Born in Cyprus in 1964, Dervish Zaim majored in economics and administrative sciences at Bosphorus University, Istanbul (1983–1988) and has an MA in British cultural studies from Warwick University, UK (1993–1994). Dervish Zaim has written and directed four feature films, Somersault in a Coffin, Elephants and Grass, Mud and Waiting for Heaven. He also co-directed the documentary, Parallel Trips. His feature films have won numerous awards at international and national festivals including: for Somersault in a Coffin, Best Film at the San Francisco Film Festival and Best Film at the Oeuvres Film Festival, and for Mud, the 2003 UNESCO Award at the Venice Film Festival. He is also the winner of the Yunus Nadi Novel Prize, for his novel, Alice in Wonderland.
The Asia Pacific Screen Academy expresses its respect for and acknowledgement of the South East Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of country, including the custodial communities on whose land works are created and celebrated by the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. We acknowledge the continuing connection to land, waters and communities. We also pay our respects to Elders, past and emerging. We recognise the integral role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and First Nations peoples continue to play in storytelling and celebration spaces.
