Lunch Box among four Indian films competing for 7th Asia Pacific Screen Awards

Lunch Box among four Indian films competing for 7th Asia Pacific Screen Awards

NEW DELHI: ‘Goopy Gawaiyaa Bagha Bajaiyaa’ by Shilpa Ranade, the animation film which is opening the International Children’s Film Festival of India, is among the 39 films from 22 countries will compete in the 7th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) in Brisbane on 12 December.

A total of four Indian films including Ritesh Batra’s Lunch Box are among the nominated films for the awards.

The jury headed by Indian director Shyam Benegal, are South Korean director Kim Tae-yong,Sri Lankan actress Malini Fonseka, Turkish actor Tamer Levent, Swiss director Christoph Schaub and Hong Kong producer Albert Lee.

For the first time there are nominations from Bangladesh, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. They come within the event's broad definition of “Asia Pacific” that includes 70 territories with a combined population of 4.5 billion.

Hany Abu-Assad's Omar (pictured) from Palestine received the most nominations. It is shortlisted for Best Feature Film as well in addition to nominations for actor Adam Bakri and cinematographer Ehab Assal.

The country with the most nominations is Japan, with six nominations in five categories, including Best Feature Film for Kore-eda Hirokazu's family drama Like Father, Like Son.

The five other Best Feature nominations are Bangladesh's Television, Sri Lanka's With You, Without You Oba nathuwa oba ekka, Australia's The Turning Point and Iran's The Past (Le Passé).