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Scoring for video games is an aspect of composing for screen that is crucial to this year’s WSA Film Music Days from 19 until 21 October. Stephanie Economou (Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök) and Borislav Slavov (Baldur’s Gate 3) have extensive experience as game composers, and will be sharing their expertise. They will be accompanied by other composers such as Gordy Haab & Stephen Barton (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor) and Austin Wintory (Journey). Japanese multi-instrumentalist and composer Eiko Ishibashi will be joined on stage by frequent collaborator director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi to talk about their Creative Partnership.

Match made in heaven? At the annual WSA Film Music Days, students can meet their peers! Based on the profiles, we match (film) music students to film or game development students.

For its 50th anniversary edition, and in line with its musical DNA, Film Fest Gent releases a new format: FFG Sessions. Aiming to further promote film music as an art form, these concert sessions bring together experienced composers for screen and young musicians for an intimate live performance. For the first FFG Session, Japanese composer Eiko Ishibashi worked with students from KASK & Conservatory in Ghent.

At Film Fest Gents concert PRESS PLAY: Music in Games, part of the WSA Film Music Days, Australian composer and multi-instrumentalist River Boy (Narayana Johnson) received the first WSA Game Music Award with his score for Cult of the Lamb. Moreover, the concert was entirely dedicated to video game music, a historic first in the film festival's 50-year history. All other WSA winners will be announced at the World Soundtrack Awards on Saturday 21 October.

At the 50th edition of Film Fest Gent, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, one of Japan's greatest directors of the 21st century, was honoured with a Joseph Plateau Honorary Award, a prize that recognises the filmmaker's piercingly beautiful oeuvre, including ten features that are all showcases of his eloquent style. Hamaguchi received the award after a Creative Partnership Talk with composer Eiko Ishibashi at the WSA Film Music Days.

Some highlights of the 2023 WSA Film Music Days.

Volker Bertelmann has won the Film Composer of the Year Award at the 23rd World Soundtrack Awards Ceremony & Concert on Saturday 21 October at Capitole Ghent. He had been nominated in this category once before, and has now returned victorious. Nicholas Britell received the Television Composer of the Year Award. It is the second time in a row he has won this award, the third time he has won in this category and his sixth WSAward overall. “Your Personal Trash Man Can” from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 was presented with the Best Original Song Award and became the first song from a series to win the prize.