Himala ( Best Asian Film )

The tale of a provincial girl who becomes a faith healer is voted as the Best Asia-Pacific Film of all Time. Ishmael Bernal's film Himala, starring Nora Aunor, bested nine other Asian movies in the online poll conducted by the Cable News Network entertainment website from October until November 11. The 1982 Filipino movie Himala competed against other classics from the Asia-Pacific, namely Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (China), The Seven Samurai (Japan), Chungking Express (China), Internal Affairs (Hong Kong), Gabbeh (Iran), Gallipoli (Australia), Spirited Away (Japan), Pather Panchali (India), and Old Boy (South Korea). Himala's CNN APSA Viewers Choice Award was given during a special ceremony held yesterday, November 11, on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

The awards night was attended by more than 700 film industry luminaries from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the United States. Another Filipino film, the Cinemalaya entry Pisay, was nominated in the Best Children's Feature Film category of the second edition of the APSA. However, it lost to the Australian film The Black Balloon. Thirty two (32) films representing 17 countries were finalists in the APSA, with winners coming from Kazakhstan, Israel, Republic of Korea, Australia, Turkey, Islamic Republic of Iran, People's Republic of China and India received honors during the 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) is an international cultural initiative of the State Government of Queensland, Australia, through Queensland Events Corporation and was first staged in 2007. With the help of CNN, UNESCO and the International Federation of Film Producers Associations, APSA acclaims films that best reflect cultural origins and cinematic excellence across the Asia-Pacific region. This year APSA screened 180 films.