The Tokyo International Film Festival has tapped two acclaimed directors from opposite sides of the Pacific for its Kurosawa Akira Award: Japan Academy Prize winner Lee Sang-il and Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao.
The selection committee included veteran Japanese filmmaker Yamada Yoji alongside Narahashi Yoko, Kawamoto Saburo and TIFF programming director Ichiyama Shozo.
For Lee, the recognition comes on the heels of his biggest commercial success to date. His latest film “Kokuho,” set in the world of Kabuki theater, world premiered in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight before becoming a Japanese box office juggernaut, crossing the JPY10 billion ($67.7 million) threshold and breaking records for live-action admissions.
The director has been a fixture on the awards circuit for two decades, starting with his graduation film “Chong,” which scored four prizes including the Grand Prix at the Pia Film Festival 2000. His breakthrough came with “Hula Girls” (2006), which swept the Japan Academy Film Prizes with wins for best director, screenplay and film. He followed with the five-award haul for “Villain” (2010) and continued his winning streak with “Unforgiven” (2013), “Rage” (2016) and “The Wandering Moon” (2022).
Zhao’s “Nomadland” swept awards season in 2020 with the Golden Lion at Venice, Golden Globe, BAFTA, DGA and PGA honors, plus three Oscars including best director, actress and picture. The filmmaker also tackled the Marvel Cinematic Universe with “Eternals” before launching her production company Book of Shadows in 2023 with partner Nic Gonda.
Her next project is “Hamnet” starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.
“The name Kurosawa Akira reigns supreme in the history of cinema,” Lee said. “His insightful explorations of human nature continue to demonstrate the profound impact that cinema can have on society and individuals. I will continue to reflect on what it means to bear this award named after him.”
Zhao added: “Kurosawa’s films contain both the greatest vastness of nature and the deepest truth of the human psyche. To be connected to this lineage is truly humbling.”
The selection committee praised Lee for “consistently depicting weighty themes that deal with social contradictions and human transgressions, elevating them into humanistic dramas that resonate deeply with audiences.” They highlighted how “Kokuho” has achieved both critical acclaim at international festivals and widespread commercial success.
For Zhao, the committee noted how her “poetic and realistic works have stood out among typical Hollywood films,” with the “Nomadland” success inspiring “other Asian female directors.”
Last year’s Kurosawa Akira Award recipients were filmmakers Miyake Sho (“Two Seasons, Two Strangers”) and Fu Tien-yu (“Day Off”).
The honors will be presented during TIFF’s 38th edition, running Oct. 27-Nov. 5, with the award ceremony set for Nov. 3.
