Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi claimed dual honors at the 18th Asia Pacific Screen Awards, with his Cannes Palme d’Or winner “It Was Just an Accident” (Un simple accident) taking home best film and best director.

Japanese filmmaker Fujimoto Akio’s “Lost Land” (Harà Watan) received the Jury Grand Prize for its portrait of displaced Rohingya children navigating uncertain futures. The co-production spanning Japan, France, Malaysia and Germany was produced by Kazutaka Watanabe.

Singaporean filmmaker Tan Siyou and producer Fran Borgia won best youth film for “Amoeba,” while Korean director Kim Bo-sol’s animation “The Square” claimed best animated film honors.

In the documentary categories, Sepideh Farsi’s “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk” won best documentary film for its first-hand perspective from within Gaza. Deming Chen’s “Always,” exploring boyhood and memory in rural China, received a special mention from the documentary jury.

Japan’s Chie Hayakawa earned best screenplay for “Renoir,” which also saw rising star Yui Suzuki win best new performer. Hong Kong actor Sean Lau took best performance for “Papa,” portraying a father navigating grief and love.

Indonesian cinematographer Batara Goempar won for “Samsara,” with Gold Coast actor Juliet Widyasari Burnett accepting on his behalf. Kyrgyzstan filmmaker Aktan Arym Kubat received the Cultural Diversity Award for “Black Red Yellow.”

India’s Rohan Parashuram Kanawade earned the Young Cinema Award in partnership with Netpac for “Cactus Pears” (Sabar Bonda), which previously won the top prize at Sundance.

A new Forum Filmmaker Award, presented in partnership with The Post Lounge Group, went to Prabhath Gurung for “Son of a Honey Hunter,” recognizing significant creative growth during the 7th Asia Pacific Screen Forum.

Australian producer Greer Simpkin received the FIAPF Award for outstanding contribution to film in the Asia Pacific region.

The ceremony also announced four recipients of the 2025 MPA APSA Academy Film Fund grants. Hong Kong curator Kiki Fung chaired the jury alongside Ngo Thi Bich Hanh of Vietnam and Australia’s Schuyler Weiss.

Grant recipients included Academy Member Anocha Suwichakornpong for Thai project “Fiction,” director Kareem Abeed for Syrian documentary “Where is My Father,” Indonesian director Yosep Anggi Noen and producer Gita Fara for “The Sea Speaks His Name,” and director Thien An Pham with Jeremy Chua for Vietnamese feature “Heaven in a Wildflower.”

All nominees, nominations council and jury members join the APSA Academy, presided over by Australian screen legend Jack Thompson. The academy will total more than 1,725 regional filmmakers in 2025.

“This year, we continue to see a powerful surge of emerging filmmakers whose bold, authentic storytelling reflects one of the most diverse collections of perspectives APSA has ever showcased,” said chair of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards Tracey Vieira.

The Asia Pacific Screen Academy encompasses 78 countries and areas, representing 4.5 billion people and producing half the world’s films. Partners include Screen Queensland, Screen Australia, City of Gold Coast, MPA and The Post Lounge Group.

The ceremony, held at The Langham Hotel on Australia’s Gold Coast, celebrated filmmaking excellence from 24 countries and regions across the Asia Pacific. The awards ceremony was supported by major partner Jewel Gold Coast.

2025 APSA WINNERS

BEST FILM

“It Was Just an Accident” (Un simple accident) Islamic Republic of Iran, France, Luxembourg Directed by Jafar Panahi | Produced by Jafar Panahi, Philippe Martin

JURY GRAND PRIZE

“Lost Land” (Harà Watan) Japan, France, Malaysia, Germany Directed by Akio Fujimoto | Produced by Kazutaka Watanabe

BEST YOUTH FILM

“Amoeba” Singapore, Netherlands, France, Spain, Republic of Korea Directed by Tan Siyou | Produced by Fran Borgia

BEST ANIMATED FILM

“The Square” Republic of Korea Directed by Kim Bo-sol | Produced by Park So-hye, Kim Bo-sol

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM

“Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk” France, Palestine Directed by Sepideh Farsi | Produced by Javad Djavahery

SPECIAL MENTION — DOCUMENTARY

“Always” USA, France, People’s Republic of China, Taiwan Directed by Deming Chen | Produced by Hansen Lin

BEST DIRECTOR

Jafar Panahi “It Was Just an Accident” (Un simple accident) Islamic Republic of Iran, France, Luxembourg

BEST SCREENPLAY

Chie Hayakawa “Renoir” Japan, France, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Qatar

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Batara Goempar “Samsara” Indonesia

BEST PERFORMANCE

Sean Lau “Papa” Hong Kong

BEST NEW PERFORMER

Yui Suzuki “Renoir” Japan, France, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Qatar

CULTURAL DIVERSITY AWARD

“Black Red Yellow” Kyrgyzstan Directed & Produced by Aktan Arym Kubat

YOUNG CINEMA AWARD (in partnership with Netpac)

Rohan Parashuram Kanawade “Cactus Pears” (Sabar Bonda) India, U.K., Canada

FIAPF AWARD

Greer Simpkin (Australia)

2025 MPA APSA ACADEMY FILM FUND RECIPIENTS

Anocha Suwichakornpong “Fiction” Thailand

Kareem Abeed “Where is My Father” Syria

Yosep Anggi Noen and Gita Fara “The Sea Speaks His Name” Indonesia

Thien An Pham and Jeremy Chua “Heaven in a Wildflower” Vietnam

FILMMAKER FORUM AWARD (presented by The Post Lounge Group)

Prabhath Gurung “Son of a Honey Hunter”