At noon EST today, the International Film Music Critics Association (of which I am a member) announced its winners for excellence in musical scoring in 2012.  First let me say congratulations to all the winners and nominees – here’s to another year of outstanding music in film.

Life of Pi takes home Score of the Year at the IFMCA Awards

Taking home Score of the Year is Canadian composer Mychael Danna for his score to director Ang Lee’s Life of Pi.  This is the first Score of the Year award for Danna, who received nominations in previous years for other categories.  Unlike in previous years where one score won multiple awards, the main film prizes this year were split equally between 11 different films and composers.

Danny Elfman was named Film Composer of the Year for his outstanding body of work in 2012, including (among others) Frankenweenie, and Silver Linings Playbook.  This is the second time Elfman has won Composer of the Year, having previously been honoured in 2008.

In other categories, Thomas Newman’s Oscar-nominated Skyfall won for action/adventure/thriller film, Alexandre Desplat picked up an award for Rise of the Guardians for Best Original Score for an Animated Feature, and Walter Murphy’s big band score for the hilarious Ted took home the prize for comedy.  Film Music Composition of the Year went to Fernando Valázquez for his main title to The Impossible.

Winners in other categories, including documentary, drama, breakout composer of the year, and more are included after the jump.

For more, read the official press release at the IFMCA’s official website here.  

– Erin V.

2012 Film Categories

FILM SCORE OF THE YEAR

Life of Pi, music by Mychael Danna

FILM COMPOSER OF THE YEAR

Danny Elfman

BREAKOUT COMPOSER OF THE YEAR

Nathan Johnson

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A DRAMA FILM

Lincoln, music by John Williams

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A COMEDY FILM

Ted, music by Walter Murphy

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR AN ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLER FILM

Skyfall, music by Thomas Newman

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION/HORROR FILM

John Carter, music by Michael Giacchino

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR AN ANIMATED FEATURE

Rise of the Guardians, music by Alexandre Desplat

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Metsän Tarina, music by Panu Aaltio

FILM MUSIC COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR

“The Impossible Main Title” from The Impossible, music by Fernando Velázquez

Other 2012 Categories

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A TELEVISION SERIES

Doctor Who, music by Murray Gold

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A VIDEO GAME OR INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Journey, music by Austin Wintory

BEST ARCHIVAL RELEASE OF AN EXISTING SCORE

Star Trek: The Motion Picture, music by Jerry Goldsmith; album produced by Didier C. Deutsch, Mike Matessino, Bruce Botnick, MV Gerhard, Matt Verboys and David C. Fein; liner notes by Jeff Bond and Mike Matessino; album art direction by Jim Titus (La-La Land)

BEST ARCHIVAL RE-RECORDING OF AN EXISTING SCORE

Quo Vadis?, music by Miklós Rózsa; conducted by Nic Raine; album produced by James Fitzpatrick and Luc Van de Ven; liner notes by Frank K. DeWald; album art direction by GINKO DIGI (Prometheus/Tadlow)

FILM MUSIC RECORD LABEL OF THE YEAR

La-La Land Records, MV Gerhard, Matt Verboys, Neil S. Bulk, Dan Goldwasser