Dude, get ready because the 19th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) nominations just dropped, and some serious talent is hitting different this year! According to the report, Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s ‘All of a Sudden’ and Abinash Bikram Shah’s ‘Elephants in the Fog’ are straight up slaying the competition, leading the pack with three nominations each. This annual shindig celebrates excellence in Global Cinema from a massive region, showcasing 36 films from 32 countries and regions. The whole awards ceremony is set to go down on October 30 in Australia, so heads up for that!
Both ‘All of a Sudden’ (a co-production from France, Japan, Germany, and Belgium) and ‘Elephants in the Fog’ (hailing from Nepal, Germany, Brazil, France, and Norway) are vying for the coveted Best Film, Best Director, and Best Performance awards. Talk about a clean sweep! The director’s race is looking pretty stacked, with Hamaguchi and Shah facing off against other dope filmmakers like Sompot Chidgasornpongse for ‘9 Temples to Heaven’, Aung Phyoe for ‘Fruit Gathering’, and Jennifer Peedom for ‘Tenzing’. It’s going to be a tough call, no cap.
What’s particularly cool, as the Asia Pacific Screen Academy highlights, is the strong influx of fresh blood. A whopping 69% of the nominated film directors are presenting their very first or second features. This trend is super pronounced in the youth and animation categories, where all Best Youth Film nominees are helmed by first-timers, and every Best Animated Film contender comes from a director making their debut or second feature. It’s giving new talent a legit platform to shine, which is always a win for the culture.
The nominations really underscore the power of cross-border partnerships. The article points out several collaborations that brought these stories to life. For example, Virginie Efira and Okamoto Tao are jointly nominated for Best Performance for their work in ‘All of a Sudden’, showcasing talent from different corners. Then there’s Ervin Han and Raúl GarcÃa, the Singaporean and Spanish directing duo behind the Best Animated Film contender ‘The Violinist’. Tracey Vieira, chair of the Asia Pacific Screen Academy, noted that this level of collaboration, often extending beyond the region, is a true standout, bringing diverse narratives to the screen.
It’s also worth giving a shoutout to the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund, which has backed several projects earning nominations this year. Films like ‘9 Temples to Heaven’, funded in 2021, Sara Ishaq’s ‘The Station’ (funded in 2019), and Anthony Chen’s ‘We Are All Strangers’ (supported in 2023) prove that good investments pay off. Mandy Walker ASC ACS, the APSA international jury president, hit it right on the head, according to the report, stating that watching movies from other cultures enriches our own experiences and views of the world. Periodt.
Beyond the glitz and glam of the awards, the Asia Pacific Screen Forum will be running from October 28-30 on the Gold Coast, right before the big ceremony. This forum is a prime spot for industry pros, featuring sessions on financing, distribution, and cross-border collaboration, plus a masterclass with Walker herself. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is highkey proud of their city being a ‘creative crossroads’ for the Asia Pacific, and honestly, with events like this, it’s easy to see why. The whole vibe is about boosting cinema and bringing people together.
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Livia Dorne covers film, television, music, and pop culture with a keen editorial perspective. She delivers engaging commentary, reviews, and behind-the-scenes insights that keep readers connected to the entertainment world. Her style blends critique with storytelling.
