The Sydney Film Festival opened last night with Ken Loach’s Looking For Eric, direct from Competition at the 62nd Cannes International Film Festival. Join us online as APSA Nominations Council member and Variety critic, Russell Edwards guest blogs SFF exclusively for APSA, reporting back with the news and inside scoop from the event that kicks off Australia’s film festival season.

Russell will focus on the significant Asia-Pacific line up at SFF including several A-P titles in Official Competition. Sydneysiders, don’t miss this opportunity to witness the splendour of past APSA nominees and winners on the big screen. Three Monkeys (APSA 2008 Winner, Achievement in Directing) and Native Dancer (APSA 2008 Nominee, Best Performance by an Actress) are among the
APSA alumni screening at SFF.

Russell’s Festival Log can be found in the APSA Multimedia lounge. While you’re there, take a glimpse ‘behind the scenes’ of the Scene by Scene documentary series for CNN International and see what our TV Production team have been up to. You can also take an exclusive sneak peek into the creative process of renowned glass artist, Joanna Bone, as she begins to develop the concept for
the 2009 Award Commission.

APSA is now on Twitter. Follow us to receive the latest bite sized updates. Join us on our new Facebook site - Asia Pacific Screen Awards / CNN Scene by Scene, and stay tuned for an exciting joint APSA / CNN International promotion to be announced in coming weeks.

The outstanding works of filmmakers across the Asia-Pacific region will feature in television programs titled Scene by Scene to be broadcast globally on CNN International during 2009.

The Director General of UNESCO has given his formal endorsement for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards to be conducted under the auspices of UNESCO.

FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations has endorsed the 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards Charter Rules and Regulations.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is an international cultural initiative of the Queensland Government, Australia.