Editor

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) 2010 Ceremony will air through Australia Network this Sunday to 45 countries and 31 million households across Asia, the Pacific and the Indian subcontinent.

Hosted by respected International Channel Shanghai anchor Chen Lei and Australia's Indira Naidoo, the APSA Ceremony took place on Australia's Gold Coast last month. 31 films from 15 countries and areas competed for the region's highest accolade in film with the major awards going to films from People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Israel, Australia, Turkey, Islamic Republic of Iran and India.

Winners in the fourth annual APSAs were determined by an International Jury headed by Academy Award-winning producer Lord David Puttnam, the Producer of Chariots of Fire, The Mission and The Killing Fields. Lord Puttnam said: "The sheer variety of films and staggeringly good performances made our task very difficult indeed, in every category."

The Ceremony was attended by nominees or their representatives across all nine categories including Best Performance by an Actor nominees Australia's Tony Barry, Indian star Atul Kulkarni, and Best Actress nominee Tejaswini Pandit from India. China's Aftershock, nominated for a record six APSAs, was represented by Director Feng Xiaogang and the film's star and Best Actress nominee, Xu Fan along with producer Wang Zhongjun. Christine Hakim, Indonesian producer and star of Eat, Pray, Love and Tjoet Nja'Dhien, was on the Gold Coast to accept the prestigious FIAPF Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film in the Asia-Pacific region.

The 90 minute Ceremony broadcast will feature two stunning performances by Ma Xiaohui, Erhu virtuoso and composer, internationally renowned for her duet with the famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma for the Academy Award winning soundtrack for the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as well as a performance by rising star, Samoan-Australian singer, Angel.

On announcing the continuing partnership with Australia Network earlier this year, APSA Chairman Des Power said: "One of APSA's key aims is to promote the outstanding work of our region's filmmakers to a global audience and we thank Australia Network and International Channel Shanghai for supporting this important work by broadcasting both the APSA ceremony and the Scene by Scene documentaries to millions of households across the region."

Bruce Dover, Australia Network's Chief Executive, said: "The Asia Pacific Screen Awards presents an important cultural link between the countries throughout our region and promotes understanding and artistic excellence. Australia Network is delighted to again broadcast this event and the associated television programs to our viewers across Asia, the Pacific and the Indian sub-continent".

Australia Network Broadcast times for the 2010 APSA Ceremony are as follows:

SUNDAY JANUARY 9, 2010:

MONDAY JANUARY 10, 2010:

Hong Kong and China

11:30 AM

18:30 PM

02:30 AM

Japan

15:30 PM

00:00 AM

India

11:30 AM

18:30 PM

Fiji

19:30 PM

04:00 AM

Korea

12:30 AM

19:30 PM

03:30 AM

Indonesia

10:30 AM

17:30 PM

01:30 AM

Click here to view the broadcast times for all countries and areas.

WAYS TO WATCH

Click here to find out how to tune in to Australia Network in your area.

APSA is an international cultural initiative of the Queensland Government and a unique collaboration with UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations. APSA acclaims films from more than 70 countries and areas; one third of the earth; and half the world's film output.

Click here to view images from the APSA red carpet, Ceremony Week sidebar events and the Awards Ceremony.