‘Samsara’, ‘It Was Just an Accident’, ‘Magellan’ Top APSA Nominations

Garin Nugroho’s “Samsara”, Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just an Accident” and Lav Diaz’s “Magellan” are among the top nominees for the 18th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), the Asia Pacific Screen Academy has revealed.

Indonesian drama “Samsara” topped the list with three nominations, while “It Was Just an Accident” (Iran, France, Luxembourg) and “Magellan” (Portugal, Spain, France, Philippines, Taiwan) each received two nominations. “The Sun Rises on Us All” by Cai Shangjun (China) and “Two Seasons, Two Strangers” by Sho Miyake (Japan) round out the best film category, also with two nominations each.

These five films compete in additional categories including Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Performance. “Yunan” (Germany, Canada, Italy, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) also earned several nominations for best cinematography and best performance.

In a notable trend, 48% of directors of nominated films are only presenting their first or second feature film, highlighting the role of the awards in launching the region’s emerging talent. The Best Animated Film category is particularly striking, with all of the nominated directors making their directorial debut.

“With almost half of the nominated works being first feature films, 2025 is a testament to the vitality and innovation of emerging voices in our diverse region,” said Tracey Vieira, president of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

The ceremony will take place on November 27 at Langham, Gold Coast and Jewel Private Residences, in partnership with strategic sponsor Jewel Private Residences. The event takes place in conjunction with the 7th Asia Pacific Screen Forum, scheduled for November 24-27, under the theme Beyond Borders.

The forum will focus on five key areas: transcending boundaries through innovative collaborations, creating cultural bridges, empowering ourselves in a fragmented world, innovating over convention, and turning vision into reality. Programming includes the Post Code Doesn’t Matter initiative, led by Women in Film & Television Australia, sessions on developing and entering new markets, as well as country-specific panel discussions.

“It’s an exciting time for the Gold Coast to host this important event where we will see filmmakers from across the Asia Pacific region come with a project and leave with a journey,” Vieira added.

The event is supported by major partners including the City of Gold Coast, Screen Queensland, Motion Picture Association Asia Pacific, The Langham Gold Coast and The Post Lounge Group.

APSA represents 78 countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific region.

FULL LIST OF NOMINEES

Best film
“It was just an accident” — Islamic Republic of Iran, France, Luxembourg. Directed by Jafar Panahi
“Magellan” – Portugal, Spain, France, Philippines, Taiwan. Directed by Lav Diaz
“Samesara” – Indonesian. Directed by Garrmoho
“The sun rises on us all” – People’s Republic of China. Directed by Cai Shangjun
“Two seasons, two strangers” – Japan. Directed by Sho Miyake

Best Director
Amir Azizi for “Inside Amir” – Islamic Republic of Iran
Jafar Panahi for “It Was Only an Accident” — Islamic Republic of Iran, France, Luxembourg
Akio Fujimoto for “Lost Land” – Japan, France, Malaysia, Germany
Nurgroho for “Samesa” – Indonesian
Sengedorj Janchivdorj for “Silent City Driver” – Mongolia

Best screenplay
Shu Qi for “Girl” – Taiwan
Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit for “Human Resources” – Thailand
Annemarie Jacir for “Palestine 36” – Palestine, United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan
Chie Hayakawa for “Renoir” – Japan, France, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Qatar
Kaouther Ben Hania for “The Voice of Hind Rajab” — Tunisia, France

Better performance
Khairiah Nathmy for “Hijra” – Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, United Kingdom,
Sean Lau for “Papa” — Hong Kong
Xin Zhilei for “The Sun Rises on All of Us” — People’s Republic of China
Ariel Bronz for “Yes” – France, Israel, Cyprus, Germany
Georges Khabbaz for “Yunan” – Germany, Canada, Italy, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia

Best youth film
“Amoeba” – Singapore, Netherlands, France, Spain, Republic of Korea. Directed by Tan Siyou
“Before the Sunny Day” — Taiwan. Directed by Tsao Shih-Han
“The President’s Cake” – Iraq, United States, Qatar. Directed by Hasan Hadi
“Village Rockstars 2” – India, Singapore, People’s Republic of China. Directed by Rima Das
“The World of Love” — Republic of Korea. Directed by Yoon Ga-eun

Best Animated Film
“Another World” – Hong Kong. Directed by Tommy by Kai Chung
“ChaO” – Japan. Directed by Yasuhiro Aoki
“The Lost Tiger” – Australia. Directed by Chantelle Murray
“The Place” — Republic of Korea. Directed by Kim Bo-sol
“A Story of Fire” — People’s Republic of China. Directed by Wenyu Li

Best documentary film
“10s Across the Borders” – Philippines, Singapore, Germany. Directed by Chan Sze-Wei
“Always” – United States, France, People’s Republic of China, Taiwan. Directed by Deming Chen
“Put your soul on your hand and walk” – France, Palestine. Directed by Sepideh Farsi
“We live here” – Kazakhstan. Directed by Zhanana Kurmasheva
“Writing Hawa” – France, Netherlands, Qatar, Afghanistan. Directed by Najiba Nori

Best Cinematography
Artur Tort, Lav Diaz for “Magellan” – Portugal, Spain, France, Philippines, Taiwan
Prabhath Roshan for “Riverstone” – Sri Lanka
Nether goes to “Samsa” – Indonesia
Yuta Tsukinaga for “Two Seasons, Two Strangers” – Japan
Ronald Plante for “Yunan” – Germany, Canada, Italy, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia