Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Annual awards honoring cinematic excellence from the Asia-Pacific region, covering over 70 countries and representing the world's fastest-growing film industries.
Overview
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards honor cinematic excellence from the vast Asia-Pacific region, which encompasses over 70 countries and areas including East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania. The ceremony takes place annually in Brisbane, Australia, and serves as the most comprehensive recognition platform for filmmaking across this enormous and culturally diverse territory.
APSA was established to highlight and connect film industries across a region that produces the majority of the world's films. The awards use an international jury-based system, with a panel of acclaimed filmmakers and industry figures selecting nominees and winners from a field that can include films from Iran, India, South Korea, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the Philippines, and dozens of other countries.
Key Categories
- Best Feature Film
- Best Animated Feature Film
- Achievement in Directing
- Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress
- Best Screenplay
- Best Cinematography
- Achievement in Cultural Diversity
- Best Documentary Feature Film
- Best Youth Feature Film
- UNESCO Award -- recognizing a film that promotes cultural exchange
- FIAPF Award -- for outstanding contribution to the Asia-Pacific film industry
- MPA APSA Academy Film Fund -- a production fund for past APSA nominees
Significance for Filmmakers
For filmmakers from smaller Asia-Pacific industries, APSA provides visibility across a region that includes some of the world's largest film markets. The awards connect filmmaking communities from countries as diverse as Kazakhstan, Fiji, Iran, and the Philippines, fostering co-production relationships and creative exchange.
The MPA APSA Academy Film Fund is a unique feature that directly supports filmmakers who have been recognized by the awards. Past nominees can apply for production funding, making APSA one of the few awards bodies that provides tangible financial support alongside recognition.
See Also
For understanding how Asia-Pacific cinema connects to international distribution, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue across global markets, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.
