BMI held its annual Film and Television Music Award ceremony tonight at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, in Beverly Hills. Many composers were on hand for the celebration, presided over by BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston, and Vice President Doreen Ringer-Ross.

During the course of the evening, over 65 awards were presented, to such composers as David Newman, W.G. Snuffy Walden, Mark Mothersbaugh, Mike Post (below), Jeff Fair and Starr Parodi, George S. Clinton, and others.

Mike Post (NYPD Blue) and Earle Hagen (Andy Griffith)

Also on hand was composer Danny Elfman, who was handed 5 awards (Spiderman, Men in Black II, Red Dragon, Chicago and "The Simpsons"), with his fiancee, actress Bridget Fonda. He had to leave early to return to the mixing and scoring of Hulk, coming out later in June.

Bridget Fonda and Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman accepts his awards

Recieving the BMI Richard Kirk award for Outstanding Career Achievement was composer Randy Edelman, presented to him by director Rob Cohen and producer Roger Birnbaum, with Preston and Ringer-Ross on hand. Receiving the BMI Presidents Award this year was entertainer Merv Griffin. Edelman's emotional acceptance speech moved the crowd, and everyone gave him a standing ovation when he was finished.

Merv Griffin, Frances W. Preston, and Randy Edelman

Matrix Reloaded composer Don Davis

Agent Richard Kraft, John Ottman (X2), and Frances W. Preston

Very special thanks to Hanna Bolte at BMI for making the evening possible. Photos by Dan Goldwasser and BMI.