MANILA, Philippines — This year’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) has recognized the talent of Filipino filmmakers with nominations for two Filipino movies and two collaborative films involving Filipino producers and neighboring countries.
“Iti Mapukpukaw,” the Cinemalaya 2023 Best Film winner starring Carlo Aquino and Dolly de Leon, is nominated for Best Animated Film. Director Carl Joseph Papa and producers Dan Villegas and Geoderic Lomuntad are acknowledged for their work.
Villegas and Lomuntad also produced Antoinette Jadaone’s “Sunshine,” which is nominated for Best Youth Film. They share this nomination with producer Bianca Balbuena.
Son Doan, the director of photography for “Viet and Nam,” is nominated for Best Cinematography. This film is a joint effort between the Philippines, Singapore, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Vietnam, and the United States.
The four directors of “XiXi”—Venice de Castro Atienza, Fan Wu, Sona Jo, and Her Yon-soo—are nominated for Best Documentary Film. “XiXi” is a collaboration between the Philippines, Taiwan, and Korea.
“All We Imagine As Light” and “April” lead the APSA nominations with five nods each, competing for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Performance. They are joined in the Best Film category by “Desert of Namibia,” “Happyend,” and “To Kill a Mongolian Horse.” This year marks the first time in APSA history that the top five nominees are amateur or sophomore films, with only one not directed by a female.
For the first time, all five nominees for Best Performance are women, a milestone since the acting category became ungendered.
The awards ceremony will take place on November 30 in Gold Coast, Australia, following the Asia Pacific Screen Forum.
After its historic win at Cinemalaya 2023, “Iti Mapukpukaw” was selected as the Philippines’ entry for the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film but did not make the shortlist.
“Sunshine,” starring Maris Racal, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it sold out all three screenings. Director Antoinette Jadaone mentioned that the film will continue its festival circuit before a commercial release in the Philippines.
The Philippines’ last APSA win was for the joint film “Autobiography” with Indonesia, France, Singapore, Poland, Qatar, and Germany, which won Best Screenplay in 2022.
Three Filipinas have previously won Best Performance by an Actress: Max Eigenmann for “Verdict,” Hasmine Killip for “Pamilya Ordinaryo,” and National Artist Nora Aunor for “Sinapupunan.”
Sheron Dayoc (director of “Halaw”) and Marlon Rivera (filmmaker of “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank”) were back-to-back winners of the NETPAC Development Prize in 2011 and 2012. Brillante Mendoza also won an Achievement in Directing for “Sinapupunan” in 2012.
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