Asia Pacific Screen Awards

08/08/2025

🎬 FILMMAKER FRIDAY FOCUS: MANDY WALKER ASC ACS 🎬

Celebrating one of Australia's most acclaimed cinematographers breaking barriers in Hollywood! 🇦🇺

🏆 Trailblazing Achievements: Oscar nominated for "Elvis" (2022), Mandy has earned 15 wins & 24 nominations total. She's received a Satellite Award, Hollywood Film Award for Cinematographer of the Year, the first woman to win the AACTA award, the American Society of Cinematographers award and Australian Cinematographers Society award for feature film cinematography . Served as a governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) currently serving as the first female president of the ASC in its 106 year history.

🌟 Hollywood Powerhouse: From "Hidden Figures" (2016) “Australia” (2007) to "Elvis" (2022), "Mulan" (2020) to the upcoming "Snow White" (2025), Mandy has become one of Hollywood's most sought-after DPs, bringing her unique visual storytelling to major studio productions.

🎭 Industry Recognition: In 2006, she was named as one of Variety's 10 cinematographers to watch - and she's proven that prediction absolutely right! Accredited member of both the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) since 1999 and the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) since 2011. Is inducted in to ACS Hall of Fame. Was garnered with the Order of Australia from Queen Elizabeth 2nd.

🌏 From Australia to the World: Her impressive filmography includes "Love Serenade" (1996) - winner of the Cannes Camera d'Or, "Lantana" (2001), “Tracks” (2013) Baz Luhrmann's epic "Australia" (2008), and recent work on "Faraway Downs" (2023).

📺 Commercial Excellence: She also has an impressive portfolio of international TV commercials with numerous awards of excellence, including her work on the iconic Chanel No5 mini films.

💪 Career Journey: Born in Melbourne Victoria, Mandy worked her way up from clapper loader and focus puller in the 1980s to become one of the world's most respected cinematographers - proving that persistence and passion pay off.


Caption: Aaron Pederson & Mandy Walker APSA 2013

01/08/2025

🎬 FILMMAKER FRIDAY FOCUS: MANOJ BAJPAYEE 🎬

Celebrating India's master of intensity and the ONLY actor to win TWO APSA Best Performance awards!

🏆 APSA Double Winner: Manoj made APSA history - winning Best Performance by an Actor in 2016 for "Aligarh" (portraying a gay professor) and again in 2019 for "Bhonsle" (as a conflicted retired policeman).No other actor has achieved this double victory!

🎭 From Struggles to Stardom: Despite facing financial struggles during childhood, Bajpayee pursued his passion after watching "Zanjeer" (1973). He started with small roles before his breakthrough in "Satya" (1998) - winning him the 1999 Filmfare Critics Award and Silver Lotus Award.

🌟 National Recognition: Four National Film Awards winner - Best Supporting Actor for "Satya" (1999), Special Jury Award for "Pinjar" (2004), Best Actor for "Bhonsle" (2021), and Special mention for “Gulmohar”. In 2019, he received the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour.

📺 Digital Pioneer: "The Family Man" web series showcased his versatility in the digital space, proving great actors adapt and excel across all platforms.

🎯 Character Specialist: Known for playing offbeat and unconventional roles, from villains to complex protagonists. His trademark: "Often plays man of rural background with strong moral values."

💪 Beyond Acting: Active in philanthropic efforts including education, healthcare, and environmental protection. He voiced concerns about migrants during COVID-19, showing his commitment extends beyond cinema.

🎪 APSA Academy Impact: Also appeared in APSA Jury Grand Prize winner "Gangs of Wasseypur" (2012), cementing his place in Asia Pacific cinema excellence.

For aspiring actors: Character depth over glamour, authenticity over artifice - Manoj proves that powerful performances create lasting legacies!

Submissions Open: https://filmfreeway.com/AsiaPacificScreenAwards

30/07/2025

🌏 ONE REGION, COUNTLESS STORIES 🌏

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards celebrate the incredible diversity of our region - from the bustling streets of Tokyo to the remote villages of the Pacific Islands.

Your film could be the next to showcase our rich cultural tapestry on the international stage.

🎭 Cultural authenticity valued 🎪 Diverse voices welcomed 🎨 Unique perspectives celebrated

Submissions open: https://filmfreeway.com/AsiaPacificScreenAwards



Before, Now & Then (Nana) (2022), Winner Best Film APSA 2022
Director. Kamila Andini
Cinematography. Batara Goempar
Actor. Happy Salma

25/07/2025

🎬 FILMMAKER FRIDAY FOCUS: BIANCA BALBUENA 🎬

Spotlight on a true MPA APSA Academy Film Fund success story!

🌟 From Fund to Festival Glory: APSA Academy member and Epicmedia co-founder Bianca Balbuena transformed MPA APSA Academy Film Fund support into international acclaim with "Viet and Nam" - selected for Cannes Un Certain Regard.

🏆 Powerhouse Producer: Bianca has produced over 35 feature films including Venice Film Festival Lion of the Future winner "Engkwentro" and Berlinale Silver Bear winner "A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery" and the only Filipino film at the Sundance Film Festival Midnight section “In My Mother’s Skin”. She's the youngest ever recipient of the APSA FIAPF Award for contribution to Asia Pacific cinema.

💡 Box Office Magic: Her biggest commercial success? "That Thing Called Tadhana" - one of the highest grossing independent films in Philippine box office history, made on just a $60,000 budget, and grossed over $3,000,000 locally!

🌍 Global Festival Circuit: Her films have premiered and won at Venice, Berlinale, Toronto, Cannes, Sundance, Locarno and more. She has served as jury in A-list festival like 부산국제영화제 Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), Sydney Film Festival, Tallinn and Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. From intimate indies to international co-productions, she's proven Filipino stories can captivate worldwide audiences.

💪 Mission-Driven: Her mission is "to strengthen collaborations within the region and help deserving directors bring their films to the global scale".

🎯 MPA APSA Fund Impact: Bianca has spoken about how the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund "jumpstarted the journey" of the eight-country co-production "Viet and Nam" - proving this funding can transform ambitious visions into festival reality.

For emerging producers: Think global, collaborate fearlessly, and remember: even the smallest of budgets can deliver the most powerful stories!



Motion Picture Association - Asia Pacific

22/07/2025

📽️ CALLING ALL FILMMAKERS 📽️

Have you created something extraordinary? The Asia Pacific Screen Awards want to see your work!

From intimate documentaries to epic features, from innovative animation to ground breaking narratives - your story deserves recognition.

⏰ Don't wait - submissions are open NOW 🏆 Join 18 years of celebrating Asia Pacific cinema

Submit: https://filmfreeway.com/AsiaPacificScreenAwards



Image: April (2024), Georgia, Italy, France
Director. Screenwriter. Dea Kulumbegashvili
Actor. Ia Sukhitashvili
Cinematographer. Arseni Skachaturan

Winner: Best Film, Best Actor
Nominated: Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Screenplay

18/07/2025

Meet one of Indonesia's most visionary directors and an APSA Academy member since 2007!

🌟 APSA Journey:
2007: Inducted with "Opera Jawa" (Best Feature Film nominee)
2012: "The Mirror Never Lies" won Best Children's Feature Film
2018: "Memories of My Body" won the Cultural Diversity Award and was funded through the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund.
2019 Youth, Animation, Documentary International Jury member

🎭 Master of Cultural Storytelling: Born in Yogyakarta in 1961, Nugroho has been captivating audiences since his 1991 debut "Love Is a Slice of Bread" won Best Young Director at the Asia Pacific International Film Festival.

🏆 International Recognition: From Tokyo to Cannes to Venice - his films have graced the world's most prestigious festivals. "Opera Jawa", based on the Ramayana and created for Mozart's 250th anniversary, screened at Venice 2006 as one of six films by "innovative directors" worldwide.

✨ Why He Inspires: Nugroho seamlessly weaves Indonesian culture, mysticism and universal themes into cinema that speaks both locally and globally. His work is rich in symbols and mysticism, and proves that authentic cultural storytelling has the power to transcend borders.

💫 For Emerging Filmmakers: Your cultural heritage isn't a limitation - it's your superpower. Nugroho shows us that the most personal stories often become the most universal.

Submissions are open for the 18th Asia Pacific Screen Awards - https://filmfreeway.com/AsiaPacificScreenAwards

14/07/2025

🎬 SUBMISSIONS OPEN 🎬

The 18th Asia Pacific Screen Awards are calling for entries! Celebrate the extraordinary cinema of our diverse region.
✨ Feature Films | Documentaries | Animation
✨ 78+ countries & areas eligible
✨ Honouring cinematic excellence & cultural diversity

Submit now: https://filmfreeway.com/AsiaPacificScreenAwards

Deadline: 23 August

10/07/2025

🎬 SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN! 🎬
The 18th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) are coming to the Gold Coast this November! 🌟
✨ What's happening:

APSA Competition - celebrating the best of Asia Pacific cinema
MPA APSA Academy Film Fund - US$25,000 script development grants

🎯 Who can apply:

APSA Competition: All Asia Pacific filmmakers (films premiered Aug 1, 2024 - Oct 31, 2025)
Film Fund: APSA Academy members & collaborators only

🏆 The impact:
Since 2010, the Fund has supported 56 films from 27 countries, with many gaining recognition at Cannes, Venice & Berlin!
This is Asia Pacific's most prestigious screen culture event - don't miss your chance to be part of it!
Apply now: www.asiapacificscreenawards.com
Questions: [email protected]

22/05/2025

We mourn the sudden passing of John Badalu, longtime advocate of Southeast Asian cinema and champion of boosting understanding and representation of minority groups.

As a member of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards International Nominations Council since 2023, John drew on his rich knowledge and experience as he helped guide the selection of APSA nominees as well as winners of the Young Cinema Award, the Cultural Diversity Award and Best New Performer. John’s input was invaluable, too, on the APSA Forum Steering Committee.

John brought to APSA decades of cinema experience as well as a background steeped in efforts to promote diversity and elevate marginalised voices. Dedicated to ending deep-seated discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in Indonesian society, he co-founded the Q! Film Festival in Jakarta in 2002. John saw the festival expand with side events to other Indonesian cities, and in 2008 he was awarded an Ashoka Foundation Fellowship for his groundbreaking work.

Through the 2000s, John broadened his influence as a delegate for festivals including the Berlinale, the Shanghai International Film Festival, Tallinn Black Nights and the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. In recent years he served as programme consultant and adviser to the Busan International Film Festival and Sheffield DocFest. As an independent producer he found success with films including What They Don’t Talk About When They Talk About Love (2013, Sundance Film Festival world premiere), Malila: The Farewell Flower (2017, Kim Jiseok Award at Busan) and Basri & Salma in a Never-Ending Comedy (2023, Festival de Cannes world premiere).

At the Asia Pacific Screen Academy, we celebrate John’s advocacy for Southeast Asian cinema and support for inclusiveness and empowerment, and feel a huge loss as we move ahead without the benefit of his warm-hearted and deeply considered counsel.

14/02/2025

The 2025 Screenrights Cultural Fund is now open for applications! Screenrights wants to hear about your initiatives that incorporate CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE in our screen sectors in Australia & NZ. Grants of up to $50K available. Full details: https://screenrights.org/cultural-fund/

06/01/2025

📍 Brisbane friends! Don’t miss these two special screenings at the Iranian Film Festival Australia (IFFA) this January, featuring post-film Q&A sessions with the iconic Fatemeh MotamedAria: ✨
Once Upon a Time, Cinema (Naseredin Shah Actor e Cinema) (1992 – Restored Version)
Writer & Director: Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Cast: Fatemeh MotamedAria, Ezzatolah Entezami, Mohamad Ali Keshavarz, Akbar Abdi
The King, who is against cinema and censors the films himself, falls in love with one of the actresses of an old movie and in order to get hold of his lover he leaves the throne and goes after the cinema.
📅 Dates & Locations:
•Brisbane: Sun 12 Jan, 5pm Five Star Cinemas New Farm
***
✨ Once Upon a Time, Abadan (2021)
Writer & Director: Hamidreza Azarang
Cast: Fatemeh MotamedAria, Mohsen Tanabandeh, Elham Shafiee, Hossein Jamali.
Once Upon a Time, Abadan’ tells the story of Mosayyeb’s five-member family that is shopping for Nowruz, the Persian New Year . an unexpected incident suddenly occurs and surprises them all...
📅 Dates & Locations:
•Brisbane: Thu 9 Jan, 7pm
Five Star Cinemas New Farm
TICKETS & INFO: darichehcinema.com

Daricheh Cinema

Once Upon a Time, Abadan
‎روزى روزگارى آبادان
Writer & Director: Hamidreza Azarang
Cast: Fatemeh MotamedAria, Mohsen Tanabandeh, Elham Shafiee, Hossein Jamali.

Dates & Locations:
•Brisbane: Thu 9 Jan, 7pm
Five Star Cinemas New Farm

• Melbourne: Thu 16 Jan, 6:30pm
ACMI, Federation Sq.

• Sydney: Sat 18 Jan, 7pm
Event Cinemas Top Ryde

Once Upon a Time, Abadan’ tells the story of Mosayyeb’s five-member family that is shopping for Nowruz, the Persian New Year . an unexpected incident suddenly occurs and surprises them all...

TICKETS & INFO: darichehcinema.com

30/12/2024

As the curtains close on 2024 we want to extend our gratitude to all of our supporters for being part of the 17th Asia Pacific Screen Awards and 6th Asia Pacific Screen Forum.

This year we witnessed incredible stories from across the Asia Pacific, with films that inspired, challenged, and brought us closer to the diverse experiences of our region. The forum provided a platform for meaningful conversations, collaborations and insights that we hope will echo through the screen industry for years to come.

Highlights
• Awards Night: A spectacular evening celebrating cinematic excellence with incredible winner acceptance speeches and the return of the long nominees table in the middle of the room as a symbol of unity.
• Forum Discussions: Engaging panels, workshops, and networking sessions that brought together industry leaders and emerging talent.
• Themed Focus on "Land": Exploring the deep cultural, historical, and social significance of land through film and collaboration.

Watch the APSA Winners Speeches and Highlights in the APSA 2024 Playlist.

17th Asia Pacific Screen Awards 30 November 2024 The Langham, Gold Coast www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com