Updated October 1, 2026.
Bluey composers Joff Bush and Cedar Jones join Fred Leone and William Barton among this year’s Screen Music Awards nominees, ahead of the ceremony in Brisbane on October 28.
The nominations, announced on October 1, bring together the people writing music for films, television, games and advertising. There are several Queensland names to follow when the awards return to Fortitude Music Hall.
The Queensland names to watch
Joff Bush is nominated for Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas for Bluey and The Strange Chores. Brisbane game composer Cedar Jones is up for Best Music for a Video Game or Other Interactive Media for Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen.
Fred Leone shares a Best Music for an Advertisement nomination for Voice of Resistance. William Barton is nominated for Best Original Song Composed for the Screen for “The Spirit Shall Return” from Mystery Road: Origin.
Leone is a Butchulla Songman and language custodian who founded Queensland’s Impossible Odds Records. His work crosses hip-hop and traditional song, including his collaboration with Birdz on “Bagi-la-m Bargan”. Barton is a Kalkadunga composer and didgeridoo player from the Mount Isa region.
Brisbane composer Ack Kinmonth also makes the list, with The Pout-Pout Fish nominated for Best Music for Children’s Programming.
Queensland had three winners at last year’s ceremony: Bush, Jones and Megan Washington. Bush won the overseas composer award, while Jones took the interactive-media category for Feed the Deep. Read YELO’s coverage of the 2025 awards.
Screen Music Awards return to Brisbane
Antony Partos, Josh Hogan and Ned Beckley lead the national field with four nominations each.
Presented by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Guild of Screen Composers, the awards cover 16 categories and form part of APRA’s centenary celebrations.
Actor and singer Rob Collins will host, with guest presenters Claudia Karvan and Ayesha Madon. Music director Erkki Veltheim will lead a live orchestra performing selections from nominated works.
The ceremony takes place at 5.30pm on Wednesday, October 28, at Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane.
See the full 2026 Screen Music Awards nominees and event details.
For more live music around the city, browse YELO’s Brisbane Gig Guide.
Below is YELO’s original report from the 2025 Screen Music Awards.
Beloved children’s screen composer Joff Bush has taken home a top gong at the 2025 Screen Music Awards in Brisbane for his work on the international TV juggernaut Bluey.
The most-streamed show in the US last year, each episode of Bluey is individually scored, with Joff responsible for half of the soundtrack’s composition, including the show’s theme song.
It was Joff’s second time winning the Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas category, after his 2023 triumph.
Photo: Joff Bush at the 2025 Screen Music Awards in Brisbane. He also won in 2023. By Cassidy Cloupet.
Ayda Akbal, Cornel Wilczek, Jed Kurzel, and Megan Washington were also among big names honoured at the glittering ceremony at Fortitude Music Hall.
Presented by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC), the 2025 Screen Music Awards celebrates excellence and innovation in screen composition across 16 categories.
Photo: The 2025 Screen Music Awards Orchestra.
Melbourne-based composer Cornel Wilczek emerged as the night’s biggest winner, taking home
two awards. He won Best Music for a Television Drama for Fake and Best Opening Title Television Theme with Thomas Rouch for Netflix adaptation The Survivors.
Fellow Queenslander Megan Washington was awarded Best Original Song Composed for the
Screen for “Dream On” from How to Make Gravy, the film adaptation of Paul Kelly’s iconic
Christmas song.
The moment was made even more special for Megan, with a surprise live performance with Electric Fields, accompanied by a choir.
Photo: Electric fields, Megan Washington, Nick Waterman, at the Screen Music Awards 2025. By Cassidy Cloupet.
For more information about the Screen Music Awards 2025 visit apraamcos.com.au/screenmusicawards2025.
2025 Screen Music Award winners
Best Music for an Advertisement
Title: Toyota CH-R Diamond
Composed by Lance Gurisik
Published by MassivePublishing
Best Music for Children’s Programming
Title: Runt
Composed by Iain Grandage / Josh Hogan
Best Music for a Documentary
Title: Yurlu | Country
Composed by Helena Czajka
Best Music for a Short Film
Title: The Way Home
Composed by Dale Cornelius
Published by Concord Music Publishing ANZ
Best Music for a Television Comedy
Title: Return to Paradise (Season 1 Episode 1)
Composed by Jackson Milas / Antony Partos
Published by Sonar Music
Best Music for a Television Drama
Title: Fake (Season 1 Episode 5)
Composed by Cornel Wilczek / Alex Olijnyk
Best Music for Unscripted & Reality Television Series
Title: Eat the Invaders
Composed by Benjamin Speed
Best Music for a Video Game or Other Interactive Media
Title: Feed the Deep
Composed by Cedar Jones
Best Opening Title Television Theme
Title: The Survivors
Composed by Thomas Rouch* / Cornel Wilczek
Published by Concord Music Publishing ANZ*
Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
Title: “Dream On” from How to Make Gravy
Composed by Megan Washington
Published by ORiGiN Music Publishing
Best Soundtrack Album
Title: The Raftsmen
Composed by Finn Clarke
Feature Film Score of the Year
Title: Tornado
Composed by Jed Kurzel
Published by Syncredi Music
Emerging Screen Composer of the Year
Ayda Akbal
Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia
Composer: Adam Gock and Dinesh Wicks
For Travel Guides, MasterChef, Farmer Wants A Wife, LEGO Masters
Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas
Composer: Joff Bush
For Bluey
Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen
Christopher Gordon
About APRA AMCOS and AGSC
APRA AMCOS is a key business partner to Australasian music creators. It represents over 128,000
members who are songwriters, composers and music publishers; licenses organisations to play,
perform, copy or record members’ music; and distributes the royalties to members.
The organisation enables music creators and customers to maximise the value music brings to business and life. It’s achieved through a simple and effective licensing framework; providing industry support from education, to live music, export, creators’ rights advocacy; and recognition through its high-profile awards and events program. More here: apraamcos.com.au.
AGSC is the national industry association for professional composers working in film, television,
documentary, and multimedia, promoting excellence in screen composition through industry events,
government lobbying and direct membership advice. agsc.org.au
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