SINGAPORE — Anthony Chen bags another first — this time as the first Singaporean to sit on the international jury for this year’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA). This follows the Ilo-Ilo film-maker’s triumph at last year’s APSA for Achievement in Directing.

“I think it’s an incredible honour. I’ve been following the APSAs for quite a few years,” he told TODAY. “If you look at the kind of films that have been nominated, and the kind of films that get eventually awarded, it is really the pinnacle. Look at this year, with Asghar Farhadi as the jury president!”

Farhadi is the director of A Separation, which has won both Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Foreign Picture.

It might not be as well-known as other film awards in the region, but Chen wishes more people are made aware of the APSAs, which is based in Brisbane and was established in 2007.

“I think because Australia is literally ‘downunder’, people don’t know enough about (the APSA),” the 30-year-old said. “But actually it’s been doing a lot of great work, And I think a lot of film-makers from the region know about this festival. I believe the ambitions of the APSA is to eventually be the Oscars for the Asia Pacific region.”

He added that diversity sets APSA apart from other film awards.

“It’s not just about films from Hong Kong, Taiwan or China. It’s about embracing what this whole region has to offer, and we have so much talent here. And I think a showcase like that would help expose that. Not just in

Singapore but also all across the region.”

The 8th Asia Pacific Screen Awards will be held in Brisbane on Dec 11.