It’s back, and it’s not the Terminator.

While the creator of the robotic assassin/protector mesmerized audiences around the world with the latest of his fantastical concoctions in Avatar, a good-sized crowd of moviegoers filled the halls of the I-Sho University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan to participate in the return of the Asia Pacific Film Festival.

After a two-year hiatus due to financial problems, the festival rebooted itself for its 53rd edition with a lineup of 58 films from 14 countries…mixed with a dash of Bollywood.

While the different cultures of the Asia-Pacific Rim all had a strong presence at the regionally-themed film festival, India made waves with Azharuddin Ismail Shaikh and Rubina Qureishi Ali, two of the child actors of Slumdog Millionaire, acting as the country’s delegation in Taiwan and both of them performing a Bollywood song and dance number.

In all, about 500 delegates attended the film festival, which handed out several awards during the event’s closing ceremony on December 19th.

Claiming Best Film honors was the Indonesian flick The Rainbow Troops, a movie about the survival of a small Islamic school on an island.

Hong Kong actor Nick Cheung earned Best Actor honors for his role in The Beast Stalker, and Taiwanese/French actress Sandrine Pinna was named Best Actress for Yang Yang.

The Indian film Dev D won the Best Editing Award, while Indonesian/Indian filmmaker Raam Punjabi was honored in the Special Contribution category.

Other winners included:

Best Director: Leon Dai (No Peudo Vivir Sin Ti, Taiwan)
Best Supporting Actor: Cheng Xu Hui (Money No Enough II, Singapore)
Best Supporting Actress: Widyawati Sophiaan (Woman with a Turban, Indonesia)
Best Screenplay: Accident (Hong Kong)
Best Cinematography: No Peudo Vivir Sin Ti (Taiwan)
Best Music: Adrift (Vietnam)
Best Sound: Jamila and the President (Indonesia)
Best Documentary: Baseball Boys (Taiwan)
Best Animation: Story of the Noble Warrior (Thailand)
Best Short Film: Hopscotch (Taiwan)
Outstanding Achievement: John Woo (Hong Kong director)

Launched in 1954, the Asia Pacific Film Festival is held annually, rotating among the member nations. It was held in Taiwan this year, the first time the festival was held since 2006.

China is the most prominent nation that is not a member of the festival; however, Chinese delegates were reportedly at the festival, with several news reports indicating the country has applied for membership.