Emerging filmmakers Jakeb Anhvu and Mohanad Hayal will have a chance develop their projects after winning the latest round of the Asia Pacific Screen Lab.
The winners were announced by The Griffith Film School (GFS), the Asia Pacific Screen Academy and NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema).
Iraqi filmmaker, Hayal, was selected to develop his feature film Haifi Street about the sniper of Haifi Street, who kills Ahmed on his wedding day and prevents anyone from reaching the Ahmed’s body.
Australian/Vietnamese filmmaker, Anhvu, will develop A Hundred Years of Happiness.
The film tells two women’s stories on two different journeys fuelled by similar family obligations.
One woman escapes with her son to find a safer future, while the other embarks on an arranged marriage across international and cultural borders.
Each filmmaker will be paired with an APSA Academy member and guided through a year-long mentorship which includes development workshops in writing, directing, producing and pitching, and a residency with their mentor.
The APSA Academy mentors paired with each project will be announced during the events of the ninth Asia Pacific Screen Awards in November.
Twenty-four early-career filmmakers submitted applications this year of the APSL from 11 countries: Philippines, Indonesia, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, People’s Republic of China, Bangladesh, Iraq, Australia, and Republic of Korea.
Applicants represented a broad spectrum of genres, and formats from documentaries to new media, and fiction feature films spanning all genres.
The APSL is an initiative of NETPAC overseen by NETPAC members Philip Cheah (Vice-President), Park Ki-yong and Herman Van Eyken and hosted and administered by the Griffith Film School, Griffith University Brisbane in collaboration with the APSA Academy, Screen Queensland, the Asia-Europe Foundation and the Sun Foundation.
Head of the Griffith Film School, Herman Van Eyken said a number of higher profile and experienced filmmakers had submitted projects for consideration.
"I see this as a indicator that the Lab, even after only one year, has a strong backing and voice within the Asia Pacific region,” he said.
“This year’s selection mirrors filmmakers’ concerns about conflict zones – from the war in Baghdad to the political and economic issues that result in refugee migrants taking great risks for a brighter future.”
APSA Academy President Jack Thompson said: “The Asia Pacific Screen Lab is crucial to the development of stories from the vast Asia Pacific region, and an exciting extension of the role of the APSA Academy as we use the expert creative knowledge to mentor and accelerate new and talented voices.”
NETPAC Vice President Philip Cheah said: “It’s been exciting to see the projects that were chosen last year develop and change as the filmmakers have worked with their mentors. This is the reason for the Lab, and I have no doubt that these projects will equally benefit from the experience.”
Park Ki-Yong, renowned filmmaker and respected academic from Republic of Korea said: “There were so many good projects to select from this year, and it took the panel longer this year to make the selection, but we are happy with the selected projects. Both projects address relevant topics in society at present – the conflict in the Middle East and Refugees – both important stories that need to be told.”
Executive Chairman of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and its Academy, Mr Michael Hawkins said The Asia Pacific Screen Lab was a wonderful initiative.
"APSA is proud to be involved with strategies that bring benefit to Academy members, and develop new talent in Asia Pacific,” he said.
The Lab’s program incubator and accelerator workshops, master classes, script clinics and other development activities will be scheduled in conjunction with existing initiatives in the region, and created specifically for the APSL
The Lab is an important development vehicle to enable film co-production across the 70 countries and areas of Asia Pacific.