Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (A Separation)

Asghar Farhadi’s Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (A Separation, Islamic Republic of Iran) has taken out the Best Feature Film Award at the fifth annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards, announced this evening.

Asghar Farhadi, who wrote, produced and directed the film, accepted his Award at the APSA Ceremony on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia from 2011 APSA International Jury President, Hong Kong’s Nansun Shi.

Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina), written and directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan and produced by Zeynep Özbatur Atakan, has won three APSAs.  Nuri Bilge Ceylan won the Achievement in Directing, Gökhan Tiryaki was presented with the Award for Achievement in Cinematography and producer Zeynep Özbatur Atakan was awarded the Screen International Jury Grand Prize.

Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia)

“The films in the competition are all very, very wonderful films, but two films stood out to the Jury as outstanding in all aspects of their filmmaking – A Separation and Once Upon a Time in Anatolia. They are very different kinds of films, but both of them are the same in their excellence in every aspect of their filmmaking: from screenplay, to directing, to performances, to their technical craftsmanship such as cinematography and editing, everything,” Nansun Shi said.

The Jury also decided to award a High Commendation for the Screen International Jury Grand Prize to the Ensemble Cast (actresses) of the Egyptian film Cairo 678 – Nahed El Sebai, Bushra and Nelly Karim.

The APSA ceremony was attended by more than 550 Australian and international guests, including filmmakers from all 19 countries and territories represented in the Awards nominations.

The UNESCO Award for outstanding contribution to the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity through film was won by Australian filmmaker Ivan Sen for his film Toomelah, which he wrote and directed. Toomelah was released in Australian cinemas today.

Toomelah

The Best Performance by an Actress Award was won by Nadezhda Markina, from the Russian Federation, for Elena. The Jury also decided to award a High Commendation to the film’s director Andrei Zviagintsev.

The Best Performance by an Actor Award was won by Chinese actor Wang Baoqiang for Hello! Shu Xian Sheng (Mr Tree).

The Best Screenplay Award went to Denis Osokin for Ovsyanki (Silent Souls, Russian Federation).  A High Commendation in the Best Screenplay category was awarded to Yoon Sung-hyun for Pa-soo-kkoon (Bleak Night, Republic of Korea).

The Best Documentary Feature was won by producer Maryam Ebrahimi for Jag Var Värd 50 Lamm (I Was Worth 50 Sheep, Sweden, Japan, USA.) The film was directed by Nima Sarvestani.  A High Commendation was awarded to Pink Saris (UK, India), produced by Amber Latiff and Girjashanker Vohra and directed by Kim Longinotto.

Buta has become the first APSA winner from Azerbaijan, with producers Khamis Muradov and Ilgar Najaf taking home the Award for Best Children’s Feature Film. Ilgar Najaf also directed Buta and co-wrote the screenplay.  A High Commendation for Best Children’s Feature Film was awarded to Bad o Meh (Wind and Fog, Islamic Republic of Iran), produced by Naser Dehghani Poudeh and written and directed by Mohammad Ali Talebi.

Best Animated Feature Film was won by Lee Eun, Shim Jaemyung, and Kim Sunku for Madangeul naon amtak (Leafie, Republic of Korea). Leafie was directed by Oh Seongyun and written by Kim Eunjung and Na Hyun.

Clockwise from top left: Buta, Madangeul naon amtak (Leafie), Jag Var Värd 50 Lamm (I Was Worth 50 Sheep), Wang Baioqang (Hello! Shu Xian Sheng (Mr Tree)), Nadezhda Markina (Elena).

Each year FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations – determines the winner of the FIAPF Award for outstanding achievement in film in the Asia-Pacific region.  Influential Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou was the recipient of this year’s FIAPF Award.

The APSAs – an initiative of the Queensland Government, Australia through Events Queensland, in collaboration with UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations – acclaim films from 70 countries and areas. Films are judged on cinematic excellence and the way in which they attest to their cultural origins.

From the Left: Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia), Ovsyanki (Silent Souls)

The 2011 Asia Pacific Screen Awards Ceremony was webcast live through:
www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com

To view the full list of 2011 Nominees and Winners, click here.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards today announced that the Winner of the annual APSA NETPAC Development Prize is Filipino filmmaker Sheron R. Dayoc for his film Halaw (Ways of the Sea).

Designed to nurture outstanding talent in the region, a prize of US$5,000 is offered by APSA in collaboration with the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC). All films in competition for APSA are eligible.

Sheron wrote, produced and directed Halaw (Ways of the Sea), a dramatic account of human trafficking through the seas from the southern Philippines to Malaysia.

The 2011 APSA NETPAC Jury comprised APSA Nominations Council NETPAC members, Philip Cheah (Chair), Jeannette Paulson Hereniko and Peggy Chiao. The Jury chose Halaw: “For its seamless storytelling and documentary quality which evokes the uncertainty and desperation in a little-known story of a modern-day boat people.”

Sheron Dayoc, said: “I feel encouraged, considering it’s my first feature film, to be cited as an Asian, by fellow Asians. In spite of our region’s colourful diversity, we also share common aspirations, problems and issues, and a unifying language with cinema as its accessible voice.

“This award inspires me to do more films which distinctly capture not only the Filipino spirit, but, in essence, represent the Asian value of resilience as well. Thanks for this very important recognition of the film, which is also a recognition of my country’s vibrant independent cinema industry.”

Based on research and interviews, Halaw follows the journey of a kaleidoscope of characters hoping for a better life in Sabah, Malaysia, despite the dangers of illegal immigration and the uncertainty of a true job in Malaysia. The film also represents a microcosm of the multi-cultural groupings of Mindanao whose diversity is bound by a common goal, an opportunity to earn a living, as they take that illegal small boat ride from their homeland to that foreign “Promised Land.”

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) and FIAPF—International Federation of Film Producers Associations announced today that Chinese film producer and director Zhang Yimou will be the 2011 recipient of the FIAPF Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film in the Asia-Pacific region.

The honour will be awarded at the fifth annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards ceremony on Australia’s Gold Coast on November 24.

One of the world’s most acclaimed filmmakers, Zhang Yimou’s films have opened the eyes of the world to the wonders of Chinese cinema. As a young man, he donated blood for months to buy his first camera. His brilliant photography won him entry to the Beijing Film Academy where he graduated in 1982, alongside directors Chen Kaige and Tian Zhuangzhuang.

Zhang began work as a cinematographer shooting Chen Kaige’s landmark film, Yellow Earth, which was widely seen as the start of a new era in Chinese filmmaking. Zhang Yimou is a leading member of the renowned Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, which brought increased popularity of Chinese cinema abroad.

As the recipient of the FIAPF Award, Zhang Yimou will be inducted into the Asia Pacific Screen Academy, joining fellow Fifth Generation filmmakers Tian Zhuangzhuang and Chen Kaige.

Zhang Yimou’s many international film festival awards include the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Silver and Golden Lions at Venice and Berlin’s Silver and Golden Bear. He was the creative genius behind the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and coordinated the celebrations for China’s 60th anniversary in 2009. Film Producer and Director Steven Spielberg has said Zhang Yimou had “obtained a stature shared by very few peers”.

Zhang Yimou’s brilliance was first revealed to the world in his 1987 directorial debut Red Sorghum, starring legendary Chinese actress Gong Li in her first leading role. Red Sorghum achieved international acclaim and box office success. It won a Golden Bear for Best Picture at the 38th Berlin International Film Festival in 1988 and moved Zhang Yimou to the forefront of the world’s cinema directors.

In 1990, Zhang’s film Ju Dou became China’s first Academy Awards nomination in the Best Foreign Film category. His next film, Raise the Red Lantern, was nominated the year after. Its outstanding use of colour captivated audiences and critics around the world. Such rich use of colour has become Zhang Yimou’s hallmark across films including To Live, Hero and The House of Flying Daggers.

His films are also famed for their portrayal of the Chinese people’s resilience in the face of adversity and hardship. The Story of Qiu Ju won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and To Live won the Jury’s Grand Prix at the Cannes film Festival. Zhang Yimou’s many films since include Shanghai Triad, The Curse of the Golden Flower, Keep Cool, Not One Less, The Road Home and Under the Hawthorn Tree.

Zhang Yimou headed the jury at Venice International Film Festival in 2007 and served as jury member at the 1993 Berlin International Film Festival. Yale University awarded him an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts in 2010, describing him as “a genius with camera and choreography”. He also received the Special Grand Prix of the Americas for his exceptional contribution to cinema at Montreal’s World Film Festival in 1995.

His current project, The Flowers of War, set for a December release in China is considered one of the most ambitious films ever made in China and stars Christian Bale and Shigeo Kobayashi.

Zhang Yimou is the fifth person to be honoured by FIAPF through their partnership with the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Previous recipients are George Miller (2007), Yash Chopra (2008), Isao Matsuoka (2009) and Christine Hakim (2010).

FIAPF President, Mr Luis Alberto Scalella, said: “The FIAPF Award aims to celebrate iconic professional and artistic careers in film production in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition to his amazing creative contribution to the world of cinematography and film directing, FIAPF wishes to place emphasis on Zhang Yimou’s outstanding role for increasing circulation and awareness of Chinese film production outside its national borders. I thank the Chinese Film Producers Association and its leaders for their strong support in accompanying FIAPF’s will to celebrate the dynamism of Chinese film through the granting of the 2011 FIAPF Award to Zhang Yimou at the coming Asia Pacific Screen Awards.”

The International Federation of Film Producers Associations is the only organisation of film and television producers with a global reach. FIAPF’s mandate is to represent the common economic, legal and regulatory interests of film and audiovisual producers.

FIAPF members cover 26 producer organisations from 23 countries and five continents.

FIAPF is also the regulator of international film festivals, overseeing conventions between festivals and the film industry that build trust, cooperation, economic benefit and prestige. A total of 37 films from 19 countries and areas across Asia Pacific have been nominated in the 2011 Asia Pacific Screen Awards. The International Jury, headed by Hong Kong’s Nansun Shi, will assemble on Australia’s Gold Coast in mid November ahead of the APSA Ceremony on November 24.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is an international cultural initiative of the Queensland Government through Events Queensland, in collaboration with UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations.

The 2011 Asia Pacific Screen Awards Ceremony will be webcast live through: www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com

To view the list of 2011 Nominees, click here.

Busan, Republic of Korea:  The Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) today announced that 37 films from 19 countries and areas have been nominated in this year’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards, the region’s highest accolade in film.

APSA 2011 International Jury President, Nansun Shi, made the announcement from the Busan International Film Festival, which was founded by APSA Patron Kim Dong-ho. Films from the Islamic Republic of Iran, People’s Republic of China, Turkey and India will vie for the Best Feature Film Award.

Best Feature Film nominees in the 2011 APSAs are Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (A Separation, Islamic Republic of Iran), Rang zidan fei (Let the Bullets Fly, People’s Republic of China – Mainland China / Hong Kong), Bé Omid É Didar (Goodbye, Islamic Republic of Iran), Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, Turkey / Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Band Baaja Baaraat (Wedding Planners, India).

A total of 240 films were entered into this year’s competition. Thirty-seven have received nominations for the 2011 awards, with Winners to be announced at the Ceremony on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, on November 24.

Winners in the Fifth Annual APSAs will be determined by an International Jury headed by leading Hong Kong film producer Nansun Shi. These awards, an initiative of the Queensland Government, Australia, in unique collaboration with UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations – acclaim films from 70 countries and areas. Films are judged on cinematic excellence and the way in which they attest to their cultural origins.

Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (A Separation), by Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, and Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia), written and directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, have each received four APSA nominations. Both films are the Academy Award® submission for their respective countries in the category of Best Foreign Language Film for 2012.

Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, writer, director and producer of Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (A Separation), has been nominated for Best Feature Film, Achievement in Directing and Best Screenplay. Actor Peyman Moadi has been nominated for Best Performance by an Actor. The film is the first completed project funded by the Asia Pacific Screen Awards’ MPA APSA Academy Film Fund launched in 2010 and received one of four US$25,000 grants. Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (A Separation) won the Golden Bear for Best Film and the Silver Bears for Best Actress and Best Actor (ensemble cast) at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival, becoming the first Iranian film to win the Golden Bear. The film also received the Sydney Film Prize at this year’s Sydney Film Festival. Asghar Farhadi’s previous film Darbareye Elly (About Elly) won the APSA Jury Grand Prize and Best Screenplay Award in 2009.

Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia) has been nominated for Best Feature Film (Zeynep Özbatur Atakan, Mirsad Purivatra, Eda Arıkan, İbrahim Şahin, Müge Kolat, Murat Akdilek, Nuri Bilge Ceylan), Achievement in Directing (Nuri Bilge Ceylan), Achievement in Cinematography (Gökhan Tiryaki) and Best Screenplay (Ercan Kesal, Ebru Ceylan, Nuri Bilge Ceylan). Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia) premiered in competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival where it shared the Grand Prix with Belgian filmmakers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, for Le Gamin au Vélo (The Kid with a Bike). Nuri Bilge Ceylan won the APSA for Achievement in Directing in 2008 for his previous film Uc Maymun (Three Monkeys).

Bé Omid É Didar (Goodbye), by Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof, has received three APSA nominations. Bé Omid É Didar (Goodbye) has been nominated for Best Feature Film (Mohammad Rasoulof), Achievement in Directing (Mohammad Rasoulof) and Best Performance by an Actress (Leyla Zareh). Rasoulof received the award for Best Director in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

Rang zidan fei (Let the Bullets Fly), written and directed by Jiang Wen, has received two APSA nominations. The highest grossing domestic film in history at the Chinese box office, Rang zidan fei (Let the Bullets Fly) has been nominated for Best Feature Film (Ma Ke, Albert Lee, Yin Homber, Barbie Tung, Zhao Haicheng) and Achievement in Directing (Jiang Wen).

The fifth Nominee for Best Feature Film is Indian film Band Baaja Baaraat (Wedding Planners), produced by Aditya Chopra. It is the debut feature film for director Maneesh Sharma.

The fifth Nominee for Achievement in Directing is Na Hong-jin for Hwanghae (The Yellow Sea, Republic of Korea). The film was selected in Un Certain Regard at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The Nominees for Best Performance by an Actress are Judy Davis (The Eye of the Storm) from Australia, Nahed El Sebai (Cairo 678) from Egypt, Nadezhda Markina (Elena) from the Russian Federation, Shayesteh Irani (Ayenhaye Rooberoo / Facing Mirrors) from the Islamic Republic of Iran and Leyla Zareh (Bé Omid É Didar / Goodbye), also from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Nominees for Best Performance by an Actor are Peyman Moadi (Jodaeiye Nader az Simin / A Separation) from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Wang Baoqiang (Hello! Shu Xian Sheng / Mr Tree) from the People’s Republic of China, Sasson Gabay (Boker Tov Adon Fidelman / Restoration) from Israel, Fa’afiaula Sagote (O le Tulafale / The Orator) from New Zealand / Samoa and Australia’s Daniel Connors for Toomelah.

The Best Screenplay Nominees are Yoon Sung-hyun for Pa-soo-kkoon (Bleak Night, Republic of Korea), Denis Osokin for Ovsyanki (Silent Souls, Russian Federation) and Alexey Balabanov for Kochegar (A Stoker, Russian Federation), as well as Asghar Farhadi for Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (A Separation) and Ercan Kesal, Ebru Ceylan and Nuri Bilge Ceylan for Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia).

The nominations for Achievement in Cinematography are
Vladimir Bashta for Brestskaia krepost (Brest Fortress, Russian Federation / Belarus),
Yuri Klimenko for Krai (The Edge, Russian Federation),
Mark Lee Ping Bin for Noruwei no mori (Norwegian Wood, Japan),
Songtaijia for Khyi rgan (Old Dog, People’s Republic of China – Tibet), and
Gökhan Tiryaki for Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, Turkey / Bosnia and Herzegovina).

In 2011, APSA Academy members have had the right to view and vote in selected categories for the first time. Past Jury, Nominations Council, Documentary and Animation Academy members will determine the Nominees and Winners for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Documentary Feature Film in the 2011 competition. Children’s Feature Film Academy members, along with past Jury and Council, have decided on the Nominees for Best Children’s Feature Film with the Winner in that category to be determined by the International Jury.

Nominees for the Best Children’s Feature Film Award are:
Wo 11 (11 Flowers, People’s Republic of China / France) – Isabelle Glachant, Wang Xiaoshuai, Didar Domerhi, Lu Dong, Laurent Baudens, Gael Nouaille
Buta (Azerbaijan) – Khamis Muradov, Ilgar Najaf
Mabul (The Flood, Israel / France / Germany / Canada) – Chilik Michael, Ina Fichman, Avraham Pirchi, Tami Leon, David Silber, Moshe Edery, Leon Edery
Di si zhang hua (The Fourth Portrait, Taiwan) – Tseng Shao-chien
Red Dog (Australia) – Nelson Woss, Julie Ryan
Bad o Meh (Wind and Fog, Islamic Republic of Iran) – Naser Dehghani Poudeh.

Nominees for Best Documentary Feature Film are:
Amin (Islamic Republic of Iran / Republic of Korea / Canada / Ukraine) – Shahin Parhami
Bakhmaro (Georgia / Germany) – Anna Dziapshipa, Heino Deckert
Jag Var Värd 50 Lamm (I Was Worth 50 Sheep, Sweden / Japan / USA) – Maryam Ebrahimi
Marathon Boy (India / UK/USA) – Gemma Atwal, Matt Norman
Pink Saris (India / UK) – Amber Latiff, Girjashanker Vohra.

Nominees for Best Animated Feature Film are:
Hoshi o Ou Kodomo (Children Who Chase Lost Voices From Deep Below, Japan) – Noritaka Kawaguchi
Madangeul naon amtak (Leafie, Republic of Korea) – Lee Eun, Shim Jaemyung, Kim Sunku
RPG Metanoia (Phillippines) – Charles Rapaport, Malou Santos, Lelette Bontia, Ann Gatmaytan, Ned Villarama
Tatsumi (Singapore) – Tan Fong Cheng, Phil Mitchell, Freddie Yeo, Eric Khoo, Gary Goh, Greg Chew, Brian Gothong Tan, Wong Kim Hoh
Gadkiy Utyonok (The Ugly Duckling, Russian Federation) – Garri Bardin.

The International Jury can also, at its discretion, present a further prize: The Screen International Jury Grand Prize, for which nominated feature films are eligible.

Asia Pacific Screen Awards Nominees are automatically inducted into the Asia Pacific Screen Academy making them eligible to apply for the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund, a USD$100,000 script development fund supported by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and available exclusively to Academy members. Asia Pacific Screen Academy members are also eligible to apply for the APSA Children’s Film Fund, a new development fund specifically for films for and about children of the Asia Pacific. The fund is a partnership between APSA and Manila based 4 Boys Films, established by APSA Academy member Butch Jimenez. Two AUD$20,000 grants will be given to support new children’s feature films at creative inception that carry positive, life affirming messages specifically for and about children in the Asia Pacific. A member of APSA’s Academy must be attached to the project.

Led by Patron Jack Thompson, the Academy is a growing body of the region’s most influential names in film including past APSA Winners, Nominees, International Jury and Nominations Council members. The submission period for both film funds closes on October 21 and the fund recipients will be announced at the APSA Ceremony on November 24.

Two additional major awards for outstanding achievement will be presented at the ceremony.

• FIAPF Award: Each year FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations – determines the winner of the FIAPF Award for outstanding achievement in film in the Asia Pacific region.
• UNESCO Award: The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization presents the UNESCO Award for outstanding contribution to the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity through film.

The 2011 Asia Pacific Screen Awards Ceremony will be webcast live through: http://www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com

To view the list of 2011 nominees, click here.

Design to nurture outstanding talent in the region, a prize of US$5,000 is offered by APSA in collaboration with the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) to a filmmaker from within the pool of Nominees.

The Prize has been awarded to Park Chan-ok, a director and screenwriter from the Republic of Korea, for her feature film Paju, nominated in this year’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards for Best Feature Film. Lead actress Seo Woo has also received a Best Performance by an Actress nomination for the film.

The Prize is determined by a Jury made up of members of the APSA Nominations Council, this year comprising Professor Hong-joon Kim (Chair – Republic of Korea), Russell Edwards (Australia) and Nan Achnas (Indonesia).

Nan Achnas made the announcement of Park Chan-ok’s win today at the official induction of all  APSA Nominees into the APSA Academy. Ms Achnas said that the Jury believed Paju to be:  “A beautiful and restrained film directed with a sure hand about an unusual and tragic relationship.”

More than 60 filmmakers from across the Asia Pacific region are gathered on the Gold Coast for tomorrow evening’s Awards Ceremony.

The APSAs are an initiative of the Queensland Government, Australia in unique collaboration with UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations  acclaim films from 70 countries and areas; one third of the earth; and half the world’s film output. Films are judged on cinematic excellence and the way in which they attest to their cultural origins.

Thirty-one documentary, animated, children’s and feature films from 15 countries and areas have been nominated for the 2010 Asia Pacific Screen Awards with Best Feature Nominees coming from Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Turkey and the People’s Republic of China.

The 2010 Nominees are automatically inducted into the Academy of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards making them eligible to apply for the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund, a new US$100,000 script  development fund supported by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and available exclusively to Academy members. The film fund submission period closes on October 29 and the fund’s inaugural recipients will be announced at the APSA Ceremony on December 2. Led by Patron Jack Thompson, the Academy is a growing body of the region’s most influential names in film including past APSA Winners,  Nominees, International Jury and Nominations Council members.

The International Jury headed by Lord David Puttnam is on the Gold Coast to determine the Winners ahead of the APSA Ceremony on December 2.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations announced today that Indonesia’s Christine Hakim, one of the most experienced and respected figures in the South East Asian film industry, will be the recipient of the APSA 2010 FIAPF Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film. Ms Hakim will personally accept the award on December 2 at the fourth annual APSA Ceremony on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Ms Hakim, an actress turned producer, has won numerous Best Actress awards for her work in Indonesian cinema and many more awards in Europe and Asia and, as producer, her films have been selected for major international film festivals, including Cannes. She has served on film juries for festivals worldwide, including Shanghai, Tokyo, Hawaii, Asia Pacific Film Festival, Sydney, Singapore and Fukoama, and was a member of the Festival de Cannes Jury in 2002.

Ms Hakim’s production company Christine Hakim Film has focused on producing projects for theatrical release. Her first film as producer, Daun Di Atas Bantal (Leaf on a Pillow), was directed by Garin Nugroho and selected for the Un Certain Regard section at 51st Cannes Film Festival. It also received the award for the Best Picture at the Asia Pacific Film Festival, the Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival and the Grand Prize at the Cinamanila International Film Festival in 1999.

Her second feature as producer, Pasar Berbisik (Whispering Sand), was produced in collaboration with NHK Japan Broadcasting Inc. Directed by APSA Academy member Nan Achnas, the film received awards for Best Cinematography and Best Sound at the Asia Pacific International Film festival, 2001, and the Asia Trade Winds Special Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival in 2002.

Serambi (2005), co-directed by three young Indonesian directors and set in Aceh, painted a portrait of the lives of ordinary Acehnese people following the tsunami. It was also made with the backing of NHK, premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes in 2006, and went on to screen in many other prestigious festivals worldwide.

Ms Hakim’s work is particularly well known in France and Japan, and comprehensive retrospectives of her films have been screened at the Deauville Film Festival in France and at Iwanami Hall in Tokyo.

Hakim is the fourth person to be honoured by FIAPF through their partnership with the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Previous recipients are George Miller (2007), Yash Chopra (2008) and Isao Matsuoka (2009).

FIAPF President, Mr Luis Alberto Scalella, said: “FIAPF is proud to celebrate Christine Hakim as a film producer. Her personal commitment to rebuilding a stable and robust film industry with regional and global reach in Indonesia is an example of vision for the film industry. By doing so Christine Hakim highlights the pivotal role of film producers in the development of national film industries worldwide, in particular in emergent producing countries”. The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is an international cultural initiative of the Queensland Government and a unique collaboration with UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations.

Christine Hakim attends the Asia Pacific Screen Awards through the support of the Commonwealth through the Australia-Indonesia Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

A total of 31 films from 15 countries and areas across Asia-Pacific have been recognised in 2010 with APSA Nominations. Films from the People’s Republic of China including one from Hong Kong received a total of 12 nominations in the Awards; films from the Republic of Korea received six nominations; Indian films received five; Japanese films received four; Israeli, Taiwanese, and Turkish films received three; and Australian and New Zealand films received two. Films from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, the Russian Federation and Cambodia each received one nomination.

The International Jury headed by Lord David Puttnam will assemble on Australia’s Gold Coast in late November ahead of the APSA Ceremony on December 2. The Awards Ceremony will be webcast live through www.asiapacificscreenawards.com. 

FIAPF is the only existing global trade organisation dedicated to the defence and promotion of the legal, economic and creative interests of film and audiovisual producers throughout the world. FIAPF members are 24 national producers’ organisations from 21 countries across the globe, from Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Middle East and Europe. Put together, the creative output of the production companies in FIAPF’s member organisations represents the majority of all theatrical feature films made each year in the world, and a fast growing proportion of all television programming. FIAPF has been supporting the Asia Pacific Screen Awards since its inaugural edition. FIAPF is also a regulator of international film festivals, including some of the world’s most significant ones. FIAPF ‘International Film Festivals’ Regulations are a trust contract between the film business and the festivals who depend on their cooperation for their prestige and economic impact.

Acclaimed Australian film Samson & Delilah has won the Best Feature Film Award at the third annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards, announced tonight on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Produced by Kath Shelper and written and directed by Warwick Thornton, Samson & Delilah previously won the Camera d’Or prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, six major awards at the recent Inside Film Awards in Australia and has been nominated for 13 Australian Film Institute Awards. Representing the first time an Australian film has been nominated in the Best Feature Film category of the APSAs, Samson & Delilah competed against four films by renowned filmmakers from China (Chen Kaige, Lu Chuan), Iran (Asghar Farhadi) and the Palestinian Territories (Elia Suleiman), to receive the highest accolade in film in the Asia-Pacific region. Warwick Thornton was on the Gold Coast to accept the award.

Jury member Gina Kim (Republic of Korea) said: “Samson & Delilah has a very special something – the integrity of the filmmaker, the passion and the sincerity of it is really beyond comparison.”

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards were presented tonight at a glittering ceremony on the Gold Coast attended by more than 800 film industry luminaries from the Asia-Pacific region, and around the world.

Thirty-seven films representing 16 countries and territories were finalists in the Awards, with winners coming from Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Palestinian Territories, People’s Republic of China and Thailand, and high commendations from the Jury for films from Australia, India, Republic of Korea and Russian Federation.

The Awards were determined by an International Jury headed by notable Chinese director and producer Huang Jianxin, joined by Tahmineh Milâni (Islamic Republic of Iran), Gina Kim (Republic of Korea), Aden Young (Australia), Andrew Pike (Australia) and Pryas Gupta (India).

Japanese star Masahiro Motoki was on the Gold Coast to receive the Best Performance by an Actor Award for his performance in Okuribito (Departures) and the Best Performance by an Actress Award winner was Korea’s Kim Hye-ja for Madeo (Mother).

China’s Nanjing! Nanjing! (City of Life and Death) received two awards: Lu Chuan for Achievement in Directing and Cao Yu for Achievement in Cinematography.

Best Screenplay was awarded to Asghar Farhadi for Darbareye Elly (About Elly). The Jury awarded two Jury Grand Prizes to the director of Darbareye Elly (About Elly), Asghar Farhadi (Islamic Republic of Iran), and the director of The Time That Remains, Elia Sulieman (Palestinian Territories). The Time That Remains is the first film from the Palestinian Territories to be nominated in the APSAs.

Best Documentary Feature Film was awarded to Hashmatsa (Defamation) a co-production between Israel, Austria, Denmark and USA and Australia’s Mary and Max, produced by Academy Award winner Melanie Coombs, won Best Animated Feature Film. Ye Haeng Ja (A Brand New Life) from Republic of Korea was awarded Best Children’s Feature Film and is produced by Lee Chang-dong, previous APSA winner for Best Feature Film in 2007, Secret Sunshine.

Thailand’s Sawan Baan Na (Agrarian Utopia) won the UNESCO Award for outstanding contribution to the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity through film and the Award was accepted by the filmmaker, Uruphong Raksasad. This is the first year that Thailand has been nominated in the APSAs.

Japanese producer Isao Matsuoka was the recipient of the FIAPF Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film. Mr Matsuoka was on the Gold Coast to personally accept this great honour.

Four high commendations were awarded by the Jury: to Yang Ik-june for Best Performance by an Actor for Ddongpari (Breathless); Alisher Khamidhodjaev and Maxim Drozdov for Achievement in Cinematography for Paper Soldier; Tahaan: A Boy with a Grenade for Best Children’s Feature; and Gandhi’s Children for Best Documentary Feature.

The Awards Ceremony featured a special performance by Japanese star, AI, who performed the feature track from Okuribito (Departures). The awards were hosted by Australian television’s Indira Naidoo and Peter Thomson and special guest presenter, CNN’s Anna Coren.

The winners in the third annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards are:

BEST FEATURE FILM

Samson & Delilah
Australia
Produced by Kath Shelper

JURY GRAND PRIZE

Director of The Time That Remains, Elia Suleiman
Palestinian Territories / France / Italy / Belgium / UK

Director of Darbareye Elly (About Elly), Asghar Farhadi
Islamic Republic of Iran

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR

Masahiro Motoki for Okuribito (Departures)
Japan

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS

Kim Hye-ja for Madeo (Mother)
Republic of Korea

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING

Lu Chuan for Nanjing! Nanjing! (City of Life and Death)
People’s Republic of China

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

Cao Yu for Nanjing! Nanjing! (City of Life and Death)
People’s Republic of China

BEST SCREENPLAY

Asghar Farhadi for Darbareye Elly (About Elly)
Islamic Republic of Iran

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM

Hashmatsa (Defamation)
Israel / Austria / Denmark / USA
Produced by Knut Ogris, Karoline Leth, Sandra Itkoff and Philippa Kowarsky

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Mary and Max
Australia
Produced by Melanie Coombs

BEST CHILDREN’S FEATURE FILM

Ye Haeng Ja (A Brand New Life)
Republic of Korea / France
Produced by Lee Chang-dong, Laurent Lavole and Lee Joon-dong

UNESCO AWARD

Sawan Baan Na (Agrarian Utopia)
Thailand
Written, directed and produced by Uruphong Raksasad

FIAPF AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM

Isao Matsuoka

HIGH COMMENDATIONS

High Commendation for Performance by an Actor
Yang Ik-june for Ddongpari (Breathless)

High Commendation for Cinematography
Alisher Khamidhodjaev & Maxim Drozdov for Bumaznyj Soldat (Paper Soldier)

High Commendation in Children’s Feature Film:
Tahaan: A Boy with a Grenade
Produced by Shripal Morakhia & Mubina Rattonsey

High Commendation in Documentary Feature Film
Gandhi’s Children
Produced by David MacDougall

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) today announced the winner of the inaugural ‘APSA NETPAC Development Prize’.

Designed to nurture new and rising talent in the region, the $US5000 prize is offered by APSA in collaboration with the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) to an emerging filmmaker from the 2009 Award nominees.

The 2009 APSA NETPAC Development Prize recipient is Baek Seung-bin, the director and screenwriter of  the film Jang-rye-sik-ui (Members of the Funeral), from the Republic of Korea.  Baek Seung-bin is an APSA Nominee in the Best Screenplay category.

The  winner of the 2009 APSA NETPAC  Development Prize was decided by a Jury consisting of three APSA Nominations Council members who are also members of NETPAC, Professor Xie Fei (Chair) from China, Yuka Sakano (Japan) and Mohammad Atebbai (Islamic Republic Of Iran).

The APSA NETPAC Development Prize Jury noted that Jang-rye-sik-ui (Members of the Funeral) features “masterful direction which attracts viewers from the beginning until the end of the film”, and “visual imagery which is full of originality”.  Baek Seung-bing was also praised for his “intelligent woven screenplay.”

The prize will be presented to Baek Seung-bin at a special ceremony tomorrow, Thursday November 26, by Australian screen legend Jack Thompson.

The APSA NETPAC Development Prize recipient is chosen from the pool of APSA nominees in each Awards year.

APSA Chairman Des Power said that APSA greatly valued the partnership with NETPAC: “APSA supports the objectives of NETPAC to promote Asian cinema and we appreciate the collaboration we have had with NETPAC since our inception, particularly with its President, Aruna Vasudev, who is a founding member of the APSA Nominations Council.”

NETPAC President, Aruna Vasudev said, “We are delighted to join hands with APSA, an initiative which has already brought significant global attention to the outstanding achievements of Asia-Pacific films and filmmakers. This prize is a great encouragement to the talented filmmakers emerging in Asia-Pacific today and the bursary will make a contribution to their creative development.”

Jack Thompson will also induct the new members of the Academy of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards – the 2009 Award nominees and International Jury – ahead of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards Ceremony tomorrow evening.

Thirty-seven films, representing 16 countries and areas, will compete in nine APSA categories.

The 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards will be streamed live at couriermail.com.au/movies and asiapacificscreenawards.com after 7:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (Gold Coast) on November 26, 2009. Highlights of the Ceremony will appear on CNN’s monthly movie program Screening Room Xtra from December 3.

An international cultural initiative of the Queensland Government, APSA is a unique collaboration between CNN International, UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations. APSA honours the works of filmmakers across a region covering 70 countries, one third of the Earth and half the world’s film output.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations announced today that Japan’s Isao Matsuoka, former Chairperson of Toho Company, will be the recipient of the APSA 2009 FIAPF Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film. Mr Matsuoka will personally accept the award on November 26 at the third annual APSA Ceremony on Australia’s Gold Coast.

The announcement was made today in Sydney, Australia, at the annual conference held by FIAPF member organisation, Screen Producer’s Association of Australia (SPAA).

SPAA President, Mr Antony I. Ginnane said: “Mr Matsuoka is widely credited with establishing Toho as the undisputed leader in film production, distribution and exhibition in Japan today. He is one of the greats of the industry and a worthy recipient of this award. I look forward to presenting the award on FIAPF’s behalf at the APSAs next week where Mr Matsuoka will personally accept this great honour.”

FIAPF is the international organisation representing film producers across the world. The FIAPF Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film celebrates a film producer from the region whose career and actions strongly contribute to the development of the film industry. Previous recipients of the award are Australia’s George Miller (2007) and India’s Yash Chopra (2008).

APSA is a unique collaboration between CNN International, UNESCO, FIAPF and the Queensland Government, Australia. Thirty-seven films from 16 countries and areas are nominated for the 2009 APSAs and the International Jury, headed by Huang Jianxin (People’s Republic of China), are currently on the Gold Coast to deliberate and determine winners ahead of next week’s Awards Ceremony.

The recognition of Mr Matsuoka’s service to the film industry coincides with an impressive year for Japan in the APSAs with a total of 7 nominations, more than any other country, across the following categories: Achievement in Direction; Best Performance by an Actor; Best Screenplay; Best Documentary Feature Film; and three nods for Best Animated Feature. Japanese R&B star, AI, is the special guest performer for the Awards Ceremony adding more star power to the Japanese delegation for 2009.

See the live webcast of the Ceremony online at www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/webcast and for ceremony highlights, tune in to CNN’s monthly movie program Screening Room Xtra from December 3.

ABOUT ISAO MATSUOKA

In 2009, FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations honours Isao Matsuoka (Japan) for his outstanding achievement in film in the Asia-Pacific region.

Isao Matsuoka joined Toho Company in 1957 following his graduation from Konan University. He became a studio executive in 1970, Vice President in 1974 and President in 1977. He was appointed Chairperson of the studios in 1995, a position he held until his retirement in May 2009. He was then appointed as Honorary Chairperson of Toho in 2009.

Matsuoka is credited with establishing Toho as the undisputed leader in film production, distribution, exhibition and live theatre production in Japan today.

Established in 1932, Toho is known worldwide for the success of the Godzilla monster films which have won fans across the globe. Other notable films include Nihon Chinbotsu (1973) a film based on a bestselling novel that triggered a great leap for Toho’s film division; Akira Kurosawa’s epic samurai war film, Kagemusha, which won the Palme d’Or at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival; and World War II drama, Rengo Kantai (1981).

In the 1970s, Matsuoka revolutionised the company with innovative ideas and bold reforms at a time when Toho in particular was feeling the impact of the Japanese industry in crisis. He restructured the organisation by creating the film programming department and consolidated it with the marketing, distribution and exhibition departments to assist in streamlining the film business and maximising the company’s revenue.

These actions quickly rejuvenated the organisation and, in 1978, made Toho the number one distributor in terms of annual box office for both domestic and international films. Over the next 30 years, Toho was ranked 22 times as the highest annual grossing distributor. Eight of last year’s top ten domestic films were distributed by Toho.

In addition to his many industry board appointments, Mr. Matsuoka has also served as a director on the boards of six publicly-traded companies in various fields such as television broadcasting, hotels and railroads.

Industry Board Appointments

• June 1976  Director of Federation of Japanese Films Industry, Inc.
• June 1977  Director of Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan, Inc.
• April 1985 Director of Japan Association of International Promotion of the Moving Image
• Sep1988  Director of Japan Association of Major Theatres
• May 1995 President of Motion Pictures Producers Association of Japan, Inc.
• June 2008  President of Federation of Japanese Films Industry, Inc.

Major Awards

• May 1998 ‘Blue Ribbon Medal’ awarded by the Japanese government for his dedication to the growth of the motion picture industry
• Dec 1998  CineAsia ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’
• March 2007  ShoWest ‘International Lifetime Achievement Award’
• November 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards FIAPF Award for Outstanding Achievement in film

Legendary Indian producer Yash Chopra was honoured in Mumbai last night by the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producer’s Associations, who presented Mr Chopra with the APSA 2008 FIAPF Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film. The award was announced at last year’s APSA Ceremony which Mr Chopra was unable to attend due to a loss in his family, and was presented to him last night in person by FIAPF Director General, Benoît Ginisty at the opening night celebrations of the Mumbai Film Festival.

Upon receiving the award, Mr Chopra said: “I am very happy that Mr Benoît Ginisty has specially come to present this prestigious award to me which unfortunately I could not collect last year owing to a personal bereavement. I thank the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and FIAPF and humbly accept this award as a recognition for the Indian Film industry as a whole and for myself personally.”

APSA Chairman Des Power said: “We were delighted when the opportunity came for APSA to formally present Yash Chopra with his award in Mumbai.  I congratulate him for serving his industry with dignity and drive. He deserves our appreciation and well wishes for the future. I also thank our friends at the Mumbai Film Festival for allowing us this opportunity and wish them all the best for a successful festival ahead.”

Benoît Ginisty, Director General of FIAPF, in Mumbai to present the award said: “FIAPF has been involved with the Asia Pacific Screen Awards from the moment of its conception. It saw in APSA the opportunity for unique engagement with the film community of Asia Pacific and a chance to create an award exclusive to the filmmakers and producers of this region. Tonight we honour a legend of the Indian film industry, Mr Yash Chopra, for an outstanding career dedicated to cinematic excellence.”

The 2009 FIAPF Award recipient will be announced in the coming weeks ahead of the third annual APSA Ceremony on Australia’s Gold Coast on November 26.

APSA is an international cultural initiative of the Queensland Government, Australia and is a unique collaboration between CNN International, UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations. APSA honours the works of filmmakers across a region covering 70 countries, one third of the Earth and half the world’s film output.

With 26 organisations, across 23 countries and five continents, FIAPF is the international organisation representing film producers across the world. FIAPF is an advocate for producers and helps formulate policies and coordinate political action in many key areas of the industry. The FIAPF Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film celebrates a film producer from the region whose career and actions strongly contribute to the development of the film industry.

Thirty-seven films from 16 countries and areas will vie for the 2009 APSAs. Films are judged by the International Jury on cinematic excellence and the way in which they attest to their cultural origins.

See the live webcast of the ceremony online via the APSA website and, for ceremony highlights, tune in to CNN’s monthly movie program The Screening Room Xtra from December 3.

APSA was among events including The Biennale of Sydney, the Australian Open and Adelaide Fringe 2009 honoured at the ceremony last night as the most innovative and outstanding from the Australian events industry.

The judging panel of event industry experts co-chaired by Johnny Allen and Sandy Hollway, was particularly impressed with the calibre and diversity of events from all across Australia, from the small-scale regional community events to the highly successful international event programs like APSA.

An international cultural initiative of the Queensland Government, APSA is a unique collaboration between CNN International, UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations. APSA honours the works of filmmakers across a region covering 70 countries, one third of the earth and half the world’s film output. Films are judged on cinematic excellence and the way in which they attest to their cultural origins. Winners in the 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards will be announced in a ceremony on Australia’s Gold Coast on November 26.

In accepting the award, Asia Pacific Screen Award’s Head of Marketing Sharyn Sawyer said the organisation was delighted to be recognised in such esteemed company as the Australian Open and the Queensland Department of Education and Training who were the other finalists in the category.

“None of this would be possible without the talented, hard-working and passionate team behind the scenes at APSA. The Award also goes to our friends at CNN who have embraced APSA as  one of their own,” Sharyn Sawyer said.

“It is an honour to receive this award as we head toward our third annual awards in a few weeks. APSA is still in its infancy and we are continually humbled by the support and encouragement that we receive from both the film community and the events industry.” APSA has attracted a record 212 film entries from 43 countries for the 2009 competition. The nominees announcement will be made on Monday, October 12. Winners are determined by the International Jury, headed by eminent Chinese filmmaker Huang Jianxin, ahead of the ceremony on November 26, on Australia’s Gold Coast.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) today announced a collaboration with the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) by forming the ‘APSA NETPAC Development Prize’, a US$5000 bursary to be awarded to an emerging filmmaker from Asia-Pacific.

APSA Chairman Des Power made the announcement at the Brisbane International Film Festival’s (BIFF) Awards Ceremony this afternoon where the winners of BIFF’s jury prizes were announced.

“In collaboration with NETPAC, we have put forward a bursary for NETPAC to award to an emerging filmmaker from the pool of APSA nominated films for 2009,” said Mr Power.

“APSA supports the objectives of NETPAC to promote Asian cinema and we appreciate the collaboration we have had with NETPAC since our inception, particularly with its President, Aruna Vasudev, who is a founding member of the APSA Nominations Council.”

NETPAC President, Aruna Vasudev said, “We are delighted to join hands with APSA, an initiative which has already brought significant global attention to the outstanding achievements of Asia-Pacific films and filmmakers. This prize will be a great encouragement to the talented filmmakers emerging in Asia-Pacific today and the bursary will make a contribution to their creative development.”

Designed to nurture new and emerging talent in the region, the APSA NETPAC Development Prize will be determined by three members of the APSA Nominations Council who are also NETPAC members. In 2009, APSA Nominations Council members Yuka Sakano (Japan), Mohammad Atebbai (Islamic Republic of Iran) and Professor Xie Fei (People’s Republic of China) will determine the winner of the inaugural prize, selected from the nominated films for 2009. The winner will be announced in November in the lead up to the third annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards ceremony.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards honour the works of filmmakers across a vast region encompassing 70 countries and areas stretching from Egypt in the west to the Cook Islands in the east, and from Russia in the north to New Zealand in the south. Films are judged on cinematic excellence and on the way they attest to their cultural origins.

Nominees in the third annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards will be announced early October and the ceremony will take place on November 26, 2009 on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Key Dates 2009*:

• August 24, 2009 – Entries Close (Country and Invited Submissions)
• September 14 – 20, 2009 – APSA Advisory Committee to the Nominations Council meets
• September 23 – 29, 2009 – Nominations Council Deliberations
• Early October 2009 – Nominees Official Announcement
• November 19 – 24, 2009 – Jury Deliberations
• November 26, 2009 – Asia Pacific Screen Awards Ceremony

*Dates subject to change without notice

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards has been announced as the winner of the Export Category of Australia’s National Multicultural Marketing Awards.

The National Multicultural Marketing Awards encourage and reward the efforts of businesses and organisations that focus on the cultural diversity of Australia in their overall marketing strategies.

The awards promote best practice in marketing. Organisations recognised by the awards are regarded as leaders in the industry and role models in seizing business opportunities through inclusive marketing.

In accepting the award, Asia Pacific Screen Award’s Head of Marketing Sharyn Sawyer said the organisation was delighted to be recognised in just its second year.  The second annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards were held on November 11.

“Two weeks ago, in a special ceremony on Australia’s Gold Coast, the international film world celebrated the outstanding works of filmmakers from across the Asia-Pacific – a vast and culturally diverse region of 70 countries and four billion people.

“We were joined by finalists from 17 countries, and some 550 guests, in acknowledging the enormous depth of talent from a region now responsible for half the world’s film output.

“Through the awards, and a series of globally broadcast television documentaries, it is our aim to magnify the vital role of film in promoting understanding, and its role in the preservation of cultural diversity.

“On a commercial level, we aim to stimulate dialogue and business opportunities with our neighbours of Asia-Pacific – the emerging powerhouse of film.

“The entire team at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards make tremendous individual contributions and this award is a wonderful recognition of their efforts.”

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards, the region’s highest accolade in film, is a cultural initiative of the Queensland Government through Queensland Events, in collaboration with CNN International, UNESCO and FIAPF – International Federation of Film Producers Associations.  The Asia Pacific Screen Awards – the APSAs – acclaim, at a global level, the cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the vast Asia-Pacific region.

The National Multicultural Marketing Awards announcements were made on Tuesday evening, 25 November, at the Westin Hotel Sydney in the presence of more than 400 distinguished guests. Already in their 19th year, the awards represent the hallmark of recognition of multicultural marketing in Australia.