2025 JUROR
Grant Kirkhope
Composer // Film + Games
Los Angeles
Grant Kirkhope is an Ivor Novello and World Soundtrack award-winning Scottish composer known for creating soundtracks for games that have collectively sold over 40 million copies. From iconic titles like GoldenEye, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, and Donkey Kong to Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Civilization: Beyond Earth, and Perfect Dark, his music has become a defining element of many beloved video game franchises.
He’s also composed for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Yooka-Laylee, Dropzone, Ghostbusters, and in recent years, World of Warcraft: Shadowlands and Minecraft Dungeons. His infamous Donkey Kong Rap from Donkey Kong 64 made a return in the 2023 Super Mario Bros. movie.
In 2022, Grant returned to score Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, which won Best Original Video Game Score at the 2023 Ivor Novello Awards.
His film work includes the score for The King’s Daughter starring Pierce Brosnan and William Hurt, which won The People’s Vote at The World Soundtrack Awards in 2022. His feature film score for Shadows won Best Score at the Silicon Beach Film Festival in 2020, while his animation score for The Wrong Rock earned a nomination at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards in 2021.
Kirkhope’s earlier work on Viva Piñata earned a BAFTA nomination for Original Score in 2007, and his music for Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning garnered multiple nominations, including Best Overall Score and Best Video Game Score.
He has also been recognized by the International Film Music Critics Association and ASCAP for his work on Civilization: Beyond Earth and its expansion Rising Tide, winning multiple awards and nominations.
Grant is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and now resides in Agoura Hills, California with his wife and two children.
