By Travis Johnson
Councillor Graham Quirk, Lord Mayor of Brisbane, today announced the International Nominations Council for the 10th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA). these highly-regarded professionals have been empanelled to select the nominees who will complete in the 2016 APSAs.
Quirk remarked, “As APSA enters its 10th year it is my privilege to announce that internationally respected and revered academic and filmmaker, Professor Hong-Joon Kim (Republic of Korea) will, again, chair the APSA International Nominations Council. This marks Professor Kim’s 10th year in steering the all-important nominations process. We are honoured to have him once again undertake this incredibly important task and thank him for his tireless commitment to APSA, its Academy and the filmmakers of Asia Pacific.”
Professor Kim is again joined by two other long-serving members, APSA Film Director Maxine Williamson, and Iranian film specialist Dr Anne Démy-Geroe, both of whom have been included in the Council every year sin ce in was inaugurated. Also on board are Malaysian new wave cinema figure U-Wei Bin HajiSaari, Russian journalist and film critic, Igor Gouskov, Indian film critic, and curator Meenakshi Shedde and Hong Kong film critic and researcher, Ain Ling Wong.
Kim said “The Asia Pacific Screen Awards film competition has grown remarkably since its beginnings. The creative voices of this region have become powerful and a new wave of debut filmmakers with distinct and strong storytelling is seen every year. Asian cinema and that of the Pacific has come a very long way in just ten years and APSA has provided an invaluable platform for global recognition and funding support of this important region.
The International Nominations Council will meet in Brisbane in September to determine the nominees for Best Feature Film, Achievement in Directing, Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Performance by an Actor and Actress, and the prestigious APSA presented in partnership with UNESCO for outstanding contribution to the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity through the medium of film.
Asia Pacific Screen Awards chairperson Michael Hawkins noted, “As we enter the 10th year of the APSAs it is timely to reflect on our remit to acclaim cinematic excellence and celebrate cultural diversity. For an event with culture at its very core, to have actively engaged with the filmmakers of 58 of 70 Asia Pacific countries and areas speaks to the calibre of the APSA Competition. These connections are made through our partnership with FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations) liaising with their local FIAPF organisation, through the International Nominations Council’s invitation process, and also through the rigour and determination of APSA’s Film Department in making connections throughout the region and maintaining networks and relationships.
“The result over nine years has been a bold and robust competition which has seen many first or second time filmmakers competing with the auteurs and established masters in their craft. Films from emerging film industries are considered alongside the filmmaking powerhouse countries of the region. Discovery of emerging voices has been a hallmark of the APSA Competition and is testament to the exhaustive and rigorous competition process.”
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards will be held on Thursday, November 24, 2016, in Brisbane. For further information, check out the official site.
