Jafar Panahi’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner It Was Simply an Accident (Un Easy Accident) received Finest Movie on the Asia Pacific Display screen Awards final evening.
The Iranian auteur additionally landed a Finest Director prize for the political thriller, which is France’s entry for Finest Worldwide Characteristic Movie on the 2026 Oscars.
The Jury Grand Prize went to Misplaced Land (Harà Watan), Japanese filmmaker Akio Fujimoto’s exploration of displaced Rohingya youngsters. Different winners embody Singaporean filmmaker Tan Siyou and producer Fran Borgia receiving Finest Youth Movie for Amoeba, and Korean animation The Sq. from Kim Bo-sol successful Finest Animated Movie.
Sepideh Farsi’s Gaza movie Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Stroll obtained Finest Documentary Movie, a profound testomony to lived expertise from inside Gaza, as a particular point out went to All the time, Deming Chen’s meditation on boyhood and reminiscence in rural China. Japan’s Chie Hayakawa received Finest Screenplay for Renoir, which additionally noticed Yui Suzuki obtain a Finest New Performer award. Hong Kong actor Sean Lau received Finest Efficiency for Papa.
The FIAPF Award for excellent contribution to movie within the Asia Pacific area went to Australian producer Greer Simpkin for her work within the Aussie movie business.
Tracey Vieira, Chair of the Asia Pacific Display screen Awards, stated the awards mirrored “one of the crucial various collections of views” the occasion had showcased to this point.
Movement Image Affiliation President and Managing Director for Asia Pacific Urmila Venugopalan added: “With greater than 70 nations represented and a rare mosaic of cultures, voices, and cinematic traditions, the ASPAs stand as a real international celebration of movie. The Asia Pacific area is delivering tales that resonate throughout borders and communicate to audiences in each nook of the world.”
FULL WINNERS LIST – BY CATEGORY
BEST FILM
It Was Simply an Accident
Iran, France, Luxembourg
Directed by Jafar Panahi | Produced by Jafar Panahi, Philippe Martin
JURY GRAND PRIZE
Misplaced Land (Harà Watan)
Japan, France, Malaysia, Germany
Directed by Akio Fujimoto | Produced by Kazutaka Watanabe
BEST YOUTH FILM
Amoeba
Singapore, Netherlands, France, Spain, Korea
Directed by Tan Siyou | Produced by Fran Borgia
BEST ANIMATED FILM
The Sq.
Korea
Directed by Kim Bo-sol | Produced by Park So-hye, Kim Bo-sol
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Stroll
France, Palestine
Directed by Sepideh Farsi | Produced by Javad Djavahery
SPECIAL MENTION — DOCUMENTARY
All the time
USA, France, Folks’s Republic of China, Taiwan
Directed by Deming Chen | Produced by Hansen Lin
BEST DIRECTOR
Jafar Panahi — It Was Simply an Accident
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
A deeply felt portrayal of a father grappling with grief, reminiscence and forgiveness.
BEST NEW PERFORMER
Yui Suzuki — Renoir
Japan, France, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Qatar
CULTURAL DIVERSITY AWARD
Black Pink Yellow
Kyrgyzstan
Directed & Produced by Aktan Arym Kubat
YOUNG CINEMA AWARD (in partnership with NETPAC)
Rohan Parashuram Kanawade — Cactus Pears (Sabar Bonda)
India, United Kingdom, Canada
FIAPF AWARD
Greer Simpkin (Australia)
2025 MPA APSA ACADEMY FILM FUND RECIPIENTS
Anocha Suwichakornpong for the Thai venture Fiction.
Kareem Abeed for the Syrian documentary The place is My Father.
Yosep Anggi Noen and Gita Fara for The Sea Speaks His Identify.
Thien An Pham with Jeremy Chua for the Vietnamese fiction characteristic Heaven in a Wildflower.
FILMMAKER FORUM AWARD (offered by The Publish Lounge Group)
Prabh ath Gurung – Son of a Honey Hunter
