Rasoulof and O Mipo to receive Kurosawa Akira Award
Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof and O Mipo to be honored at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival.
In a significant recognition of cinematic excellence, Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof and director O Mipo have been selected to receive the prestigious Kurosawa Akira Award at the upcoming 39th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF). The announcement highlights the profound impact of their storytelling on the global stage.
The selection was made by a distinguished committee comprising filmmakers Yamada Yoji and Lee Sang-il, cinematographer Ashizawa Akiko, and TIFF programming director Ichiyama Shozo.
A Journey of Resilience: Mohammad Rasoulof
Mohammad Rasoulof’s path to this honor is marked by both immense artistic achievement and personal struggle. The Iranian director gained international acclaim when his film 'There Is No Evil' secured the Golden Bear at the 2020 Berlin International Film Festival. His more recent work, 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig', earned the Special Jury Prize at Cannes in 2024 and served as Germany's official Oscar entry for Best International Feature.
Rasoulof’s career has been shaped by his defiance of censorship and political pressure. He has faced multiple arrests in Iran, including an imprisonment in 2010 and a more recent arrest in 2022 that lasted eight months. In a testament to his dedication to the craft, he has often filmed his projects in secret, smuggling them out of the country to ensure they reach global audiences. He famously had to flee Iran in secret while still completing 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig'.
“Receiving the Kurosawa Award is a great honor for me. His films are profound explorations of the human condition and the moral choices we make in moments of crisis,” Rasoulof stated regarding the recognition.
The Artistic Evolution of O Mipo
Co-recipient O Mipo brings a rich history of directorial talent to the award. Having begun her career as a script supervisor at Obayashi Nobuhiko’s production company, she made her feature film debut in 2006 with 'The Sakais’ Happiness'.
Mipo has achieved several milestones, including:
- 'The Light Shines Only There' (2014): Won Best Director at the Montreal World Film Festival and was selected as Japan's Oscar submission.
- 'Being Good': Recognized as the Best Asian Film at the Moscow International Film Festival.
After a nine-year hiatus during which she raised two children, she returned to the industry with 'Living in Two Worlds' (2024), which competed at Shanghai. Her most recent work, 'How Dare You?' (2025), was featured in the competition at Zlín.
Celebrating the Legacy of Kurosawa
To honor the spirit of the award, the festival will feature a curated selection of films beloved by the legendary Akira Kurosawa, alongside two of his own masterpieces. The lineup includes:
- Charles Chaplin’s 'The Circus'
- 4K restorations of Kurosawa’s 'Sanshiro Sugata' and 'Ikiru'
- Abbas Kiarostami’s 'Where Is the Friend’s House?'
The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival is scheduled to take place from October 26 to November 4.