Seoul, Republic of Korea: The Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Cr Graham Quirk today announced the International Jury for the 10th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) will consist of five eminent former APSA Jury Presidents from three continents and be headed by one of the world’s most acclaimed film makers, Academy-Award® winner Lord David Puttnam (United Kingdom, APSA 2010 Jury President), producer of Chariots of Fire and The Killing Fields.
Cr Quirk made the announcement at a special event honouring APSA at Seoul’s Imperial Palace during his 2016 Lord Mayoral Business Mission, together with Chairman of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and its Academy, Michael Hawkins, and Asian cinema icon and APSA Patron Kim Dong-Ho, who was also announced as member of the 2016 international Jury.
“Each of APSA’s International Juries have been led by a foremost film practitioner whose extensive bodies of work represent the diversity of our global film culture, and the cinematic excellence which is honoured by APSA,” said Councillor Quirk.
Cr Quirk announced that joining Lord Puttnam and Kim Dong-Ho (APSA 2015), co-founder and current Chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, are prolific and multi-award winning producer from Hong Kong (PRC) Nansun Shi (The Taking of Tiger Mountain; APSA 2011), Palme d’Or and Oscar®-winning Australian producer Jan Chapman (The Piano; APSA 2012), and celebrated Indian master filmmaker Shyam Benegal (APSA 2013).
“In this milestone tenth year, it is fitting to assemble this ‘Jury of Juries’ of five former APSA International Jury Presidents. They have all played an important role in the development and evolution of APSA, and we are honoured to see them return”, he said.
“I am deeply grateful to the filmmakers for their support, and to the esteemed members of the juries for their work over these years. They have helped make APSA the region’s highest accolade in film,” Cr Quirk said.
Lord David Puttnam said “The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is an extraordinary initiative and I warmly congratulate the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Graham Quirk, for championing this essential form of international dialogue. As the events of our world continue to challenge our search for greater understanding and tolerance, it remains important that our filmmakers reflect their experiences, share their lives and stories, and promote understanding through their craft. In bringing these films together, the Asia Pacific Screen Awards provides a profound reminder of what unites us all.”
APSA Patron Kim Dong-Ho said “APSA is a celebration of cinema and culture, two things I hold very dear to my heart, and the combination of which becomes a powerful platform for artistic expression and shared understanding. I am proud to continue in my role as Patron and I’m honoured to be part of the 10th APSA International Jury.”
All nominees and jurors are inducted into the APSA Academy of over 800 members. APSA chairman Michael Hawkins and APSA Academy president Jack Thompson AM, said the awards and BAPFF, its associated Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, identify a strong commitment by Australia to cultural awareness and diplomacy through film.
Mr Hawkins said “Since 2007, APSA has been privileged to have some of the world’s most acclaimed filmmakers head its Juries for the all-important determination of winners. We acknowledge the four APSA International Jury Presidents who are not able to join this ‘Jury of Juries’ in 2016 due to conflicting schedules – Shabana Azmi (India, APSA 2007), Bruce Beresford (Australia, APSA 2008), Huang Jianxin (People’s Republic of China, APSA 2009) and Asghar Farhadi (Islamic Republic of Iran, APSA 2014), whose new film The Salesman, is in APSA Competition.”
The 2016 APSA International Jury will determine the winners of the APSA feature narrative achievements: Best Feature Film, Achievement in Directing, and Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Performance by an Actor and Actress, and the prestigious APSA presented in partnership with UNESCO for Excellence in Cultural Expression through Film. The International Jury may, at its discretion, present Jury Grand Prizes.
The 10th Asia Pacific Screen Awards will be held on Thursday 24 November 2016 in Brisbane, Australia.
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards, based in Brisbane, are presented by Treasury Casino & Hotel, supported by Brisbane City Council and managed by economic development board Brisbane Marketing. APSA has the privilege of a unique collaboration with Paris-based UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations, and recognises and promotes cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the world’s fastest growing film region: comprising 70 countries and areas, 4.5 billion people, and is responsible for half of the world’s film output.
APSA and its Academy is committed to its ongoing partnerships with UNESCO, FIAPF, the European Film Academy (EFA), the Motion Picture Association (MPA), NETPAC (the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema), the Asia Pacific Screen Lab (APSL) and Griffith Film School.
As a founding member of the European Film Academy (EFA) and an APSA Academy member, Lord Puttnam’s appointment highlights the ten-year relationship between the EFA and APSA, building bridges of culture between the filmmakers of Europe and Asia.
The 10th Asia Pacific Screen Awards International Jury, and in particular Kim Dong-Ho, is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia-Korea Foundation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
10th APSA INTERNATIONAL JURY: http://www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com/the-awards/judging-process/apsa-international-jury/
IMAGES for media: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kzohz1qigj9ob30/AAAsyzLWi7XPArk6jz1q9MJMa?dl=0