APSA 2026 Nominees Include Yeo Yann Yann and the Violinist among Singaporean Co-Productions

Yeo Yann Yann has been nominated for Best Performance at the 19th Asia Pacific Screen Awards for her role in Anthony Chen's We Are All Strangers, while Singapore's first English-language animated feature, The Violinist, is up for Best Animated Film.

The Asia Pacific Screen Academy has unveiled the nominees for the 19th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), with Singaporean talent and co-productions featuring prominently across multiple categories. The awards ceremony will be held on October 30, 2026, at The Star Gold Coast in Australia.

Yeo Yann Yann's Best Performance Nomination

Malaysian actress Yeo Yann Yann, who is based in Singapore, has been nominated for Best Performance for her role as Bee Hwa in We Are All Strangers. Directed by Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen, the film follows 21-year-old Junyang and his widowed father as they navigate work, family obligations, and unexpected changes after Junyang's girlfriend becomes pregnant.

In a statement, Yeo said: "Bee Hwa is someone who steps into a home strained by the pressures of daily life and unspoken distance, and passionately fills it with care. What stayed with me is how many people shared how she brought back memories of someone who showed up for them in the exact same way. Three decades into acting, knowing a character reached someone like that is why I choose to keep acting."

Yeo faces competition from Virginie Efira and Okamoto Tao, who are jointly nominated for their roles in Hamaguchi Ryusuke's All of a Sudden, as well as Anwar Hashimi, Pushpa Thing Lama, and Ghassan Saad.

We Are All Strangers is the final film in Anthony Chen's "Growing Up" trilogy, following the Camera d'Or-winning Ilo Ilo and 2019's Wet Season. It became the first Singaporean film to compete for Berlin's Golden Bear award and opened the 50th Hong Kong International Film Festival.

The Violinist and Other Singaporean Co-Productions

The Violinist, Singapore's first English-language historical animated feature, has been nominated for Best Animated Film. Directed by Singaporean filmmaker Ervin Han and Spanish animation director Raúl García, the film tells the story of two young violinists separated by war in Singapore and Malaya during World War II. It previously made history as the first Singaporean feature animation selected for the official competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

Other Singaporean co-productions receiving nominations include:

• 9 Temples to Heaven (Thailand, Singapore, France, Norway, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Qatar) — nominated for Best Film and Best Director
• Four Seasons in Java - nominated for Best Cinematography
• Hearing - nominated for Best Cinematography
• The Burning Giants - nominated for Best Cinematography

The 2026 APSA Landscape

This year's APSA nominations feature 36 films from 32 countries and regions. Leading the pack with three nominations each are Hamaguchi Ryusuke's all of a Sudden (France, Japan, Germany, and Belgium) and Abinash Bikram Shah's Elephants in the Fog (Nepal, Germany, Brazil, France, and Norway).

According to the Academy, 69% of directors with nominated films are presenting their first or second feature, a trend most pronounced in the youth and animation categories.

Tracey Vieira, chair of the Asia Pacific Screen Academy, said: "When you look across this year's nominations, what really stands out is the level of collaboration behind these films. We are seeing filmmakers and creative teams from countries across the Asia Pacific working together, and in many cases partnering with countries well beyond the region, to bring these stories to the screen."

Here is the question this recognition raises. Yeo Yann Yann and The Violinist are among the Singaporean nominees at APSA 2026, with multiple co-productions also in contention. When a small nation's films and talents are recognised across a 32-country field, does this signal the emergence of Singapore as a genuine creative force in the Asia Pacific, or is it simply the product of cross-border collaboration that could exist anywhere?

FAQ:

Q: What is APSA?
A: APSA is the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, an annual awards ceremony honouring films from across the Asia Pacific region. The 2026 edition is the 19th ceremony and will be held on October 30 at The Star Gold Coast in Australia.

Q: Who is nominated for Best Performance at APSA 2026?
A: Yeo Yann Yann is nominated for Best Performance for her role in We Are All Strangers. She faces competition from Virginie Efira, Okamoto Tao, Anwar Hashimi, Pushpa Thing Lama, and Ghassan Saad.

Q: What is The Violinist about?
A: The Violinist is Singapore's first English-language historical animated feature. It tells the story of two young violinists, Kai and Fei, whose lives are torn apart by war in Singapore and Malaya during World War II.

Q: When and where will the APSA 2026 ceremony be held?
A: The APSA 2026 ceremony will be held on October 30, 2026, at The Star Gold Coast in Gold Coast, Australia.

Q: What other Singaporean films are nominated at APSA 2026?
A: Other Singaporean co-productions nominated include 9 Temples to Heaven (Best Film, Best Director), Four Seasons in Java, Hearing, and The Burning Giants (all Best Cinematography).