Thompson tips growth in Aussie films

Jack Thompson believes there's some good things around the corner for the Australian film industry.

Thompson is on the Gold Coast where the acclaimed Australian movie Samson & Delilah won the top honour of Best Feature Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) ceremony on Thursday night.

"I think the Australian film industry is about to enjoy another little spurt of growth," the award-winning actor told AAP.

"I think that with the adjustment to the new film deals available to producers and the establishment of a new film office, there's been a transition period.

"We now have certainty, and within that framework I think we're going to see a lot more films being made and a lot more opportunity for Australian filmmakers."

Thompson also sees huge opportunities opening up with the industry in Asia.

"With the growth of this academy, APSA, and with the relationships built when filmmakers get to meet each other here, I think we're going to see a lot more co-productions," he said.

"We're going to see Australians making films with people from the Asia Pacific region.

"It'll be fantastic for diversity - and I hope I'm in one of them."

Australian actor Aden Young, who featured in Bruce Beresford's hit movie Mao's Last Dancer, was one of the six members of the APSA international jury.

Like Thompson he's optimistic about the future for Aussie filmmakers, but reluctant to lay down a roadmap for its development.

"I'm always very cautious about any dictation of the path a particular industry should take," Young said.

"In a boutique industry, which is essentially what we are, our population base is very small and we should be concentrating on all different approaches to cinema."

He said it was not possible for Australia to directly compete against the "leviathan" American film industry.

"I think we should be focusing more on cinema as an expression of vision from this country's filmmakers," Young said.

"If you only focus on the commerciality, films like Samson & Delilah will disappear and the Australian public will be absolutely mortified about what's been done with their money."

Young believes there should be a focus on stories like Samson & Delilah that help the nation "feel understood".