This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/culture/australia-culture-blog/2013/dec/16/aaron-pedersen-apsa-already-has-the-ingredients-to-build-a-great-story

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Aaron Pedersen: APSA already has the ingredients to build a great story Aaron Pedersen: APSA already has the ingredients to build a great story
(about 2 hours later)
“This, for me, has more strength and has more heart and soul, and I hope that the APSA just gets stronger and it gets bigger and supersedes so many other awards. We’ve got 70 countries; we’ve got 4.5bn people; and honestly, brother, this is much more [the] meal that I sit down at the table to eat.”“This, for me, has more strength and has more heart and soul, and I hope that the APSA just gets stronger and it gets bigger and supersedes so many other awards. We’ve got 70 countries; we’ve got 4.5bn people; and honestly, brother, this is much more [the] meal that I sit down at the table to eat.”
If you’d heard those words from the Australian actor Aaron Pedersen at the 2013 Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSAs) last week, you might be forgiven for thinking you were in a conference room for a marketing pitch rather than an awards ceremony.If you’d heard those words from the Australian actor Aaron Pedersen at the 2013 Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSAs) last week, you might be forgiven for thinking you were in a conference room for a marketing pitch rather than an awards ceremony.
And there was a current of self-promotion suffusing the initial stages of the seventh annual APSAs, held for the second year in their now-permanent home of Brisbane. But the spirit of these awards, which seek to “recognise and promote the cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the vast Asia-Pacific region”, was found most purely in the art, with 39 nominated films from 23 countries.And there was a current of self-promotion suffusing the initial stages of the seventh annual APSAs, held for the second year in their now-permanent home of Brisbane. But the spirit of these awards, which seek to “recognise and promote the cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the vast Asia-Pacific region”, was found most purely in the art, with 39 nominated films from 23 countries.
Pedersen – an APSA nominee for his performance in outback noir Mystery Road, snubbed by the Australian Academy’s AACTAs – made clear how important these relatively young awards could be. “I’m really proud to be a part of these nominations,” he told Guardian Australia. “I think the great thing about it is the strong contingency of storytellers from all corners of the world.”Pedersen – an APSA nominee for his performance in outback noir Mystery Road, snubbed by the Australian Academy’s AACTAs – made clear how important these relatively young awards could be. “I’m really proud to be a part of these nominations,” he told Guardian Australia. “I think the great thing about it is the strong contingency of storytellers from all corners of the world.”
Pedersen spoke passionately of having Indigenous stories recognised alongside the “ancestral spirit” of storytellers in the Asia Pacific. “Our stories are the important stories that have never been told, that have always been marginalised. It actually allows people to have first contact sometimes.”Pedersen spoke passionately of having Indigenous stories recognised alongside the “ancestral spirit” of storytellers in the Asia Pacific. “Our stories are the important stories that have never been told, that have always been marginalised. It actually allows people to have first contact sometimes.”
The filmmaker Anthony Chen added the APSA for best director to his Camera d’Or from Cannes for Ilo Ilo, Singapore’s submission to next year’s Oscars. He said his film, inspired by the Asian financial crisis in 1997, has resonated globally by reflecting universalising the region’s economic struggles. The filmmaker Anthony Chen added the APSA for best director to his Camera d’Or from Cannes for Ilo Ilo, Singapore’s submission to next year’s Oscars. He said his film, inspired by the Asian financial crisis in 1997, has resonated globally by reflecting and universalising the region’s economic struggles.
“It goes to show that cinema is really universal, that it transcends borders and cultures and language. The fact that I’m here with this film, it seems evident,” he said.“It goes to show that cinema is really universal, that it transcends borders and cultures and language. The fact that I’m here with this film, it seems evident,” he said.
Seeing Australia depicted alongside other Asia Pacific films is a source of pride to multi-award winning cinematographer Mandy Walker, nominated for the forthcoming Tracks. “When I see our images up on the screen they look very different to the images from the other countries from the Asia-Pacific region. I’m hoping that people will see it and want to come and visit and see that Australia is very diverse and unique.”Seeing Australia depicted alongside other Asia Pacific films is a source of pride to multi-award winning cinematographer Mandy Walker, nominated for the forthcoming Tracks. “When I see our images up on the screen they look very different to the images from the other countries from the Asia-Pacific region. I’m hoping that people will see it and want to come and visit and see that Australia is very diverse and unique.”
The APSAs are still very young and part of the future challenge for organisers is getting these films – such as Kazakhstan’s double nominee The Old Man, UNESCO award winner The Painting Pool, and Sri Lankan best feature film nominee With You, Without You – out to wider audiences.The APSAs are still very young and part of the future challenge for organisers is getting these films – such as Kazakhstan’s double nominee The Old Man, UNESCO award winner The Painting Pool, and Sri Lankan best feature film nominee With You, Without You – out to wider audiences.
But this year’s ceremony – egalitarian and inclusive, with development grants awarded to an array of filmmakers and future projects – displayed an undiluted love of film. Which is arguably exactly what the film industries of Australia and the Asia-Pacific need.But this year’s ceremony – egalitarian and inclusive, with development grants awarded to an array of filmmakers and future projects – displayed an undiluted love of film. Which is arguably exactly what the film industries of Australia and the Asia-Pacific need.
• The Asia Pacific Screen Awards will be broadcast on SBS on December 22.• The Asia Pacific Screen Awards will be broadcast on SBS on December 22.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.