Georgia's 'Guria' Wins Best Film at Asia Pacific Screen Awards

The 19th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) ceremony was held on 30–31 October 2026 at The Star Gold Coast in Australia, celebrating the best in Asia-Pacific filmmaking. Georgian director Levan Koguashvili's 'Guria' — a wry comedy set in early-1990s western Georgia following a struggling hazelnut farmer searching for romance — claimed the Best Film prize. The film had premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Thai filmmaker Sompot Chidgasornpongse won Best Director for '9 Temples to Heaven', which had debuted in Cannes' Directors' Fortnight. Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat received the Jury Grand Prize for 'No Good Men', the opening film of the Berlinale. Myanmar's Aung Phyoe earned a Special Mention for 'Fruit Gathering', which had previously won the top prize at Karlovy Vary. Singapore and Spain co-directed 'The Violinist' won Best Animated Film. Additionally, five Asia-Pacific filmmakers each received US$10,000 development grants through the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund. The awards emphasised the breadth and diversity of filmmaking across the region, with winners spanning Georgia, Thailand, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Singapore.