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Tokyo Grand Prix Award goes to Holocaust comedy


Germany's Chris Kraus (middle) wins the Tokyo Grand Prix Award for his film.

5 Nov – The Tokyo International Film Festival has come to a close with the top prize, the Tokyo Grand Prix, going to a film from Germany.

Chris Kraus' "The Bloom of Yesterday" which took home USD50,000 is about a Holocaust researcher whose life turns upside down after he makes a surprising discovery.

"This is surreal. I am standing on the same stage as Jean-Jacques. I am moved because it was hard to bring this film to life. Thank you for inviting us to TIFF. I want to use this moment to thank the actors and actresses. This film would not have worked without their unbelievable hard work." Said Kraus who was joined on stage with producer Kathrin Lemme who received a special kirin trophy by the Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike.

President of the jury, Jean-Jacques Beineix said of their decision to award the film the top honours, "Crimes against humanity are wounds that can't be cured. Each and everybody keeps the mark of it. Cinema transmitted the memory of these moments of disgrace many times. However, year after year the images fade. However great moviemakers go beyond that and put back into perspective the survival of past crimes."


A still from the movie "The Bloom of Yesterday".


The Special Jury Prize went to Sweden's "Sami Blood" which won USD20,000 for Amanda Kernell and her team, and USD5,000 for child actor Lene Cecilia Sparrok.

Hana Jusic's "Quit Staring at My Plate" (Croatia) won best director while the award for best artistic contribution went to China's "Mr. No Problem".

Filipino movie "Die Beautiful" by Jun Robles Lana won two awards, one was the audience award and the other was best actor for Paolo Ballesteros who played a transgender woman in the movie.





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