The Asia Pacific Screen Awards 13 November 2007

• © Asia Pacific Screen Award
• Orna Noy with Hubert Gijzen, Ph.D

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards took place on 13 November, 2007 in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The Queensland Government (through Queensland Events Corporation) had brought together CNN International, UNESCO and the International Federation of Film Producers Associations to create the new awards, which will honour films and filmmakers from the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia Pacific Screen Awards were launched in the Cannes International Film Festival in May 2007.

The finalists are drawn from all over the Asia-Pacific region with 34 films nominated from 19 countries: Armenia, Australia, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kurdistan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka and Turkey. Awards were presented in a number of different categories including best feature film, best documentary, best animation film, best children’s film, achievement in Cinematography, best screenplay, best director, best actor, and best actress. Two major Awards were presented for outstanding achievement:

• The FIAPF — International Federation of Film Producers Associations Award for outstanding achievement in film in the Asia-Pacific region, and
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Award for outstanding contribution to the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity through film

The UNESCO Award for outstanding contribution to the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity through film

UNESCO supports the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, as the event’s ultimate objective is the promotion of one of UNESCO’s major goals: preserving and promoting cultural diversity in Asia and the Pacific. The Director General of UNESCO delivered a taped message, which was shown during the Ceremony shortly before the UNESCO Award was presented.

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 Israeli film THE BAND’S VISIT (BIKUR HATIZMORET) by Hubert Gijzen, Director and Representative, UNESCO Office, Jakarta, Indonesia, together with CNN International anchor Anjali Rao.

Films from the most culturally diverse region in the world will be acclaimed in two programs to be screened globally on CNN International from October 2007.

CNN will broadcast “Scene By Scene - Best Films of Asia Pacific” on 17-18 November 2007, which will feature highlights of the Awards including interviews with nominees, winners and the international jury.

Related links:
Text message of the Director General of UNESCO

Director of UNESCO Office Jakarta address on the APSA

Asia Pacific Screen Awards website

Asia Pacific Screen Awards Announced

• Source:UNESCO Office Jakarta
• 17-01-2008