Hanan Townshend

Hanan Townshend is a an award-winning composer known for his poetic orchestral scoring and evocative, cinematic commercial work. A longtime collaborator of legendary filmmaker Terrence Malick, Townshend made his mark in film with his piano arrangements for the Palme d’Or-winning The Tree of Life (2011), starring Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain. He went on to compose the score for Malick’s To the Wonder (2014), collaborating on sonics with acclaimed producer Daniel Lanois, followed by Knight of Cups (2015), Voyage of Time (2016), and ongoing contributions to Malick’s future projects.

Beyond his work with Malick, Townshend has scored an array of acclaimed feature films, including Julio Quintana’s Blue Miracle (2021) and The Long Game (2023), an inspirational sports drama executive produced by Dennis Quaid. His other notable works include The Book of Vision (2020), the opening film of Venice Critics’ Week starring Charles Dance; Oscar-nominated director Henry Alex Rubin’s Semper Fi (2019) and Samuel Van Grinsven’s psychological thriller/horror Went Up The Hill (2025).

Townshend is also widely recognized for his work in documentary film, composing scores for Megan Mylan’s Academy Award-shortlisted Simple As Water (2021), the Emmy-winning Outcry (2020), and the Critics Choice and Emmy-winning Disgraced (2017). His music also helped shape Fathom (2021), a Tribeca competition selection released by Apple TV+.

His ability to craft deeply expressive, cinematic music has also made him a sought-after composer in the commercial world. He has created scores for campaigns by Apple, Nike, Guinness, and Volvo, with work featured during the Super Bowl, Apple Keynotes, and the Oscars. Townshend frequently collaborates with three-time Academy Award-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, scoring Lubezki’s signature, visually poetic campaigns for Vanity Fair, Apple, and Kind.

Described as poetic, spiritual, and deeply immersive, Townshend’s compositions are shaped by an innovative approach to storytelling—crafting soundscapes that extend a film’s internal atmosphere and translate intangible emotions into music. Growing up on a remote coastal farm in New Zealand, his connection to nature continues to inspire his work’s depth and sensitivity.

A native of New Zealand, Townshend studied at the New Zealand School of Music at Victoria University before furthering his education in film scoring and production at the University of Texas. He now composes for international projects from his studio in Austin, Texas.