Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The 33rd Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) came to a close on Monday (November 9), after 10 days of physical screenings and a range of online events, from master classes to talk salons to the new “Asia Lounge” Conversation Series.

Winners of the Audience Award/The Governor of Tokyo Award, were announced during the Closing Ceremony in Roppongi Hills.

The Audience Award, selected by audiences from among 32 titles chosen for the special Tokyo Premiere 2020 section, all of which were making either their world or Asian premieres at TIFF, went to the Japanese romcom Hold Me Back by director Akiko Ohku.

Tokyo Vice Governor Mitsuchika Tarao also presented Ohku with the Governor of Tokyo Award, and read a message on behalf of Governor Yuriko Koike: “I wish to congratulate the director, Akiko Ohko, and all her cast and crew for winning the Audience Award. The artistic and cultural activities of our country were deeply affected by Covid-19, and the battle is still continuing, but I’m delighted that the 33rd Tokyo International Film Festival was able to hold a physical edition. When the world is confronted with a common crisis, the power of films becomes important to creating a brighter future.”

Members of the filmmaking team from TIFF’s Closing Film, Hokusai, then took to the stage: director Hajime Hashimoto, screenwriter-actress Len Kawahara and stars Yuya Yagira and Min Tanaka, who play the titular artist in his youth and old age.

Made to celebrate the acclaimed ukiyo-e woodblock artist’s 260^th anniversary, the film focuses on two crucial periods of Katsushika Hokusai’s artistic creativity: his discovery by a prescient publisher who saves him from poverty and encourages him to indulge his obsession with the natural world; and his late-life fight against the Edo government’s clampdown on the arts and freedom of expression in the early 1800s.

Festival Chairman Hiroyasu Ando then thanked audiences for turning out in such numbers for TIFF despite the pandemic, and quoting Shakespeare, noted, “All’s well that ends well. We look forward to seeing you again next year.”

After he had declared TIFF officially closed, attendees settled back in their seats for the world premiere of Hokusai.