34th Tokyo International Film Festival – Awards 2021

By Asian Film Festival on November 9, 2021 • ( Leave a comment )

We present the winners of the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival which took place from October 30th – November 8th, 2021.

Competition

Tokyo Grand Prix | The Governor of Tokyo Award

**Vera Dreams of the Sea** by Kalttrina Krasniqi
Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo | 2021 – 87 minutes

After her husband’s suicide, Vera learns that her house has been mortgaged due to gambling. Debut from Kosovo filmmaker portrays a woman protesting against male-dominated society. (TIFF 2021)

Trailer:

Special Jury Prize

**La Civil** by Teodora Ana Mihai – Belgium, Romania, Mexico | 2021 – 135 minutes

In search of her missing daughter, who is entangled in organized crime, Cielo witnesses a horrifying reality… Dardenne brothers produced this Romanian director’s film, shot in Mexico.

Trailer:

Award for Best Director

Darezhan Omirbaev for **Poet** – Kazakstan | 2021 – 105 minutes

Didar, an unrecognized poet, contemplates a rebellious 19th-century poet, executed by the authorities… New film by a leader of Kazakh cinema deals with the difficulty of art in today’s world.

Trailer:

Award for Best Actress

Julia Chávez for **The Other Tom** (dir. Rodrigo Plá, Laura Santullo)
Mexico, USA | 2021 – 111 minutes

Elena raises her ADHD-afflicted son by herself, refusing to give him medication because of her anxiety over side effects. But this decision raises questions about her competence.

Trailer:

Award for Best Actor

Amir Aghaee, Fatih Al Baris Yildiz, Onur Buldu for **The Four Walls** (dir. Bahman Ghobadi)
Turkey | 2021 – 114 minutes

Kurdish composer Boran is no longer able to see the ocean, obstructed by a new building, and a tragedy befalls him… An intense human drama by the Turtles Can Fly director.

Trailer:

Award for Best Artistic Contribution

**Crane Lantern** by Hilal Baydarov – Azerbaijan | 2021 – 101 minutes

Winner of Tokyo FILMeX2020 Grand Prize with In Between Dying presents his new film, featuring dialogues between an imprisoned kidnapper and a law student, set against a beautiful landscape.

Trailer:

Audience Award

**Jury Remembering** by Matsui Daigo – Japan | 2021 – 115 minutes

A former couple remembers their most intimate days, only to part once again. A bittersweet love story inspired by a Jim Jarmusch masterpiece, set in times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trailer:

Special Mention

Asian Future

Asian Future Best Film Award

**World, Northern, Hemisphere** by Hossein Tehrani – Iran | 2021 – 81 minutes

14-year-old Ahmad is the breadwinner for his fatherless family. At his mother’s request, they rent a farm, but human bones are found, disturbing their plan. A challenging debut feature.

Trailer:

Amazon Prime Video Take One Award

Sunday & Calm Sea by Kim Yunsoo
Akiko and Koichi decide to get divorced. Their friend Miura visits them, carrying a billiards cue. The billiards hall, a man in a red jersey, canned beer drinking and reminiscences on a Saturday night.

Special Jury Prize

Sangoumi Midori for Under the Bridge
Osanai Mami, who has cancer, happens to see a colleague one day. Kanda has changed completely, lost his memory and become homeless. The two, who live in such different ways, reunite overnight.