Cinema VinesAt just 22 years old, Keziah Thomas has achieved a milestone that many emerging composers only dream of. Her work on the animated short film “Milo” earned her two top honors at the World Film Festival in Cannes – the 2026 edition of Remember the Future – including Best Composer of the Future and Best Soundtrack. The awards placed the Thiruvalla‑born musician on an international platform at the very start of her career.
Thomas, who grew up in Bengaluru after being born in Thiruvalla, first fell in love with music at the age of seven. She began writing simple piano melodies, unaware that this hobby would become her profession. By fourteen she had decided to pursue music professionally, completing a diploma in Audio Engineering while homeschooling to balance her studies with technical training. This path eventually led her to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she is now in her final semester studying Film and Media Scoring with a minor in Contemporary Conducting.
Her family has been a constant source of support. Her mother, an architect and interior designer from Thiruvalla, and her father, a corporate trainer from Thrissur, both run their own businesses. Thomas credits their encouragement for her ability to chase her ambitions. After graduating from Berklee, she plans to move to Los Angeles to intern at Bear McCreary’s production company, Sparks & Shadows.
Before “Milo,” Thomas had already composed for several documentaries, narrative shorts and animated films, each project honing her craft. The opportunity to score “Milo” came when director Dillon Sharp discovered her earlier work at an event and reached out. Thomas recalls, “We had a conversation about the film, his vision for it and the emotional direction he wanted to take. I connected with the story and his ideas, so I said yes to the project.” The collaboration proved to be one of the most rewarding of her career, with Thomas noting the trust and freedom she enjoyed, allowing her to experiment and refine her ideas to serve the story.
When asked about the awards, Thomas expressed that the real surprise was not the recognition itself but the validation of her passion. She said, “As a composer, you spend so much time working behind the scenes, and a lot of the process involves experimentation and constantly refining your work. You never really know how your music will be received until it's out in the world. So it was incredibly encouraging, not just because of the award itself, but because it reaffirmed why I love doing this.” She views the accolades as a testament to years of learning and collaboration, and she sees “Milo” as just one chapter in a longer, ongoing journey.
