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Tokyo Film Festival to Honor Mohammad Rasoulof and Mipo O With Kurosawa Akira Award
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.
In short
- Tokyo Film Festival honours Iranian dissident director Rasoulof and Japanese filmmaker O with Kurosawa award
- Award recognises directors shaping cinema's future; revived in 2022 after 14-year gap
- Festival to screen Kurosawa restorations and announce social-issues film award winner
Explained simply
The Kurosawa Akira Award is one of the most prestigious honours in world cinema, given by the Tokyo International Film Festival to recognise filmmakers whose work has fundamentally shaped the art form. The award, named after legendary director Kurosawa Akira, was revived in 2022 after fourteen years and has previously been awarded to acclaimed filmmakers such as Chloé Zhao.
Mohammad Rasoulof is an Iranian filmmaker living in exile in Europe whose work has developed under political pressure and censorship. His 2024 film "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" was nominated for an Academy Award when submitted as Germany's official entry, reflecting his international standing. Mipo O is a Japanese-born filmmaker of Korean descent whose career spans two decades, with recent films including "Living in Two Worlds" and "How Dare You?" that have been noted for their nuanced approach to marginalised communities and their skilled direction of child performers.
Both directors have been honoured for their commitment to creative expression and their nuanced portrayal of characters that avoids simplistic moral judgment. Their work demonstrates cinema's capacity to explore human experience with depth and complexity.
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