The Tokyo International Film Festival will honour filmmakers Mohammad Rasoulof and Mipo O with its prestigious Kurosawa Akira Award at its 39th edition next month. The award, named after the renowned Japanese director, recognises filmmakers whose work has significantly impacted cinema and is expected to shape its future. The award was revived in 2022 after a 14-year hiatus, with previous recipients including Chloé Zhao and Lee Sang-il.

Rasoulof, an Iranian dissident director now living in exile in Europe, received the honour for his humanist filmmaking despite facing relentless pressure; his film "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" (2024) was nominated for an Academy Award as Germany's submission. Mipo O, a Japanese-born filmmaker of Korean descent, is recognised on the 20th anniversary of her directorial debut; her recent works including "Living in Two Worlds" (2024) and "How Dare You?" (2025) have demonstrated her nuanced perspective on marginalised communities and her skilled direction of child performers. The selection committee praised both directors for their commitment to creative expression and their avoidance of simplistic moral judgments in portraying their characters.