Iranian director Jafar Panahi's film 'It Was Just an Accident' secured best film and best director honors at the 18th Asia Pacific Screen Awards. The ceremony, held on Australia's Gold Coast, celebrated excellence from 24 countries across the region. Other categories highlighted diverse storytelling in youth films, animation, and documentaries.
Event Overview
The 18th Asia Pacific Screen Awards took place at The Langham Hotel on Australia's Gold Coast, recognizing outstanding achievements in filmmaking from the Asia Pacific region. The event, supported by partners including Screen Queensland, Screen Australia, and Jewel Gold Coast, showcased works from 24 countries and areas, representing a diverse array of perspectives.
Key Wins
Jafar Panahi's 'It Was Just an Accident' (Un simple accident), a co-production between Iran, France, and Luxembourg, won both best film and best director. The film, which also earned the Palme d’Or at Cannes, was directed and produced by Panahi alongside Philippe Martin. In the jury grand prize category, Akio Fujimoto's 'Lost Land' (Harà Watan), a Japan-France-Malaysia-Germany co-production exploring displaced Rohingya children, received top recognition, produced by Kazutaka Watanabe.
Singapore's Tan Siyou and producer Fran Borgia took best youth film for 'Amoeba,' while Kim Bo-sol's Korean animation 'The Square' claimed best animated film. Sepideh Farsi's documentary 'Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk,' offering a perspective from within Gaza, won best documentary, with Deming Chen's 'Always' earning a special mention.
Additional Honors
Chie Hayakawa won best screenplay for 'Renoir,' which also featured Yui Suzuki as best new performer. Sean Lau received best performance for 'Papa,' and Batara Goempar took best cinematography for 'Samsara.' The cultural diversity award went to Aktan Arym Kubat's 'Black Red Yellow' from Kyrgyzstan, and the young cinema award, in partnership with Netpac, was awarded to Rohan Parashuram Kanawade for 'Cactus Pears' (Sabar Bonda).
Australian producer Greer Simpkin received the FIAPF award for outstanding contribution. A new filmmaker forum award went to Prabhath Gurung for 'Son of a Honey Hunter.' The ceremony announced 2025 MPA APSA Academy Film Fund grants for projects including Anocha Suwichakornpong's 'Fiction' from Thailand and Thien An Pham's 'Heaven in a Wildflower' from Vietnam.
Tracey Vieira, chair of the awards, noted, 'This year, we continue to see a powerful surge of emerging filmmakers whose bold, authentic storytelling reflects one of the most diverse collections of perspectives APSA has ever showcased.' The Asia Pacific Screen Academy now includes over 1,725 regional filmmakers.