Tokyo International Film Festival announces that Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof and Japanese-Korean filmmaker O Mipo will receive the Kurosawa Akira Award at the festival’s 39th edition. The honor recognizes the legacy and continuing influence of major auteurs.
Variety and Deadline both report that Rasoulof is the first recipient referenced in connection with recent personal developments. Variety adds that Rasoulof secretly left Iran in 2024 after being sentenced to eight years in prison. Both outlets say the award will be presented alongside O Mipo, with selections made by a committee of filmmakers.
While the outlets agree on the recipients and the award’s purpose, they differ in the level of detail on Rasoulof’s circumstances: Variety includes the account of his departure and the prison sentence, while Deadline focuses more on the festival announcement and the award’s framing.
