2023 Screen Music Awards

The Screen Music Awards represent the successful marriage of two defining elements of contemporary Australian culture: music and film. Presented by APRA AMCOS in conjunction with the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC), the ceremony is our chance to acknowledge excellence and innovation in the field of screen composition.

The Screen Awards honour music composers across thirteen categories. APRA AMCOS uses statistical analysis to define nominations based on performance activity, as reflected by earnings, for two categories: Most Performed Screen Composer - Australia, and Most Performed Screen Composer - Overseas. Panels of highly respected Australian film and television composers determine four nominees across each of the remaining ten categories. The Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award is given at the discretion of the APRA Board of Directors.

The Screen Music Awards cover thirteen award categories.

The following awards are given based on APRA AMCOS' statistical analysis:

• Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia
• Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas

The following awards are judged by panels of leading screen composers from across Australia:

• Best Music for a Documentary
• Best Music for a Short Film
• Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
• Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
• Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
• Best Television Theme
• Best Music for Children’s Programming
• Best Music for an Advertisement
• Feature Film Score of the Year
• Best Soundtrack Album

A special Award is given at the discretion of the APRA Board of Directors:

• Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

To submit, please review the submission guidelines and rules below before commencing your application.

Publishers, producers, and directors may enter on behalf of a composer.

The work must have been for a production which received its first public screening, broadcast or release in the relevant 12-month period (1 July 2022 - 30 June 2023).

The eligibility period for Feature Film Score of the Year requires that the production must have received its first public screening, broadcast or commercial release in the relevant 15-month period (1 July 2022 - 30 September 2023). This includes first releases on YouTube, Facebook, Netflix or any other public platform.

To avoid your application timing out, we recommend preparing all the required material before you begin.

You must submit responses to:

• Details of the work's first broadcast (date/location)
• Composer information
• Any additional composer/s

You must supply:

• High-Res headshot and biography (maximum 300 words) of the main composer
• Your works as mp4, MOV or mp3/m4a (soundtrack only), or as a direct link accessible with or without a password. Please note only standard definition files are required, using H.264 as the default output and a maximum height of 720. All submissions must have audio-visual elements, with the exclusion of Soundtrack category.
• Cue Sheet with time codes are required for Television Series, Mini-Series/Telemovie, Children's Programming, Documentary & Feature Film categories.
• An audio-only sample of the main score (mp3 or m4a), minimum of 2.5 minutes in length. This is required for possible adaptation/orchestration by the Musical Director for the orchestral ensemble at the awards ceremony.
• Any additional material that could be used for possible adaptation/orchestration by the Musical Director - lead sheets, MIDI files, manuscripts etc.

Category information:

• You may apply in as many categories as you like, but a maximum of 3 entries in any one category applies.
• For submissions in Television Series, Mini-Series/Telemovie & Children’s Programming you must upload only one entire episode that you feel best reflects your work. If you are not the main composer of the episode, please list any additional composers.
• For submissions in Best Original Song Composed for the Screen, you must upload only the section of the film/series where the song is featured, orshowing where the song is featured, or the entire film/program with a timecode note where the song is featured.

Any queries email [email protected] or call (02) 9935 7900.

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

A. THE AWARDS

1. Thirteen Awards are conferred.

• Best Music for an Advertisement
• Best Music for a Documentary
• Best Music for a Short Film
• Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
• Best Soundtrack Album
• Best Music for Children's Programming
• Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
• Best Television Theme
• Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
• Feature Film Score of the Year
• Most Performed Screen Composer - Australia
• Most Performed Screen Composer - Overseas

A special Award is given at the discretion of the APRA Board of Directors

• Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award

2. The Award is in the form of a trophy suitably inscribed.

B. ELIGIBILITY

• The work must be an original score.
• The work must have at least a 50% composer interest by an APRA Composer Member.
• The work must have been for a production which has received its first public screening, broadcast or release in the relevant 12-month period (1 July 2022 - 30 June 2023) for which the award is made (excluding Feature Film Score of the Year).
• The eligibility period for Feature Film Score of the Year, requires that the production must have received its first public screening, broadcast or commercial release in the relevant 15-month period (1 July 2022 - 30 September 2023) for which the award is made.
  Note: If a viewing copy of an eligible film is not available for submission due to restrictions placed upon its non-commercial release, then it may be entered in the Feature Film category the following year - please contact us in this instance.
• Mini-Series or Telemovie entries shall be limited to a production that tells one single story in a limited number of episodes, usually fewer than a whole season (whole season = 10+ episodes). Television Series or Serial entries will refer to a connected season of program episodes that run under the same title, possibly spanning many seasons.
• In the case of any Television Series, Mini-Series or Documentaries with more than one episode, composers are to choose one episode only for submission into any one category.
• A Television Theme is a piece of music that is played at the beginning of each episode in a Television or Mini-Series.
• An entire work can only be entered into one category, such as Short Film OR Documentary, not both. However, portions of the same work can be entered into additional categories, e.g. Feature Film Score of the Year & Best Original Song Composed for the Screen, or Television Series & Television Theme.
  
• Anything classed as a children's program, whether it is a short film or tv series must be entered into the Children's Programming category. Children's full-length features are eligible to be entered into the Feature Film category.
• Anything classed as a Documentary, whether it is a short film, mini-series or feature length must be entered into the Documentary category.
• All feature length submissions for Documentary must be entered in the Best Music for Documentary category. These will not be accepted in Feature Film Score of the Year.
• All Short Films submitted should have a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all credits.
• All Advertisements submitted should be limited to 3 minutes duration.
• Best Original Song Composed for the Screen must be an original composition written for that purpose, not a previously released song featured in a program or film. The category for Original Song does not include advertisements, jingles, promos or station IDs.
• Categories can include both factual and fiction entries.
  
• The jury reserves the right to reallocate any entry into another category if it deems that category more suitable. Composers will be notified if this is the case.
• Not every category will necessarily be awarded if, for example, there is no suitable entry in a category.

C. SUBMISSIONS PROCEDURE

• Submissions can be entered by the composer, their employer, the production company or a third party i.e. Director or Publisher.
• There is a maximum of three entries permitted in any one category. However, any individual composer can only receive a maximum of one nomination in any one category. This will be subject to review if there is a duplicate songwriter in the Top 4 with different APRA member co-writers.
• Submissions within the categories of Most Performed Screen Composer - Australia and Most Performed Screen Composer - Overseas are determined by performance activity only.
• Submissions in the visual categories must be submitted as an mp4 or mov file and accompanied by a detailed cue sheet. Exceptions to this ruling are for the Soundtrack Album, Short Film, Television Theme, Original Song and Advertisement categories, where it is not necessary to provide music cue sheets.

D. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

• Submissions will be assessed based on their compositional craft, creativity, originality and excellence.
• Submissions within the categories of Most Performed Screen Composer - Australia and Most Performed Screen Composer - Overseas will be assessed based on performance activity as reflected by earnings, according to APRA's records.

E. DECISION MAKING PROCEDURES

• Awards will be decided by judging panels from entries submitted.
• A judging panel may not include any member who is a subject of a submission. Should such a situation arise, either the nomination must be withdrawn or the member must be replaced.
• There will be five (5) to eight (8) judges per category. Judges will receive material to review individually before making final decisions via a conference call.
• Each judging panel will be overseen by an external Chairperson.
• Decisions reached by the judging panels are final and no discussion regarding the result shall be entered into once the process is complete. If the panel is unable to reach a final decision the chairperson will have the casting vote.
• Judging panels may reserve the right not to make an award in a category where there is not an outstanding achievement.
• Judging panels may reserve the right to alter the category for which a submission has been received, if another category is deemed more appropriate.
• For the categories of Most Performed Screen Composer - Australia and Most Performed Screen Composer- Overseas no judging panel is required as APRA collates the composers' performance activity to determine the final nominees.
• The Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award encompasses outstanding contribution to the Film and Television industry, including, but not limited to producers/directors, philanthropists, educators, music supervisors and event producers that provide promotion, opportunities and education for Australian Composers

F. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All entrants are required to provide the following items for possible adaptation by the Music Director on the night;

a) An MP3 or M4A recording of the main theme(s)

b) Any material that can be used for orchestration - lead sheets, MIDI files, manuscripts etc.

Please note our arrangers and orchestrators will adapt your music scores to suit our orchestral line up.

The entrant shall (or shall cause the copyright owner of the entry if different from the entrant) to permit APRA AMCOS and any person APRA AMCOS authorises to perform the entry in and as part of any APRA AMCOS award ceremony and to record it for those purposes and for the purposes of communication to the public or promotional use.

The entrant agrees to allow APRA AMCOS to use audio and video from the APRA & AGSC Screen Music Awards for promotional purposes.

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

The Screen Music Awards and Forum Melbourne strive to provide fair and inclusive access to this event. Step-free, fully accessible pathways are available via the box office entry on Flinders Street.

Within the Forum, entry to the main auditorium is via 3 sets of doors with wheelchair access and ramp via the right-side door. A ramp runs the length of the venue down to the dancefloor area and is designed to provide a smooth and efficient experience for all visitors, regardless of their mobility needs.

PARKING

There is limited street parking, but Forum patrons can access special rates at select Wilson Car Parks. This offer must be booked on their website before arrival.
Closest parking to the venue is Wilson Parking, Flinders Gate Car Park, 172-192 Flinders Street (60m from venue) or at Fed Square Rooftop, Russell Street (190m from venue).

ACCESSIBLE DROP-OFF

The best place for drop off and pick-ups is either on Russell Street next to Culture Kings (30m from the Forum entry) or on the Russell Street extension next to the Ian Potter Centre (approximately 80m across Flinders Street).

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

Forum Melbourne has accessible toilets, ramps, and spacious lifts available throughout the venue. There is a wheelchair accessible entrance at the Box Office to the right of the main entrance on Flinders Street via a small ramp into the foyer. Please speak to a staff member if you need assistance.

AMENITIES & SERVICES
Accessible Bathrooms

A gender neutral and fully accessible toilet is located on the left of the main entrance foyer (facing the stage). Just follow the signs to the Manager’s Office. It can also be accessed from the main room through the wooden door at the back of the room. This is located to the left of the entrance to female toilets.

Sensory Friendly Space

Forum Melbourne has quiet space options on the mezzanine level upstairs away from the main auditorium and foyer. There is no music or bright lighting in these spaces. These quiet spaces do not have a view of the stage. If you would like access to any of these rooms at any stage during the show, please see one of the APRA AMCOS or Forum Melbourne staff in the foyer who can escort you to this space. This area will offer attendees some quiet and calm on event day no matter the size or volume of the crowd and is available for those who have sensory sensitivities, processing differences, or other hidden disabilities (e.g. autism, acquired brain injury, mental illness, PTSD, dementia).

The sensory friendly space is not a social space and is an alcohol-free zone.

Service Animals/Guide Dogs

Support and assistance animals are welcome at the Screen Music Awards. Please contact [email protected] prior to the event so we can arrange for entry and a reserved space if you’d like it.
Please be aware that the venue can be a noisy and busy environment.

Lighting

There is low lighting in the venue throughout the ceremony. All walkways are clearly marked, however if you have low vision and need assistance, please let a member of staff from APRA AMCOS or Forum Melbourne know, our staff will be happy to help.

CONTACT US

Should you have any questions or considerations not mentioned in the above, please contact us at [email protected] or call us on 1800 642 634.
To download this accessibility pack including all images, please click here.