Whether reflecting the depth and emotion of a film’s content and subjects, propelling a narrative forward or serving as a character in its own right, musical scores play an essential role in the impact of a nonfiction film. This award celebrates those diverse musicians who successfully married music to film. Previous winners in this category include Max Richter for Waltz with Bashir (2009), Danny Grody, Donal Mosher, Michael Palmieri and Kenric Taylor for October Country (2010), Norbert Möslang for The Sound of Insects: Record of a Mummy (2011), John Kusiak for Tabloid (2012), Dial.81 for Detropia (2013), Yasuaki Shimizu for Cutie and the Boxer (2014), Nick Cave and Warren Ellis for 20,000 Days on Earth (2015) and Laurie Anderson for Heart of a Dog (2016).
For 32 Sounds
For American Symphony
For Anselm
For Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project
For The Pigeon Tunnel
For Songs of Earth
