The Fiji Audio Visual Commission (FAVC) has been appointed the "Official Submitting Organization" for Fiji in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA). Fifty-one Official Submitting Organizations have been invited by APSA and FIAPF - International Federation of Film Producers Associations to submit films to represent their country or region. Organizations are selected based on mutual aims and representation of interests of their national film industry.

The APSA acclaims, at a global level, the cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the vast Asia-Pacific region. It's aims are to acclaim filmmaking in the Asia-Pacific region that best reflects its culture, origins and cinematic excellence, acclaim the people behind this exellence, promote this outstanding work to a global audience in order to broaden the market appeal of such works, encourage the collaboration of filmmakers in the region, develop, through film, greater understanding of the region's variuos cultures and recognize the creativity of neighboring cultures in the vast Asia-Pacific region and in doing so, take it to the world.

Commenting on this, FAVC Chairperson, Sharon Smith Johns said this was a great opportunity for our local filmmakers to have their films shown to an International audience. "This has also cretaed an avenue for us through which we can showcase the best of creative talent that we have here in Fiji," said Ms. Smith-Johns. It is also an opportunity, she added, for us to show the world the richness of our people and culture.

APSA winners are determined by an International Jury who will assemble on Austalia's Gold Coast on November 22 to commence deliberations. Academy-Award winner and producer of Chariots of Fire, The Mission and The Killing Fields, Lord David Puttnam will head the International Jury. Other jury members will be announced later in the year and the films selected to contend for the coveted award will be announced in early October. Films are judged on cinematic exellence and the way they attest to their cultural origins.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards will be presented on Australia's Gold Coast on December 2, 2010.

Categories in which films maybe submitted are Feature Film, Children's Feature Film, Animated Feature Film and Documentary Feature Film. Details of qualifying criteria and related information may be obtained from the FAVC. For this information, local filmmakers interested in submitting films are invited to contact Florence Swamy on fswamy@fijiaudiovisual.org.fj or 330 6662.

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