Tokyo Film Festival Crowns Diverse Talents with Top Honors

The Tokyo International Film Festival, which took place last week, has announced its winners, showcasing a diverse array of talent from the global film industry.

The jury awarded a special jury prize of JPY500,000 ($3,255) to the film "We Are the Fruits of the Forest." The award for Best Director was shared by two filmmakers: Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis for "Heads or Tails?" and Zhang Lu for "Mothertongue," each receiving JPY300,000 ($1,955).

"Mothertongue" proved to be a standout, with lead actor Wang Chuanjun taking home the award for Best Actor. The Best Actress award was jointly won by Fukuchi Momoko and Kawase Naomi for their performances in "Echoes of Motherhood," while Teona Strugar Mitevska's "Mother" received the award for Best Artistic Contribution. All three awards carried a prize of JPY300,000 ($1,955) each.

The prestigious Kurosawa Akira Award was presented to two recipients: Lee Sang-il and Chloé Zhao, with each receiving JPY1 million ($6,515). Additionally, Japanese cinema legends Yamada Yoji and Yoshinaga Sayuri were honored with lifetime achievement awards.

The TIFF Ethical Film Award went to Luciano Vidigal's "White House," which received JPY200,000 ($1,300).