Mrs Henderson PresentsGeorge Fenton
Walk the LineT Bone Burnett
*Babel*Gustavo Santaolalla
Casino RoyaleDavid Arnold
DreamgirlsHenry Krieger
Happy FeetJohn Powell
The QueenAlexandre Desplat
*La Vie en Rose*Christopher Gunning
American GangsterMarc Streitenfeld
AtonementDario Marianelli
The Kite RunnerAlberto Iglesias
There Will Be BloodJonny Greenwood
*Slumdog Millionaire*A. R. Rahman
The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonAlexandre Desplat
The Dark KnightJames Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer
Mamma Mia!Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
WALL-EThomas Newman
*Up*Michael Giacchino
AvatarJames Horner
Crazy HeartT Bone Burnett and Stephen Bruton
Fantastic Mr. FoxAlexandre Desplat
Sex & Drugs & Rock & RollChaz Jankel

2010s

YearFilmComposer(s)Best Original Music
*The King's Speech*Alexandre Desplat
127 HoursA. R. Rahman
Alice in WonderlandDanny Elfman
How to Train Your DragonJohn Powell
InceptionHans Zimmer
*The Artist*Ludovic Bource
The Girl with the Dragon TattooTrent Reznor and Atticus Ross
HugoHoward Shore
Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyAlberto Iglesias
War HorseJohn Williams
*Skyfall*Thomas Newman
Anna KareninaDario Marianelli
ArgoAlexandre Desplat
Life of PiMychael Danna
LincolnJohn Williams
*Gravity*Steven Price
12 Years a SlaveHans Zimmer
The Book ThiefJohn Williams
Captain PhillipsHenry Jackman
Saving Mr. BanksThomas Newman
*The Grand Budapest Hotel*Alexandre Desplat
BirdmanAntonio Sánchez
InterstellarHans Zimmer
The Theory of EverythingJóhann Jóhannsson
Under the SkinMica Levi
*The Hateful Eight*Ennio Morricone
Bridge of SpiesThomas Newman
The RevenantRyuichi Sakamoto and Carsten Nicolai
SicarioJóhann Jóhannsson
Star Wars: The Force AwakensJohn Williams
*La La Land*Justin Hurwitz
ArrivalJóhann Jóhannsson
JackieMica Levi
LionHauschka and Dustin O'Halloran
Nocturnal AnimalsAbel Korzeniowski
*The Shape of Water*Alexandre Desplat
Blade Runner 2049Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer
Darkest HourDario Marianelli
DunkirkHans Zimmer
Phantom ThreadJonny Greenwood
*A Star Is Born*Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga and Lukas Nelson
BlacKkKlansmanTerence Blanchard
If Beale Street Could TalkNicholas Britell
Isle of DogsAlexandre Desplat
Mary Poppins ReturnsMarc Shaiman
*Joker*Hildur Guðnadóttir
1917Thomas Newman
Jojo RabbitMichael Giacchino
Little WomenAlexandre Desplat
Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerJohn Williams

2020s

YearFilmComposer(s)
*Soul*Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
MinariEmile Mosseri
News of the WorldJames Newton Howard
Promising Young WomanAnthony Willis
MankTrent Reznor and Atticus Ross
*Dune*Hans Zimmer
Being the RicardosDaniel Pemberton
Don't Look UpNicholas Britell
The French DispatchAlexandre Desplat
The Power of the DogJonny Greenwood
*All Quiet on the Western Front*Volker Bertelmann
BabylonJustin Hurwitz
The Banshees of InisherinCarter Burwell
Everything Everywhere All at OnceSon Lux
Guillermo del Toro's PinocchioAlexandre Desplat
*Oppenheimer*Ludwig Göransson
Killers of the Flower MoonRobbie Robertson
Poor ThingsJerskin Fendrix
SaltburnAnthony Willis
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-VerseDaniel Pemberton
*The Brutalist*Daniel Blumberg
ConclaveVolker Bertelmann
Emilia PérezClément Ducol and Camille
NosferatuRobin Carolan
The Wild RobotKris Bowers
BugoniaJerskin Fendrix
FrankensteinAlexandre Desplat
HamnetMax Richter
One Battle After AnotherJonny Greenwood
SinnersLudwig Göransson

Multiple wins and nominations

Multiple nominations

;16 nominations

  • John Williams

;13 nominations

  • Alexandre Desplat

;10 nominations

  • Hans Zimmer

;7 nominations

  • Richard Rodney Bennett

;6 nominations

  • George Fenton
  • Ennio Morricone
  • Thomas Newman
  • Howard Shore

;4 nominations

  • T Bone Burnett
  • Jerry Goldsmith
  • Jonny Greenwood ;3 nominations
  • Craig Armstrong
  • John Barry
  • David Hirschfelder
  • James Horner
  • Alberto Iglesias
  • Maurice Jarre
  • Jóhann Jóhannsson
  • Trevor Jones
  • Michel Legrand
  • Dario Marianelli
  • John Powell
  • Trent Reznor
  • Atticus Ross
  • Nino Rota
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto
  • Gustavo Santaolalla
  • Mikis Theodorakis
  • Vangelis
  • Gabriel Yared ;2 nominations
  • John Addison
  • Burt Bacharach
  • Nicholas Britell
  • Carter Burwell
  • Ry Cooder
  • Georges Delerue
  • Marius de Vries
  • Danny Elfman
  • Jerskin Fendrix
  • Michael Giacchino
  • Ludwig Göransson
  • James Newton Howard
  • Justin Hurwitz
  • Francis Lai
  • Mica Levi
  • Alan Menken
  • Jack Nitzsche
  • Michael Nyman
  • Daniel Pemberton
  • A. R. Rahman
  • Marc Shaiman
  • Carly Simon
  • Stephen Warbeck
  • Paul Williams
  • Anthony Willis

Multiple wins

;7 wins

  • John Williams

;6 wins

  • Ennio Morricone

;3 wins

  • Alexandre Desplat ;2 wins
  • Craig Armstrong
  • Marius de Vries
  • David Hirschfelder
  • Maurice Jarre
  • Thomas Newman
  • Gustavo Santaolalla
  • Gabriel Yared

Notes

:A: According to the BAFTAs database, John Williams received a single joint award for two different films.

References

References

  1. "BAFTA Awards Search | BAFTA Awards".
  2. "'Joker' composer Hildur Guðnadóttir is first solo female to win Best Original Music BAFTA".
  3. (14 March 2022). "Hans Zimmer wins a first-ever BAFTA for Dune".
  4. (9 April 2000). "American Beauty shines at Baftas". [[BBC News]].
  5. (31 January 2001). "Gladiator, Crouching Tiger do battle in Bafta nominations". [[The Guardian]].
  6. (25 February 2001). "Gladiator conquers the Baftas". [[BBC News]].
  7. (22 February 2002). "'Lord of the Rings' dominates BAFTAs, wins best film award". [[The Irish Times]].
  8. Hernandez, Eugene. (24 February 2003). "Top BAFTA Awards For "The Pianist"". [[Indiewire]].
  9. (16 February 2004). "Rings rule at Bafta film awards". [[BBC News]].
  10. (13 February 2005). "Aviator flies off with Bafta for Best Film". [[The Scotsman]].
  11. Hernandez, Eugene. (20 February 2006). ""Brokeback Mountain" Wins 4 BAFTA Awards, Including Best Picture". [[Indiewire]].
  12. (11 February 2007). "Baftas 2007: The winners". [[BBC News]].
  13. Dawtrey, Adam. (10 February 2008). "'Atonement' tops BAFTA Awards". [[Variety (magazine).
  14. Turner, Mimi. (8 February 2009). "'Slumdog Millionaire' wins 7 BAFTA nods". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
  15. King, Susan. (21 February 2010). "'Hurt Locker' wins big at BAFTA Awards". [[Los Angeles Times]].
  16. Brown, Mark. (14 February 2011). "Baftas 2011: The King's Speech sweeps the board". [[The Guardian]].
  17. Reynolds, Simon. (12 February 2012). "Orange BAFTA Film Awards 2012 winners list - in full". [[Digital Spy]].
  18. Brooks, Xan. (11 February 2013). "Baftas 2013 – as it happened". [[The Guardian]].
  19. (17 February 2014). "Baftas: Gravity and 12 Years a Slave share glory". [[BBC News]].
  20. Brown, Mark. (8 February 2015). "Baftas 2015: Boyhood wins top honours but Grand Budapest Hotel checks out with most". [[The Guardian]].
  21. Lodderhose, Diana. (14 February 2016). "'The Revenant,' Leonardo DiCaprio Dominate BAFTA Awards". [[Variety (magazine).
  22. Grater, Tom. "Baftas 2017: 'La La Land' scoops five as 'Moonlight', 'Nocturnal Animals' are shutout". [[Screen International.
  23. (19 February 2018). "Bafta Film Awards 2018: Three Billboards wins top prizes". [[BBC]].
  24. Nordine, Michael. (10 February 2019). "BAFTA Awards 2019: 'Roma' Wins Best Film as 'The Favourite' Takes Home the Most Prizes". [[Indiewire]].
  25. (2 February 2020). "Baftas 2020: Sam Mendes film 1917 dominates awards". [[BBC]].
  26. Shoard, Catherine. (12 April 2021). "Baftas 2021: Nomadland wins big as Promising Young Woman and Anthony Hopkins surprise". [[The Guardian]].
  27. "Film {{!}} Original Score in 2022". [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]].
  28. "Film {{!}} Original Score in 2023". [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]].
  29. "Film {{!}} Original Score in 2024". [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]].
  30. "Film {{!}} Original Score in 2024". [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]].
  31. Wiseman, Andreas. (27 January 2026). "BAFTA Nominations Snubs & Suprises: Chase Infiniti, Odessa A’zion & Brit Indie ‘I Swear’ Feel The Love But ‘Wicked’s Tough Awards Run Continues". [[Deadline Hollywood.
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