The Tokyo International Film Festival has named Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof and Japanese-Korean filmmaker O Mipo as recipients of this year's Kurosawa Akira Award.
Key facts
- •The Kurosawa Akira Award was reinstated in 2022 with support from Capcom Co., Ltd. after a 14-year hiatus.
- •Last year’s recipients of the award were directors Lee Sang-il and Chloé Zhao.
- •Mohammad Rasoulof was sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran before secretly leaving the country in 2024.
- •O Mipo is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her directorial debut this year.
- •The festival will screen a selection of Akira Kurosawa’s favorite films alongside 4K restorations of his own works, 'Sanshiro Sugata' and 'Ikiru'.
The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced that Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof and director O Mipo will receive the Kurosawa Akira Award. The honor recognizes filmmakers who have made significant contributions to cinema and are expected to influence the industry's future. The recipients were selected by a committee including filmmakers Yamada Yoji and Lee Sang-il, cinematographer Ashizawa Akiko, and TIFF programming director Ichiyama Shozo.
Recognizing Mohammad Rasoulof
The selection committee highlighted Rasoulof’s commitment to filmmaking despite facing censorship, prison sentences, and bans from the Iranian government. Rasoulof, who fled Iran in 2024, has frequently utilized guerilla-style production methods to create his work. His film 'There Is No Evil' won the Golden Bear at the 2020 Berlin International Film Festival, and his 2024 film 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' received the Special Jury Prize at Cannes. The committee praised his humanist perspective, noting his ability to portray those who perpetrate oppression as ordinary citizens.
Honoring O Mipo
O Mipo, who made her feature debut in 2006 with 'The Sakais’ Happiness,' was recognized for her consistent focus on individuals living on the margins of society. Her 2014 film, 'The Light Shines Only There,' won the Best Director award at the Montreal World Film Festival and received dozens of international honors. Following a hiatus for childcare, she returned to filmmaking with the 2024 title 'Living in Two Worlds' and the 2025 film 'How Dare You?'. The committee noted that her work avoids simple portrayals of good versus evil.
Timeline
- 2006O Mipo made her feature directorial debut with 'The Sakais’ Happiness'.
- 2010Mohammad Rasoulof was jailed while shooting a film.
- 2020Rasoulof won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for 'There Is No Evil'.
- 2024Rasoulof fled Iran in secret and his film 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' won the Special Jury Prize at Cannes.
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