By Travis Johnson
Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country was named Best Feature at the 11th Asia Pacific Screen Awards, it has been announced.
This makes Thornton the first director to win twice in that category, following his 2009 win for Samson and Delilah. He is also the only Australian filmmaker to score in that category.
This year’s APSAs were hosted by David Wenham and Lee Lin Chin, with a jury comprised of Australian film editor Jill Bilcock ACE ASE (Moulin Rouge, Muriel’s Wedding, Elizabeth), joined by Filipino writer/director Adolfo Alix Jr, Chinese actress He Saifei (Lust, Caution), Tokyo Film Festival Programmer Yoshi Yatabe and Kazakh writer, director and cinematographer Adilkhan Yerzhanov.
Of the award, Bilcock said, “Sweet Country is a milestone film about Australia’s shameful history. It is uniquely told through Warwick Thornton’s strong cinematic style and personal knowledge of his own culture. Our jury from five countries have been transported by cinema into diverse communities and privileged to share in their personal stories, history and traditions. I was particularly impressed by the rise of stories featuring strong women characters and also the emergence of some truly talented female directors. Overall the Asia Pacific region continues to bring us extraordinary stories and talent with a highly original slant.”
For more info on the ASPAs, head to the official site.
