The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) has officially unveiled its most prestigious honors for the 39th edition of the event, naming Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof and Japanese director Mipo O as the recipients of the esteemed Kurosawa Akira Award. The recognition, which celebrates directors who have significantly influenced the landscape of modern cinema while demonstrating the potential to define its future trajectory, marks a pivotal moment in the festival’s ongoing efforts to elevate global voices of conscience and craft.
The Kurosawa Akira Award, named after the legendary Japanese auteur whose influence remains a cornerstone of world cinema, serves as the spiritual heartbeat of the festival. Following a 14-year hiatus, the award was reinstated in 2022 with the strategic support of Capcom, signaling a renewed institutional commitment to honoring the intersection of artistic mastery and social responsibility. The selection of Rasoulof and O this year highlights a deliberate focus on filmmakers whose work transcends borders, addressing the complexities of the human condition with both visual ingenuity and narrative courage.
A Legacy of Excellence: The Selection Process
The task of selecting this year’s honorees fell to a distinguished committee comprising some of the most respected figures in contemporary cinema: acclaimed filmmaker Yoji Yamada, fellow director Lee Sang-il, renowned cinematographer Akiko Ashizawa, and TIFF’s own programming director, Shozo Ichiyama. The committee’s mandate was to identify creators whose bodies of work exemplify the spirit of Kurosawa—a filmmaker known for his technical precision and profound moral inquiry.
In their formal statement, the committee emphasized the "humanist perspective" inherent in the works of both Rasoulof and O. They specifically lauded the ability of these directors to portray the complexity of human morality, noting that both filmmakers successfully avoid binary narratives of "good versus evil," instead choosing to frame even those who perpetrate oppression as ordinary, flawed citizens. This nuanced approach, according to the jury, is essential for a contemporary cinema that seeks to challenge rather than comfort its audience.
Mohammad Rasoulof: The Voice of Dissent
Mohammad Rasoulof’s selection comes at a time when his career has become a symbol of the struggle for creative freedom. Currently living in exile in Europe, the Iranian filmmaker has navigated years of legal challenges and censorship in his home country. Despite these obstacles, his output has been both prolific and critically acclaimed.
His 2020 film, There Is No Evil, which explores the moral consequences of capital punishment, earned him the prestigious Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. More recently, his 2024 feature, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, secured a special prize at the Cannes Film Festival and was selected as Germany’s official entry for the International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards.
Reflecting on the honor, Rasoulof highlighted his deep-seated connection to Kurosawa’s legacy. "Receiving the Kurosawa Award is a great honor for me," Rasoulof stated. "His films are profound explorations of the human condition and the moral choices we make in moments of crisis. Kurosawa was a dynamic and inquisitive visual storyteller whose unique perspective on humanity, nature, and the world has made his work an enduring source of inspiration in cinema."
Mipo O: Two Decades of Cinematic Inquiry
Mipo O, a Japanese-born filmmaker of Korean descent, has spent the last two decades building a filmography that is as technically accomplished as it is emotionally resonant. Her directorial debut, The Sakais’ Happiness (2006), set the stage for a career characterized by a sensitive exploration of marginalized communities.
Her filmography includes the 2014 drama The Light Shines Only There, which served as Japan’s official submission for the Academy Awards, and Being Good (2015), an ensemble piece that garnered significant attention for its unflinching examination of child abuse and bullying. After a nine-year hiatus from feature filmmaking, O returned in 2024 with Living in Two Worlds, a family drama starring Ryo Yoshizawa. Her latest project, How Dare You? (2025), represents a tonal shift, utilizing a comedic framework to explore the burgeoning environmental consciousness of elementary school students.
For O, the award carries personal weight, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of her directorial debut. "To receive such an extraordinary honor… fills me with immense gratitude and deep humility," she remarked. She noted that the Shindo Kaneto Award in 2010 was a vital catalyst that allowed her to sustain her career, adding that the Kurosawa Akira Award serves as a testament to the "happy cinematic journey" she has shared with her cast and crew over the years.
Contextualizing the Festival’s Vision
The inclusion of these specific filmmakers aligns with a broader trend in the festival circuit: the prioritizing of films that engage with urgent social realities. The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival, scheduled to run from October 26 to November 4, has curated a program that bridges the gap between historical preservation and modern relevance.
Alongside the award presentations, the festival will showcase 4K restorations of Kurosawa’s Sanshiro Sugata (1943) and Ikiru (1952). These screenings are intended to provide context for the modern awards, placing the works of contemporary directors in dialogue with the foundational masters of Japanese cinema. Furthermore, the festival will screen international classics such as Charles Chaplin’s The Circus (1928) and Abbas Kiarostami’s Where Is the Friend’s House? (1987), reinforcing the festival’s commitment to the global history of the medium.
The Ethical Film Award and Future Directions
Beyond the Kurosawa Akira Award, the festival is reinforcing its commitment to social impact through the Ethical Film Award. Launched in 2023 in collaboration with Sumitomo Corporation, this initiative recognizes films that address critical issues such as environmental sustainability, poverty, and systemic discrimination.
Actor Hayato Isomura, known for his role in the international hit Alice in Borderland, has been named the president of the Ethical Film Award jury. He will lead a team that includes three members of the TIFF Student PR team, ensuring that the next generation of film observers is involved in the decision-making process. The competition for this prize features an international slate of contenders: Brazil’s Amadeo and the Hypothetical New World, the German-Ukrainian co-production I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming, and the Australian feature Time and Tide.
Isomura’s appointment reflects the festival’s desire to modernize the discourse around social issues. "Today, we absorb vast amounts of information in seconds through a small screen," Isomura noted during the announcement. "I often feel we fall into the trap of believing we understand something instantly, constantly searching for quick answers. Yet, when it comes to deepening our awareness and understanding of social issues, the process of reaching those answers is what truly matters."
Implications and Industry Impact
The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival arrives at a time when the global film industry is grappling with questions regarding the role of cinema in an era of rapid digital consumption. By honoring directors who challenge political and social norms, and by creating spaces for discussions on ethics and environmentalism, TIFF is positioning itself as a vital forum for intellectual exchange.
The festival’s structure—balancing its industry-facing TIFFCOM market (Oct. 28-30) with its public-facing screenings and awards—demonstrates a balanced approach to the dual nature of modern film festivals: as both a business hub and a cultural institution. The presence of international figures like Rasoulof and the focus on cross-border collaborations underscore the festival’s ambition to remain a primary destination for global cinema, bridging the gap between historical Japanese tradition and the pressing, often global, concerns of the 21st century.
As the festival approaches its late-October start date, the industry is watching closely. The convergence of historical reverence, in the form of Kurosawa’s legacy, and the urgency of contemporary political art, embodied by Rasoulof and O, suggests that the 39th edition will be one of the most intellectually rigorous in the event’s history. Through this deliberate programming, the Tokyo International Film Festival continues to affirm that film is not merely a form of entertainment, but a critical tool for reflecting on the human experience.
