Yash Chopra & Aparna Sen shine at The Asia Pacific Screen Awards

Media News

Mumbai, November 12, 2008

Winners in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, the region's highest accolade in film in 2008, were announced last night at a special ceremony on the Gold Coast, Australia. More than 700 film industry luminaries from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the United States attended the ceremony.

The Awards were determined by an international jury headed by Academy Award nominated Australian director Bruce Beresford with his jury colleagues, renowned Indian director and actress Aparna Sen, US producer Richard Luke Rothschild (whose production credits include Tender Mercies and The Truman Show), Chinese director and professor of the Beijing Film Academy Zheng Dongtian, and Hanna Lee, producer of the 2007 APSA Best Feature Film, the internationally-acclaimed Miryang (Secret Sunshine), from the Republic of Korea.

Thirty two (32) films representing 17 countries were finalists in the Awards, with winners coming from Kazakhstan, Israel, Republic of Korea, Australia, Turkey, Islamic Republic of Iran, People's Republic of China and India received Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Along with major categories, four additional major awards were announced for outstanding achievement.

Yash Chopra, founder of Yashraj Films and a legend of the Indian film industry, was awarded the FIAPF Award for outstanding achievement in film in the Asia-Pacific region. The Award is determined by FIAPF - International Federation of Film Producers Associations, and was announced by Andrés Vincente Gomez, President of FIAPF, who travelled from Madrid to be at the ceremony.

The Jury Grand Prize is presented at the discretion of the Jury. In 2008, the International Jury presented two Jury Grand Prizes - to Hongse Kangabaiyin (The Red Awn, People's Republic of China); directed by Cai Shangjun; and to THE Prisoner (India), produced and directed by Pryas Gupta and starring Best Actor nominee Rajat Kapoor.

The UNESCO Award for outstanding contribution to the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity through film was decided by the International Jury and awarded to the Iranian documentary feature film Tinar (Islamic Republic of Iran), produced and directed by Mahdi Moniri. The Jury noted that the film was a rich evocation of rural life in the mountainous regions of Iran.

Bruce Beresford, President of the 2008 APSA International Jury, said that: "I was very impressed by the quality and originality of the films, all of them and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being around so many extraordinarily talented filmmakers."

Asia Pacific Screen Awards Chairman Des Power thanked Bruce Beresford and his Jury colleagues. He said: "The Asia-Pacific region is the emerging giant of cinema. The quality and depth of story-telling amazed not only our jury this year but is certain to attract more audience at the global level. There is a growing fascination and respect for films from this diverse region. It is a tribute to the filmmakers that they now have a globally recognised award and the broadcast reach of CNN International to promote their work."

Best Feature Film :Tulpan

Best Animated Feature Film :Vals Im Bashir

Best Documentary Feature Film :Ggeutnaji Anhmeun Jeon Jaeng

Best Children's Feature Film :The Black Balloon

Achievement in Direction :Nuri Bilge Ceylan(Uc Maymun)

Best Screenplay Award :Suha Arraf(Etz Halimon)

Achievement in Cinematography :Lee Mogae(Joheunnom Nabbeunnom Isanghannom)

Best Performance by an Actress :Hiam Abbass(Etz Halimon)

Best Performance by an Actor :Reza Naji(Avaze Gonjeshk-Ha)

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Mahek Shahani

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