MEDIA RELEASE PR37308
Sawan Baan Na Awarded Unesco Prize at Asia Pacific Screen Awards
BRISBANE, Nov. 26/Medianet International-AsiaNet/ --
Thailand's Sawan Baan Na (Agrarian Utopia) has won the UNESCO Award for outstanding
contribution to the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity through film at the
3rd annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards - the region's highest accolade in film in 2009 -
announced tonight on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
This major Award, the first Asia Pacific Screen Award to be won by a Thai film, was
accepted by the filmmaker, Uruphong Raksasad.
Thirty seven films representing 16 countries and territories were finalists in the
Awards, which were determined by an International Jury headed by notable Chinese
director and producer Huang Jianxin, joined by Tahmineh Milani (Islamic Republic of
Iran), Gina Kim (Republic of Korea), Aden Young (Australia), Andrew Pike (Australia) and
Pryas Gupta (India).
Australian film Samson & Delilah was named Best Feature Film. Produced by Kath
Shelper and written and directed by Warwick Thornton, Samson & Delilah previously won
the Camera D'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Japanese star Masahiro Motoki was on the Gold Coast to receive the Best Performance
by an Actor Award for his performance in Okuribito (Departures) and Best Performance by
an Actress Award winner was Korea's Kim Hye-ja for Madeo (Mother).
China's Nanjing! Nanjing! (City of Life and Death) received two awards: Lu Chuan for
Achievement in Directing and Cao Yu for Achievement in Cinematography.
Best Screenplay was awarded to Asghar Farhadi for Darbareye Elly (About Elly) which
also received the Jury Grand Prize, jointly awarded to Elia Sulieman's The Time That
Remains.
Best Documentary Feature Film was awarded to Israel's Hashmatsa (Defamation).
Australia's Mary and Max, produced by Academy Award winner Melanie Coombs, won Best
Animated Feature Film and Ye Haeng Ja (A Brand New Life) from Republic of Korea was
awarded Best Children's Feature Film.
Four high commendations were awarded by the Jury to Yang Ik-june who was nominated
for for Best Performance by an Actor for Ddongpari (Breathless), to Alisher
Khamidhodjaev and Maxim Drozdov nominated for Achievement in Cinematography for Paper
Soldier; Shripal Morakhia and Mubina Rattonsey nominated for Best Children's Feature for
Tahaan: A Boy with a Grenade and David MacDougall's Gandhi's Children nominated for Best
Documentary Feature.
Full media release, images of red carpet and ceremony highlights available on in the
APSA Media Centre:
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SOURCE: Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA)
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