"Shoplifters" wins the APSA. On its way to an Oscar nod?
Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 9:00AM by Nathaniel R
Hello awards-enthusiasts! Since Glenn Dunks is returning to his Doc Corner series later today after his annual duties at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, we realized we'd forgotten to list the winners and it's quite a good batch. Big prizes went to three currently buzzy foreign film Oscar hopefuls: Shoplifters (Japan), Burning (South Korea) and Capernaum (Lebanon). The first two are in theaters now in the US right now and Capernaum opens on December 14th. They're all terrific films and have to be considered very real threats for Oscar nominations. But it's true that that particular category is super competitive so virtually any high profile title might miss the shortlist. [Before we hear who nabbed the 5 nominations on January 22nd, the Academy will narrow that huge 87 film list down to just 9 contenders on December 17th.]
The list of APSA winners along with a few acceptance speeches after the jump...
Feature Film Shoplifters (Japan)
Jury Prize Burning (South Korea)
The screenwriter Oh Jungmi accepts.
Directing Nadine Labaki for Capernaum (Lebanon)
Best Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui for Manto (India)
Best Actress Zhao Tao for Ash is Purest White (China)
Documentary Gurrumul (Australia)
Cultural Diversity Award Memories of My Body (Indonesia)
Directing Nadine Labaki for Capernaum (Lebanon)
Special Mention for Achievement in Directing Ivan Ayr for Soni (India)
Screenplay Dan Kleinman and Sameh Zoabi for Tel Aviv on Fire (Israel)
Cinematography Hideho Urata for A Land Imagined (Singapore)
Original Score Hildur Guðnadóttir and Jóhann Jóhannsson for Mary Magdalene (Australia)
Still not over the tragic loss of the supremely talented Jóhann Jóhansson but the co-composer recorded a thank you. (Presenter: Oh hiiii Cliff Curtis, nice to see you again)
Youth Feature The Pigeon (Turkey)
Young Cinema Yeo Siew Hua for A Land Imagined (Singapore)
That award is confusingly titled but apparently it's a first time or rising director prize?
Animated Feature Rezo (Russia)
FIAPF Award for Achievement in film in the Asia Pacific Region Nandita Das (India)
Reader Comments (7)
what the hell are those weird trophies?
^My thoughts exactly.
I didn't realize Mary Magdalene had come out! Since it hasn't managed a US release, I assume it's terrible...? Anybody know?
Happy that finally Zhao Tao won the lead actress award after being bypassed in Cannes and in the recently concluded Golden Horse Awards. She has not been mentioned in any award punditry but for me she is in the top 5 best lead actress performance of the year.
Happy for the wins of Shoplifters, Burning and Capernaum.
@par @Evan
Here's what it says on their site:
"The vessel that each Asia Pacific Screen Award winner receives is a unique and beautiful representation of what the APSAs are all about. These unique urns and vases with their vibrant colours and subtle evolving shapes transcend mere statues, plaques or scrolls; they are a universal symbol common to all cultures and civilisations that cross all boundaries and borders."
@ Owl- Still weird
@ Evan: MARY MAGADLENE is not terrible, but mostly forgettable. Rooney Mara is fine, but Joaquin Phoenix plays Jesus Christ playing Joaquin Phoenix!
Glad for the late Johansson getting awards, but I hope it isn't anywhere else in the awards season (it snuck an AACTA nomination in because they are getting almost as bad as the Globes at being starfuckers).
SHOPLIFTERS v CAPERNAUM v ROMA is going to be an enjoyable Foreign Film race to watch this year (and I haven't even seen BURNING yet !)
I think SHOPLIFTERS is my favorite movie of the year. Not because of any specific element... it just won my heart!
.
[ BTW: how I would love to see Kirin Kiki contending for Best Supporting Actress.... ]