TIFF Closing Ceremony

It was a beautiful evening at the Bunkamura Orchard Hall. Although heavy clouds threatened with a little rain drops, that, didn't hold the grand event up as they always say, "The show must go on". Fortunately, little rain drops was all it was. Keeping up with the ecology theme of the green carpet, a sea of green was laid upon the ground as the guest stride upon to grace the event. After an exciting nine day event of non stop film screenings, press conferences and guest appearance, the 21st Tokyo International Film Festival closes its curtain today with a bang as they rolled out the winners of the competition. Opening the event was Chairman of Tokyo International Film Festival, Tatsumi Yoda, who commented:

"I’d like to say how honored I am to speak in front of all these people whom I respect highly. The 21st Tokyo International Film Festival which began on the Green Carpet on Saturday, October 18th has flown by and we are already at the Closing Ceremony. As you know, the theme of this event was ecology and environment. Protecting the environment is something we must do seriously. We hope to continue to use the Green Carpet as a message to the world to protect our environment. Tomorrow, we will start working toward the 22nd Tokyo International Film Festival. My plan is to continue with the theme of ecology by making a “Green Carpet Club”. I hope you will all join us next year. Thank you and ‘Action! for Earth’!!"

Also present was actor and President of the Jury, Mr. Jon Voight commented:

"It was an honor to go through with the judging with such great masters of the film industry. The films made me rethink about the love of people and I was deeply touched. Art is all about love. The Sakura Grand Prix Award was chosen unanimously. We all considered this film to be surpassing all artistic achievement. We the jurors live in highly complicated and sophisticated worlds, but in this story, this struggling nomad family made us discover our hearts and our identities. I’d like to extend my deepest respect to all the films screened here at the Tokyo International Film Festival."

Without further ado, here are the winners:

Akira Kurosawa Award

• Nikita Sergeyevich Mikhalkov (director)
• Chen Kaige (director)

Japanese Eyes

• Special Award: Ittoku Kishibe (actor, “Osaka Hamlet”)
• Best Picture Award: “buy a suit” (directed by Jun Ichikawa)

Winds of Asia-Middle East

• Best Asian-Middle Eastern Film Award: “My Marlon and Brando” (directed by Huseyin Karabey)
• Special Mention: “The Sun Also Rises” (directed by Jiang Wen), “The Way We Are” (directed by Ann Hui),
• “The Convert” (directed by Yasmin Ahmad)

TOYOTA Earth Grand Prix

• Special Award: “THE MEERKATS” (directed by James Honeyborne)
• Jury Award: “School Days with a Pig” (directed by Tetsu Maeda)
• TOYOTA Earth Grand Prix: “Ashes from the Sky” (directed by José Antonio Quirós)

Competition

• The Audience Award: “School Days with a Pig” (directed by Tetsu Maeda)
• Award for Best Artistic Contribution: “With a Little Help From Myself”
• Award for Best Actor: Vincent Cassel (“Public Enemy No. 1 (Part 1 & 2)”)
• Award for Best Actress: Felicite Wouassi (“With a Little Help From Myself”)
• Award for Best Director: Sergey Dvortsevoy (“TULPAN”)
• Special Jury Prize: “4 Nights with Anna” (directed by Jerzy Skolimowski)
• Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix: “TULPAN” (directed by Sergey Dvortsevoy)

Congratulations to all!