The International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) has announced its list of winners for excellence in musical scoring in 2021, in the 2021 IFMCA Awards.

The award for Score of the Year goes to composer Maurizio Malagnini, for his score for the unique fantasy-science fiction-ballet film “Coppelia.” The film stars members of the Dutch National Ballet and is an updated version of the original stage work by Léo Delibes, in which a pair of young lovers from a small European town must save their home from an evil interloper intending to use the townspeople’s ‘essence’ to give life to a robotic creation. IFMCA member Jon Broxton described “Coppelia” as “a sweeping orchestral masterpiece of staggering beauty, combining half a dozen leitmotif themes into a narrative structure that carries the entire emotional weight of the film. This is then augmented by some impressive electronic textures which accompany the villain of the piece, and it all builds to a stunning climax of thematic, romantic wonder,” and concluded by saying that “…in a time when the theatrical movie schedule is dominated by Marvel and Disney, prequels and sequels and multiverses, there has to be room for art projects like Coppelia, and for the ravishing music like that composed here by Maurizio Malagnini.”

The score is also named Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror Film. These are the second and third IFMCA Awards of Malagnini’s career, him having previously won the Breakthrough Film Composer of the Year award in 2015.

Below you'll find the complete overview of all the winners:

FILM SCORE OF THE YEAR

COPPELIA, music by Maurizio Malagnini

FILM COMPOSER OF THE YEAR

JAMES NEWTON HOWARD

BREAKTHROUGH COMPOSER OF THE YEAR

OSCAR MARTÍN LEANIZBARRUTIA

FILM MUSIC COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR

“Arachnoverture” from SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, music by Michael Giacchino

ROBERTO ASCHIERI SPECIAL AWARD

NICK REDMAN

KYLE RENICK SPECIAL AWARD

WEST SIDE STORY

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A DRAMA FILM

THE CURSE OF TURANDOT, music by Simon Franglen

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A COMEDY FILM

CRUELLA, music by Nicholas Britell

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR AN ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLER FILM

JUNGLE CRUISE, music by James Newton Howard

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

COPPELIA, music by Maurizio Malagnini

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR AN ANIMATED FEATURE

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON, music by James Newton Howard

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A DOCUMENTARY

TALE OF THE SLEEPING GIANTS [TUNTURIN TARINA], music by Panu Aaltio

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR TELEVISION

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: REVELATION, music by Bear McCreary

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A VIDEO GAME OR INTERACTIVE MEDIA

RATCHET & CLANK: RIFT APART, music by Mark Mothersbaugh and Wataru Hokoyama

BEST NEW ARCHIVAL RELEASE – RE-RELEASE OR RE-RECORDING

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, music by Alfred Newman; album produced by Nick Redman, Mike Matessino, and Neil S. Bulk; liner notes by Julie Kirgo; album art direction by Jim Titus (La-La Land)

BEST NEW ARCHIVAL RELEASE – COMPILATION

THE FILM SCORES OF BERNARD HERRMANN, music by Bernard Herrmann; album produced by Tony d’Amato, Gavin Barratt, Raymond Few, and Tim McDonald; liner notes by Tom Schneller; album art direction by Matt Read (Decca)

FILM MUSIC RECORD LABEL OF THE YEAR

LA-LA LAND RECORDS, MV Gerhard and Matt Verboys

For more info, visit the IFMCA website.