The 19th Asia Pacific Screen Awards nominations have been announced, with Hamaguchi Ryusuke's "All of a Sudden" and Abinash Bikram Shah's "Elephants in the Fog" leading the field with three nominations each, including best film, best director and best performance. The Asia Pacific Screen Academy revealed a 36-film slate spanning 32 countries and regions ahead of the ceremony on 30 October in Australia, highlighting the growing international collaboration behind films from the region.

Both lead contenders will compete for best director against Sompot Chidgasornpongse ("9 Temples to Heaven"), Aung Phyoe ("Fruit Gathering") and Jennifer Peedom ("Tenzing"), while three further titles — "No Good Men," "Guria" and "9 Temples to Heaven" — each received two nominations. Notably, 69% of nominated directors are presenting their first or second feature, a pattern especially strong in the youth and animation categories, where every nominee is a first- or second-time filmmaker. The Asia Pacific Screen Forum will run from 28-30 October on the Gold Coast, preceding the awards ceremony, with sessions on financing and cross-border collaboration alongside a masterclass from jury president Mandy Walker.