Jia Lissa
The cinematic landscape of the Asia-Pacific region is undergoing a profound transformation, characterized by border-blurring collaborations and a surge in emerging directorial voices. This evolution was placed center stage this week as the Asia Pacific Screen Academy (APSA) announced the nominations for its 19th annual awards ceremony. With 36 films representing 32 countries and regions, the selected works reflect a vibrant, interconnected industry that is increasingly looking beyond its own borders to foster artistic innovation.
Leading the charge are two powerhouse productions: Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s All of a Sudden and Abinash Bikram Shah’s Elephants in the Fog. Both films have secured three nominations each, dominating the top categories—Best Film, Best Director, and Best Performance—and setting the tone for what promises to be a highly competitive ceremony on October 30 in Australia.
A Chronology of Artistic Excellence: The Path to the Awards
The selection process for the 19th APSA has been a months-long journey of discovery, tracking the most compelling narratives emerging from a region that encompasses vastly different cultural, political, and social realities.
The announcement, which serves as the final precursor to the October ceremony, highlights a deliberate effort by the Academy to curate a slate that balances veteran auteurs with the raw energy of first-time filmmakers. The progression from initial submissions to this final, curated list of 36 films underscores the Academy’s mission to identify and elevate stories that possess both regional specificity and universal resonance.
Following the announcement, the focus now shifts to the Asia Pacific Screen Forum, scheduled for October 28–30 on the Gold Coast. This three-day event will serve as a critical junction for the industry, offering masterclasses—including a high-profile session with international jury president Mandy Walker—alongside deep-dive discussions on film financing, distribution strategies, and the logistical challenges of cross-border co-productions.
Supporting Data: The Rise of the Emerging Auteur
One of the most striking findings in this year’s nomination data is the democratization of the director’s chair. According to the Academy, an impressive 69% of the directors represented in the 19th APSA slate are helming their debut or sophomore feature films.
This trend is particularly evident in the genre-specific categories, which often act as a bellwether for the future of the industry. In the Best Youth Film category, every single nominee is a first-time director. Similarly, the Best Animated Film category is exclusively populated by filmmakers working on their first or second major projects. This influx of fresh perspectives suggests that the Asia-Pacific region is not only a hub for established talent but also a fertile ground for the next generation of global cinema legends.
The collaborative nature of these projects is equally notable. The Best Animated Film nominee The Violinist, for instance, features a creative partnership between Singaporean director Ervin Han and Spanish director Raúl García. This "cross-border" philosophy is a recurring theme across the entire slate, with productions often spanning as many as eight different countries, as seen in the multi-national financing and production structure of the Best Film nominee Guria.
Official Responses and the Vision for the Region
The leadership of the Asia Pacific Screen Academy has framed this year’s nominations as a victory for international solidarity. Tracey Vieira, chair of the Academy, emphasized that the strength of this year’s entries lies in their collective spirit.
"When you look across this year’s nominations, what really stands out is the level of collaboration behind these films," Vieira said. "We are seeing filmmakers and creative teams from countries across the Asia Pacific working together, and in many cases partnering with countries well beyond the region, to bring these stories to the screen. It is a testament to the fact that compelling storytelling knows no national boundaries."
This sentiment is echoed by Mandy Walker, the acclaimed cinematographer and president of this year’s International Jury. For Walker, the role of the awards is fundamentally rooted in empathy and cultural exchange. "Watching and celebrating movies from other cultures only enriches our own experiences and views of the world," she stated. "I have the honor to be heading the International Jury this year to recognize the achievements of these talented filmmakers who are pushing the envelope of visual storytelling."
Local government officials have also signaled their support, with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate noting the city’s strategic importance in the region. "The Gold Coast is proud to be a creative crossroads for the Asia Pacific, and APSA is a big part of that story," Tate remarked, underscoring the economic and cultural prestige the awards bring to the Australian coast.
Strategic Implications: Financing the Future
Beyond the accolades, the APSA awards function as a vital financial catalyst for the regional industry. A key indicator of this is the success of projects supported by the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund.
Three films in this year’s nomination list are beneficiaries of this fund: Sompot Chidgasornpongse’s 9 Temples to Heaven (funded in 2021), Sara Ishaq’s The Station (funded in 2019), and Anthony Chen’s We Are All Strangers (funded in 2023). The ability of these projects to secure nominations after receiving institutional support validates the fund’s model, which seeks to provide the necessary capital for filmmakers to navigate the complexities of international co-production.
The fact that submissions for the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund remain open through September 25 suggests that the Academy is actively looking to maintain this momentum, ensuring that future cycles of the awards are as robust as the current one.
A Closer Look at the Contenders
The Best Film Race
The Best Film category is a diverse collection of narratives. All of a Sudden and Elephants in the Fog set a high bar, but they face stiff competition from Shahrbanoo Sadat’s No Good Men, Levan Koguashvili’s Guria, and Sompot Chidgasornpongse’s 9 Temples to Heaven. Each film brings a unique aesthetic, from the dense, multi-country production of Guria to the nuanced, character-driven storytelling found in No Good Men.
Best Director and the Craft Categories
The directing race is a masterclass in diversity, featuring Hamaguchi and Shah alongside Sompot Chidgasornpongse, Jennifer Peedom (for Tenzing), and Aung Phyoe (for Fruit Gathering). These directors are being judged not just on their vision, but on their ability to command complex production environments that often bridge vastly different regulatory and cultural landscapes.
In the performance categories, the Academy has maintained its commitment to gender-neutral recognition, a progressive stance that reflects modern shifts in acting awards. The nomination of pairs like Virginie Efira and Okamoto Tao for their work in All of a Sudden highlights the collaborative nature of acting, where the chemistry between performers is often the heartbeat of the film.
Technical Prowess
The cinematography and screenplay categories round out the technical recognition, highlighting the essential contributions of those behind the lens and at the keyboard. From the visual grandeur of Four Seasons in Java to the narrative precision of Head to Head, the awards ensure that every element of the filmmaking process is scrutinized and celebrated.
Conclusion: A Barometer for Global Cinema
As the industry prepares for the October 30 ceremony, the 19th Asia Pacific Screen Awards stands as more than just a trophy presentation. It is a vital barometer for the health of global cinema. By prioritizing films that transcend geography, the Academy is fostering a new era of storytelling—one where the shared human experience takes precedence over the borders that separate us.
Whether through the lens of a first-time director in Seoul or a veteran cinematographer in the Australian outback, the 36 nominated films offer a roadmap for the future of the medium. As these filmmakers gather on the Gold Coast, they do so not just as competitors, but as participants in a grand, collaborative experiment that is redefining what it means to make films in the 21st century.
The stage is set, the films have been vetted, and the world is watching to see which of these visionary projects will take home the top honors at one of the most prestigious cinematic events in the Southern Hemisphere.
Dwi Wanna
Rifan Muazin
