Gold Coast (Australia): Gandhi, My Father has won the Best Screenplay category award at the inaugural Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), the region's highest accolade in film in 2007, being held on Queenland's Gold Coast.
Critically acclaimed Feroze Abbas Khan's film was in the fray with Lucky Miles(Australia), Night Bus (Iran), Secret Sunshine (Republic of Korea), and Takva: A Man's fear of God (Turkey).
Receiving the award, Khan said, "I dedicate this award to the memory of the man who provided an alternative path of struggle to the world, non-violence. It is great for my country."
An international jury, headed by actor and activist Shabana Azmi, determined the winners in each category, which were announced at a high profile function attended by the who's who in the film industry from the Asia Pacific region and film industry luminaries from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the United States.
There were 34 films from 19 countries nominated for the various categories of APSA. Besides India, films from Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon, Iran, Turkey and Israel received the awards.
At the ritzy Sheraton Mirage overlooking the Pacific Ocean, people dressed in black tie and national dress raised a toast to the diversity of culture manifested through cinema.
Adrienne McKibbins, executive officer of the film critics circle of Australia said, "It is so good to see Gandhi win in its category. Feroze is obviously an extremely talented writer who knew a lot about his subject and the award is well deserved. I hope we see his name on more Hindi films both as a writer and a director."
APSA is an initiative of the Queensland Government in collaboration with CNN International, UNESCO and FIAPF (The International Federation of Film Producers Associations).
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