Hamaguchi and Shah Top Asia Pacific Screen Awards Nominations With Three Each

Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “All of a Sudden” and Abinash Bikram Shah’s “Elephants in the Fog” have emerged as the leading contenders for the 19th Asia Pacific Screen Awards, each securing three nominations. The Asia Pacific Screen Academy revealed a shortlist of 36 films representing 32 countries and territories on Thursday, setting the stage for the awards ceremony scheduled for Oct. 30 in Australia.

Both productions are vying for the top prize in best film, best director, and best performance. Hamaguchi and Shah will compete for the directing award against Sompot Chidgasornpongse for “9 Temples to Heaven,” Aung Phyoe for “Fruit Gathering,” and Jennifer Peedom for “Tenzing.”

The best film category is rounded out by Shahrbanoo Sadat’s “No Good Men,” which also earned a best performance nomination; Levan Koguashvili’s “Guria,” nominated for best cinematography; and Chidgasornpongse’s “9 Temples to Heaven.”

The awards recognize achievements across best screenplay, best cinematography, best youth film, best animated film, and best documentary, with the best performance category remaining ungendered. Data from the Academy indicates that 69% of directors with nominated films are presenting their first or second features. This trend is particularly evident in the youth and animation categories, where every nominee is directed by a first- or second-time filmmaker.

The nominations also underscore significant international collaboration. Virginie Efira and Okamoto Tao share a best performance nomination for “All of a Sudden,” while Singaporean-Spanish duo Ervin Han and Raúl García created the animated film “The Violinist.”

Tracey Vieira, chair of the Asia Pacific Screen Academy, highlighted the collaborative nature of this year’s selections. “When you look across this year’s nominations, what really stands out is the level of collaboration behind these films,” Vieira said. “We are seeing filmmakers and creative teams from countries across the Asia Pacific working together, and in many cases partnering with countries well beyond the region, to bring these stories to the screen.”

Three projects supported by the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund received nominations: “9 Temples to Heaven” (funded in 2021), Sara Ishaq’s “The Station” (funded in 2019), and Anthony Chen’s “We Are All Strangers” (funded in 2023). The fund is currently accepting submissions until Sept. 25.

Mandy Walker ASC ACS, serving as president of the international jury, emphasized the value of global cinematic exchange. “Watching and celebrating movies from other cultures only enriches our own experiences and views of the world,” Walker said. “I have the honor to be heading the International Jury this year to recognize the achievements of these talented filmmakers.”

The Asia Pacific Screen Forum will take place Oct. 28–30 on the Gold Coast, featuring discussions on financing, distribution, and cross-border collaboration, as well as a masterclass with Walker. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate stated, “The Gold Coast is proud to be a creative crossroads for the Asia Pacific, and APSA is a big part of that story.”

Full List of APSA 2026 Nominees:

BEST FILM
“All of a Sudden” (France, Japan, Germany, Belgium), directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke
“Elephants in the Fog” (Nepal, Germany, Brazil, France, Norway), directed by Abinash Bikram Shah
“No Good Men” (Germany, France, Norway, Denmark, Afghanistan), directed by Shahrbanoo Sadat
“Guria” (Georgia, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Türkiye, U.K., Norway, Saudi Arabia), directed by Levan Koguashvili
“9 Temples to Heaven” (Thailand, Singapore, France, Norway, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Qatar), directed by Sompot Chidgasornpongse

BEST YOUTH FILM
“Big Girls Don’t Cry” (New Zealand), directed by Paloma Schneideman
“Don’t Tell Mother” (India, Australia), directed by Anoop Lokkur
“En Route To” (Republic of Korea), directed by Yoo Jaein
“Funky Freaky Freaks” (Republic of Korea), directed by Han Chang-lok
“Our Share of Sand” (India, U.K., Greece), directed by Shalini Adnani

BEST ANIMATED FILM
“Light Pillar” (China), directed by Xu Zao
“Magic Atlas” (Singapore), directed by Sun Xun
“A Mighty Adventure” (Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong), directed by Toe Yuen
“The Violinist” (Singapore, Spain, Italy), directed by Ervin Han, Raúl García
“Zsazsa Zaturnnah” (Philippines, France), directed by Avid Liongoren

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
“32 Meters” (Iran, Türkiye, Qatar), directed by Morteza Atabaki
“Colors of White Rock” (France, Mongolia), directed by Khoroldorj Choijoovanchig
“Baby Jackfruit Baby Guava” (Vietnam, Republic of Korea), directed by Nhật Quang Nông
“One in a Million” (U.K., U.S.), directed by Itab Azzam, Jack MacInness
“Rehearsals for a Revolution” (Czech Republic, Spain), directed by Pegah Ahangarani

BEST DIRECTOR
Hamaguchi Ryusuke, “All of a Sudden”
Abinash Bikram Shah, “Elephants in the Fog”
Sompot Chidgasornpongse, “9 Temples to Heaven”
Jennifer Peedom, “Tenzing”
Aung Phyoe, “Fruit Gathering”

BEST SCREENPLAY
Ghasideh Golmakani, “Head to Head”
Yashasvi Juyal and Ankit Thapa, “The Ink Stained Hand and the Missing Thumb”
Mohammed Hammad, “Safe Exit”
Sara Ishaq and Nadia Eliewat, “The Station”
Rakan Mayasi, “Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Batara Goempar, “Four Seasons in Java”
Nguyễn Vinh Phúc, “Hearing”
Gigi Samsonadze and Giorgi Shvelidze, “Guria”
Warwick Thornton, “Wolfram”
Emo Weemhoff, “The Burning Giants”

BEST PERFORMANCE
Virginie Efira and Okamoto Tao, “All of a Sudden”
Anwar Hashimi, “No Good Men”
Pushpa Thing Lama, “Elephants in the Fog”
Ghassan Saad, “Pipes”
Yeo Yann Yann, “We Are All Strangers”