娱乐英语新闻:Australia's Brisbane to host new Asia Pacific film festival

SYDNEY, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Brisbane will this year stage a 16-day international film festival featuring the screening of around 60 films from the Asia Pacific, Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk announced Thursday.

Quirk said the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival (BAPFF), from November 29 to December 14, will be a high-calibre film event showcasing the filmmakers, films and documentaries of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA). "BAPFF will be an exciting opportunity for locals and visitors alike to experience many of our region's best films and perhaps rub shoulders with some of the stars and filmmakers who will be in Brisbane for the awards," he said.

"I am sure it will open our minds and hearts to the rich and diverse offerings on our doorstep and with more than one in four residents born overseas it will be particularly appealing to Brisbane's multicultural community."

Quirk said the Asia Pacific is the world's fastest-growing film region encompassing 70 countries, 4.5 billion people and half the world's film output.

"BAPFF is also about positioning Brisbane for business opportunities, particularly in this year as host city of the G20 Summit," he said.

"Brisbane Marketing will strive to provide corporate Brisbane with opportunities to align their business aspirations in key Asian markets with high-profile celebrities from these markets.

"Corporate Brisbane will also be able to treat their staff and clients to the rich cultural immersion of the BAPFF screenings, workshops and investor events."

APSA executive chairman Michael Hawkins said BAPFF would strengthen APSA's profile both in the Asia Pacific and locally.

"Bringing these events together will make the films of the Asia Pacific region more engaging and accessible for locals and visitors and we intend to ensure the people of Brisbane have every opportunity to get involved," he said.

Brisbane Marketing CEO John Aitken said Brisbane was positioning itself as a serious player in the Asia Pacific.

"The Asia Pacific is the economic powerhouse of the world and hosting APSA and BAPFF strengthens Brisbane's proposition as the new world city, not just of Australia, but of the Asia Pacific," he said. "I have no doubt that as BAPFF evolves it will also serve to highlight Brisbane as an attractive film location and cultural tourism hotspot."

"Brisbane Marketing will target the strong Asian communities of Sydney and Melbourne to ensure BAPFF is a not-to-be-missed annual event at which to see the films and meet the stars and filmmakers of their countries of origin."