Screen Awards etched in Brisbane’s cultural legacy

 

LORD MAYOR Graham Quirk has joined APSA chairman Michael Hawkins, APSA Academy president Dr Jack Thompson AM, jury members and finalists of the prestigious 8^th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), ahead of the official awards ceremony to be held in City Hall tonight.

The Lord Mayor said the APSAs were the Asia Pacific region’s highest film accolades and were well respected in the international film community.

“In their 8^th year, the Asia Pacific Screen Awards signal the emergence of Brisbane as a major economic and cultural player, not only in the Asia Pacific region, but across the globe,” Cr Quirk said.

“Off the back of the G20 Summit, where Brisbane was the capital city of the world, the APSAs build on this momentum and Brisbane’s reputation as Australia’s New World City.”

Cr Quirk said the APSAs were the largest and most prestigious gathering of international filmmakers in Australia each year and were expected to be attended by over 1,200 film industry luminaries from the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

“The Asia Pacific Screen Awards are a unique testament to the vibrancy and incredible artistic prowess evident in this region,” he said.

“In 2014, 36 films from 21 Asia Pacific countries received award nominations, with the films displaying cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the vast Asia Pacific Region,” Cr Quirk said.

“Brisbane residents will be able see some of cinemas biggest stars during the black carpet arrivals including, legendary Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil (Charlie's Country), screen legend and APSA Academy president Dr Jack Thompson AM, ceremony presenter and acclaimed Australian actor Aaron Pedersen (Mystery Road), and Oscar-winning Australian producer Emile Sherman (The King's Speech).”

APSA chairman Michael Hawkins said the 2014 APSA Nominees and International Juries would be welcomed into the APSA Academy at a special event this afternoon by APSA Academy president and Australian screen legend Jack Thompson.

“The Academy is a growing body of the most influential names in Asia Pacific cinema, and provides a range of networking, funding and development opportunities to its members,” Mr Hawkins said.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards, proudly presented by Treasury Casino and Hotel, is supported by Brisbane City Council.

APSA is managed by economic development board Brisbane Marketing in a unique collaboration with Paris-based UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations, recognising and promoting cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the world’s fastest-growing film region, comprising 70 countries and areas, 4.5 billion people, and responsible for half of the world’s film output.

Watch the ceremony webcast live on Thursday, 11 December 2014 from 19.00 (AEST) at: http://www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com/the-awards/the-ceremony/

Black carpet arrivals: From 5.30pm Thursday, 11 December in King George Square, Brisbane City Hall.

To view 2013, highlights, trailers from nominated films and images visit

To view a full list of 2014 APSA nominations visit http://www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com/the-awards/2014-nominees/

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