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Home About The Asia Pacific Screen Academy MPA APSA Academy Film Fund MPA APSA Academy Film Fund FAQ

MPA APSA Academy Film Fund FAQ

On this page, APSA Academy Members will find answers to the most frequently asked questions that they would have about the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund. Click on the question you have to read our response. If you do not find the information that you need, please contact one of the APSA team on [email protected]

  • 1. Who is eligible to apply?

    Projects must be submitted by a member of the Asia Pacific Screen Academy. Non-Academy members may submit a project in collaboration with an Academy member. See FAQ 5 for more details on collaboration with Academy members.

  • 2. How do I become an Academy Member?

    Nominees in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards are automatically inducted into the APSA Academy at the time of the Official Nominees Announcement. In addition, the Director/s of nominated Best Feature Films; Best Youth Feature Films; Best Animated Feature Films and Best Documentary Feature Films will be inducted to the Academy if they are not already the nominee.

    All members of the APSA Selection Panels, APSA International Nominations Council and APSA International Juries are inducted into the Academy at the announcement of their appointment. APSA FIAPF Award Winners and Young Cinema Award Winners are automatically inducted into the Academy at the time of the Winners Announcement at the APSA Ceremony.

    The President of the Academy as well as the APSA Chairperson and President of FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations are also members of the Academy.

    A list of current Academy members can be viewed here.

  • 3. Where can I find the Rules and Regulations for the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund?

    Click here to download the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund Rules and Regulations.

  • 4. Where can I find the Online Submission Form for the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund?

    The Submission Form is available to Academy members only and can be accessed via a personalised link that will be provided on verification of Academy membership. Please email usand a link will be provided.

    Furthermore, a signed Authority to Competeform will need to be supplied with all entries.

  • 5. I am not a member of the APSA Academy. Can I still submit a project?

    You cannot directly submit a project for consideration however, you may choose to collaborate with an existing Academy member who may submit a project in partnership with you, provided the Academy member is attached in one of the following roles: Director, Producer, Co-Producer, Executive Producer, Screenwriter, Actor, Actress, Cinematographer, Composer, Script Consultant or Cultural Advisor*

    A list of current Academy members can be viewed here.

    Due to privacy issues, APSA is not able to provide contact details for Academy members.

    *See FAQ 9 for the definition of a Cultural Advisor

  • 6. My film is nominated in this year APSAs. Am I eligible to apply?

    Nominees will be automatically inducted to the Academy at the time of the Official Nominees Announcement. The submission period for this fund closes after the new Nominees are announced, so there will be a short window of opportunity for Nominees to apply. Nominees will be advised ahead of the official nominees announcement and are encouraged to apply for the funding round. Extensions can be permitted on a case by case basis.

  • 7. What is APSA’s definition of the Asia Pacific region?

    The Asia Pacific region is defined as the countries and areas of Asia and the Pacific that lie between the longitudes of 30 degrees east and 170 degrees west. On the map, this region stretches from Egypt in the west, to the Cook Islands in the east, from Russia in the north, to New Zealand in the south. Please refer to the list of countries in the region

  • 8. How many people need to be attached to my project?

    The submitting Academy member must be attached to the project in the role of Director, Producer, Co-Producer, Executive Producer, Screenwriter, Actor, Actress, Cinematographer, Composer, Script Consultant or Cultural Advisor*.

    In addition, a Screenwriter must be attached to the project. It is not required that the Screenwriter be an Academy member.

    If the submitting Academy member is the Screenwriter, Director or Producer and also holds one of the additional roles of Screenwriter, Producer, Director, Actor, Actress or Cinematographer, they do not need to attach an additional person to the project.

    *See FAQ 9 for the definition of a Cultural Advisor

  • 9. What is a "Cultural Advisor"?

    According to the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, culture should be regarded as the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs. The Cultural Advisor shall give advice to the production team regarding such matters. For example, they may provide guidance to ensure that the culture of a particular group or people is depicted respectfully and accurately in the film.

  • 10. I am a member of the Academy but I am not a citizen of an Asia-Pacific country. Am I still eligible to enter?

    Yes, provided the project passes “The Test of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards” set out in Appendix II of the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund Rules and Regulations.

  • 11. I am an Asia Pacific filmmaker but my film will be set elsewhere, can I still apply?

    Yes, provided the project passes “The Test of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards” set out in Appendix II of the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund Rules and Regulations.

  • 12. How do I submit my project?
    1. You must be a member of the Academy of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (see FAQ 1 and 2 for definition).
    2. Download a copy of the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund Rules and Regulations.
    3. Check the eligibility of your project in line with the Rules and Regulations.
    4. Contact APSA for a link to the Online Submission Form.
    5. Complete the Online Submission Form before the submission deadline.
  • 13. When can I apply?

    2020 Submissions have not opened. Please check back here for updates.

  • 14. What materials are required to submit my project?

    Feature, Youth and Animated Feature Films

    1. One page synopsis (double line spaced, 12 point font)
    2. Treatment, maximum of 8 pages (double line spaced, 12 point font)
    3. Filmography and Biography of attached creatives
    4. First draft script will be accepted but will be at the Assessment Panel’s discretion as to whether it is referred to in the selection process

    Documentary Feature Films

    1. One page synopsis (double line spaced, 12 point font)
    2. Proposal / Statement, maximum 8 pages (double line spaced, 12 point font) addressing the following points and questions:
      • What: The film’s agenda
      • How: How the idea will be translated to screen
      • Who: Background summary of the film’s key Subjects
      • Access: Applicant’s accessibility to the Subjects
    3. Filmography and Biography of attached creatives and Subjects where applicable
  • 15. What languages can I submit my project in?

    All projects must be submitted in English. However, information about the submission process will be available in other languages by request.

  • 16. What is a synopsis?

    A synopsis is succinct description of the screenplay which defines the essence of the story. The purpose of a synopsis is to highlight the plot and motivation of characters and should be written in a way that captures the attention of the reader. The one page (double line spaced) synopsis should define the WHO, WHAT and HOW of the story, establish the setting, key characters and the major turning points of the story.

  • 17. What is a treatment?

    A treatment is similar to a synopsis but is a more detailed document summarising the way you plan to ‘treat’ the story in terms of style and narrative. It should present a structured story outlining the storyline of the project, subplots, the cinematic structure and details of directorial style. Treatments submitted for the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund should be no longer than 8 pages in length (double line spaced, 12 point font).

  • 18. Can I submit a proposal for a short film?

    No. Submitted projects must be intended for feature length, defined as over 60 minutes for Feature films and Youth Feature films and over 40 minutes for Animated Feature films and Documentary Feature films.

  • 19. Can I submit a proposal for a Documentary?

    Yes. As long as it is intended for feature length, defined as over 40 minutes for Documentary Feature films.

  • 20. Can I submit a proposal for an Animated film?

    Yes. As long as it is intended for feature length, defined as over 40 minutes for Animated Feature films.

  • 21. Can I submit a proposal for an Adapted Screenplay?

    Yes. As long as you provide proof of underlying rights as outlined in the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund Rules and Regulations and defined here at FAQ 25.

  • 22. What happens if the key creatives on my project change after I have submitted the project for consideration?

    You must notify the fund secretariat of any changes by contacting: [email protected] to determine whether your project is still eligible.

  • 23. Can I submit more than one project for consideration in the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund?

    Yes. You may submit a maximum of two projects.

  • 24. When will I be notified of the Judging Panel’s decision?

    The four successful recipients will be announced at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards Ceremony, and then on this website soon after.

  • 25. What are Underlying Rights?

    Underlying Rights are the rights of ownership attached to an original work. If the project being submitted is adapted from another author’s work, a member of the Creative team attached to the submission must fully own/hold the Underlying Rights for that work.

    If none of the members attached to the project owns the Underlying Rights for the original work, they must hold an Option on the original work to be eligible (see next FAQ below).

  • 26. What is an Option on a film?

    An Option is when a producer has purchased part of an original work (script, treatment, play etc) in order to reserve it until they have the finances to purchase all the Underlying Rights (see previous FAQ). The Producer may hold an Option on a piece of work and begin adapting it prior to purchasing the Underlying Rights in full.

    Applicants who intend on adapting a published work must prove they either fully own the underlying rights or have a valid Option on the material that has not expired.

  • 27. I have a question that is not in the FAQs or other documentation. Who should I contact?

    If you have any questions regarding the fund that are not in the FAQs, please email [email protected] any time or phone +61 7 3006 6200 during business hours (Australian Eastern Standard Time 9:00am – 5:00pm) and we will respond to you as soon as possible.