Composer Nigel Westlake Honored with Australian Screen Award

The Australian composer has written scores for more than seventeen feature films

Australian composer Nigel Westlake has been named as the 2022 recipient of the Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award. The honor, which is given jointly by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Guild of Screen Composers, will be awarded at Australia's 2022 Screen Music Awards.

Westlake has provided the scores for more than seventeen feature films, including titles such as Babe, Paper Planes, Ali's Wedding, and Miss Potter.

He is already the recipient of numerous awards, such as the Gold Medal at the New York International Radio Festival, 11 APRA awards in the screen and classical music categories, two ARIA Awards, and five AGSC Awards.

"For over three decades I have had the great privilege to be a part of an inspirational community of free-thinking storytellers who share a passion for bringing Australian stories to the screen," Westlake said.

"Working in film has enriched my life in so many different ways and I feel blessed to be able to love what I do and to do what I love," he added. "I am deeply humbled to be receiving the 2022 Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award and I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the APRA board of directors and the AGSC for considering me a worthy recipient."

"Nigel Westlake is a national treasure,’ said APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston. "His evocative scores and compositions fill screens and auditoriums, creating a third dimensional magic and richness all in a uniquely Australian way – he is a master. Nigel’s generosity of spirit is only matched by his humbleness. He is an enthusiastic collaborator, enormous supporter of the screen and broader composing community, and committed to philanthropy through the wonderful work of the Smugglers of Light Foundation."

"As a previous APRA Board member, and long since, Nigel’s influence and impact reaches far. We are very grateful for Nigel’s many decades of service to music and his contribution to Australia’s fast evolving reputation as a leading music creating nation."