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Jóhann Jóhannsson Biography

Birth Name:Jóhann Gunnar Jóhannsson

Birth Place:Reykjavík, Iceland

Profession Composer, Music department, Writer, Director, Sound department

Fast Facts

Received Oscar, BAFTA, Grammy and Critics' Choice nominations for his score "The Theory of Everything․"
Began studying piano and trombone at the age of 11
Played guitar and keyboards with various bands in Iceland’s flourishing music scene in the 1990s
Quote: "I'm obsessed with the texture of sound․""
Quote: "I think a person’s background and where they grow up always influences that they are and what they do, so I’m sure my Icelandic background has had an influence on my music somehow․"
Quote: "I try to approach a project with a blank slate and just let things emerge․ I start very early in the process because it takes a lot of time to work in this way․ It takes time to find a mood and feel that has some character and individuality, and is not weird for weirdness’s sake․"
Has worked and performed with notable artists such as Marc Almond, Barry Adamson, Pan Sonic, The Hafler Trio, Laetitia Sadler and Baby Dee
Has written music for the theater, documentaries and feature film soundtracks
He released his debut album, Englabörn, in 2002
Was a founding member of Kitchen Motors in Reykjavik, Iceland as an art organization, record label and think tank in 1999

Awards

2010Maverick Movie Award-Best Original Score: Short: winner
2012Golden Horse Award-Best Original Film Score: winner
2013Asian Film Award-Best Composer: nominated
2014ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
2014HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Feature Film: nominated
2014PFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2014WAFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2014Public Choice Award-: nominated
2015ASCAP Award-Best Film Score: winner
2015Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score: nominated
2015BAFTA Film Award-Best Original Music: nominated
2015COFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
2015Critics Choice Award-Best Score: nominated
2015Gold Derby Film Award-Original Score: nominated
2015Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: winner
2015HFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2015ICP Award-Best Original Score or Soundtrack: nominated
2015IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Drama Film: nominated
2015IFC Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2015PCC Award-Best Score: nominated
2015WAFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
2015World Soundtrack Award-Film Composer of the Year: nominated
2015World Soundtrack Award-Best Original Film Score of the Year: nominated
2016ASCAP Award-Best Film Score: nominated
2016Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score: nominated
2016Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
2016AFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
2016ACCA-Best Original Score: nominated
2016BAFTA Film Award-Best Original Music: nominated
2016COFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
2016CFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2016Critics Choice Award-Best Score: nominated
2016Critics Choice Award-Best Score: nominated
2016FFCC Award-Best Score: nominated
2016GAFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2016Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: nominated
2016HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Feature Film: nominated
2016HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film: nominated
2016ICP Award-Best Original Score or Soundtrack: nominated
2016INOCA-Best Original Score: nominated
2016Sierra Award-Best Score: nominated
2016OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
2016PCC Award-Best Score: nominated
2016PFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2016SFFCC Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2016Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
2016SLFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
2016UFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2016WAFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2017ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
2017ASCAP Composers' Choice Award-Film Score of the Year: nominated
2017BAFTA Film Award-Original Music: nominated
2017COFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
2017DFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2017GAFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2017Gold Derby Film Award-Original Score: nominated
2017Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
2017HFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2017IFMCA Award-Film Score of the Year: winner
2017IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror Film: nominated
2017OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
2017SFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
2017Public Choice Award-: nominated
2017World Soundtrack Award-Film Composer of the Year: winner
2018Asia Pacific Screen Award-Best Original Score: winner
2018AACTA Award-Best Original Music Score: nominated
2018CFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2018Fright Meter Award-Best Score: nominated
2018Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: nominated
2018HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Independent Film: nominated
2018SFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
2018World Soundtrack Award-Film Composer of the Year: winner
2019AFCA Award-Best Score: winner
2019CIFCC Award-Best Original Score: nominated
2019CinEuphoria-Best Original Music - International Competition: winner
2019COFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
2019Chainsaw Award-Best Score: winner
2019Movie Heroes Award-Best Original Film Score: nominated
2019MCFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
2020Gold Derby Film Award-Original Score of the Decade: nominated
2020FIPRESCI Prize-: winner
2021Edda Award-Director of the Year (Leikstjóri ársins): nominated
2021Edda Award-Best Music (Tónlist í kvikmynd/sjónvarpi): nominated
2021Jury Prize-Best Music Score: winner