27/10/2011
For The Record: Gabriel Yared
Every year, the Ghent Film Festival puts a recognised film music composer in the spotlight with its CD series For the record. Last year the Brussels Philharmonic – the Orchestra of Flanders, conducted by Dirk Brossé, recorded a new CD featuring music by the Lebanese composer Gabriel Yared (The English Patient).
22/10/2011
Alexander Desplat third time in a row Film Composer of the Year
The World Soundtrack Academy announced tonight the winners of the World Soundtrack Awards 2011, the closing event of the 38th Ghent International Film Festival. Alexandre Desplat was chosen as Film Composer of the Year 2011. Hans Zimmer went home with the award for Best Orginal Film Score of the Year for Inception. Randy Newman received the World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Song Written for Film with We Belong Together from the film Toy Story 3. Alex Heffes received the Discovery of the Year Award for The First Grader & The Rite . The Public Choice Award went to A.R. Rahman for the film 127 hours. Giorgio Moroder received the World Soundtrack Lifetime Achievement Award.
14/09/2011
Walter Murch gives Film Sound Seminar in Ghent
The film music seminar, which is organised yearly by the Ghent Film Festival and University College Ghent, will be somewhat different this time round. The focus will not be on classic film music but rather on sound design. The reason behind this decision is that legendary film editor and sound designer Walter Murch will be in attendance. He has received three Oscars for his work: Best Sound for Coppola’s Apocalypse Now (1979), as well as Best Sound and Best Film Editing for Minghella’s The English Patient (1996). The Film Sound Seminar with Walter Murch will be held on Thursday 20 October from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. at the Ghent Film Festival (Kinepolis 8).
WSA Discovery of the Year nominees announced
The five nominees for the Discovery of the Year Award, via which the World Soundtrack Academy rewards up-and-coming talent from the previous year, have been announced. The award will be granted during the World Soundtrack Awards & Concert on 22 October at the Kuipke Events Centre in Ghent.
The Ghent Film Festival bids farewell to hit song writer Jerry Leiber
Today the Ghent Film Festival bids farewell to a friend, rock ‘n’ roll composer Jerry Leiber, who passed away from a heart attack in Los Angeles, US yesterday. Leiber joined forces with Mike Stoller to become one of the main composer duos in rock ‘n’ roll history. Leiber was no stranger to the Ghent Film Festival. In 1990 he sat on the jury for the international competition “The impact of music on film”. Other members of the jury included Mike Stoller, Mike Figgis and Fons Rademakers. In 2005 Leiber and his friend Stoller were invited to the World Soundtrack Awards to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Unfortunately Leiber couldn’t make it due to ill health, so Stoller accepted the award, also on his friend’s behalf. Jerry Leiber passed away aged 78.
World Soundtrack Lifetime Achievement Award for disco pioneer Giorgio Moroder
The 11th World Soundtrack Awards, which will be held at the Kuipke Events Centre in Ghent on 22 October, welcome a new star in their line-up: none other than three-time Oscar winner and “father of disco” Giorgio Moroder (Midnight Express, Flashdance, Scarface). During the awards ceremony, he will be conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award for his exceptional career in film music. A selection from his work will be performed live by the Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Dirk Brossé.
World Soundtrack Academy Announces 2011 Nominees!
The World Soundtrack Academy has announced the list of its nominees for the 2011 Awards to be presented in three categories: Film Composer of the Year, Best Original Score of the Year and Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film. The names of the winners will be announced at the World Soundtrack Awards & concert on Saturday, October 22, the closing night of the Ghent International Film Festival.
Vote now for your favourite soundtrack of the past year!
And attend the 11th World Soundtrack Awards & Concert as a VIP
Vote now for the 2011 World Soundtrack Public Choice Award! Take a look at the list of finalists compiled by the World Soundtrack Academy and pick your personal favourite of the past year. You can win a night at the Ghent Marriott Hotel and two VIP tickets to the 11th World Soundtrack Awards & Concert on October 22nd at the Kuipke Event Centre in Ghent!
Patrick Duynslaegher Artistic Director of Ghent Film Festival
As of 1 September 2011, Patrick Duynslaegher will be the Artistic Director of the Ghent Film Festival. Managing Director Jacques Dubrulle says he is delighted that Patrick has agreed to join the festival team. “This appointment is part of the Board of Directors’ plan to further develop the important role the Ghent Film Festival plays in the film culture of Flanders and beyond. Patrick will be able to count on the support of several top team members, who have already won their spurs.” Patrick Duynslaegher himself comments: “After many years in film journalism, I am thrilled that I can now put my passion for cinema to good use serving the most dynamic film festival in Belgium. I am joining an enthusiastic team to develop new initiatives and ideas in the fast-evolving image culture, surrounded by an explosion of new media where the world of films must constantly reassess itself.”
Elliot Goldenthal, Howard Shore & Hans Zimmer at 11th World Soundtrack Awards
Concert dedicated to the memory of Ronni Chasen
On Saturday, October 22nd at 8:00p.m., Oscar winners Elliot Goldenthal, Howard Shore, and Hans Zimmer will be the distinguished guests at the closing ceremony of the 38th Ghent Film Festival at the Kuipke in Ghent. Once again, the Kuipke Event Centre in Ghent will be transformed into a concert hall for an audience of more than 3000 for this 11th edition of the World Soundtrack Awards & Concert. Following the annual presentation of the prestigious film music awards, the Brussels Philharmonic – the Orchestra of Flanders - will perform a singular selection from the three great masters’ extensive oeuvres conducted by Dirk Brossé. As always, the live music will be accompanied by striking film footage. The concert is being dedicated in memory of Ronni Chasen, longtime representative and friend of the film festival.
