Interview
■Award Winners of International Competition
■Award Winners of Japanese Film Competition
Award Winners of International Competition
＜Grand Prize＞ Alex CAMILLERI (Director) “Luzzu”
― How do you feel after receiving the Grand Prize?
Receiving the Grand Prize recognition is such an achievement. I’m also receiving the gratitude with my amazing filmmaking team. We couldn’t be happier than receiving the news that we did. There are lots of smiles coming out of Malta today. We made this film with a lot of love and a lot of faith. I believe that a small story from a very small place could travel great distances. Receiving this recognition only renews that faith for me. I believe in this universal visual language that really connects us through time across distances. I am accepting this award with a great deal of humility. I have learned so much about life and cinema from many great Japanese filmmakers. So this chance to share my own small step in the cinematic journey with the Japanese audience is really delighted for me. I only hope that in a couple more years, I might be able to share my next step with you again.
＜Best Director＞ Marcus LENZ (Director) “Rival”
― How do you feel after receiving the Best Director?
I’m absolutely overwhelmed because I got this Best Director prize in a country so far away from my home. We worked really, really hard on this movie and it took 5 or 6 years to complete. I can feel that the storyline and emotional line are understood and the audience can follow them in a place it is almost the other place in the world. Thank you so much to the Jury, the audience and the festival who selected my movie. Right now I’m here in Canary Islands. The volcano is erupting and I’m filming this volcano eruption. This is full of energy and fire, and it’s how I feel inside me with getting this prize. Thank you so much.
＜Special Jury Prize＞ Jeffrey ST. JULES (Director) “Cinema of Sleep”
― How do you feel after receiving the Special Jury Prize?
Our film is about an ability of cinematic communicate our common humanity across borders, across continents. I’m so happy that we are not able to travel to see you during this time but we can still share our film, our ideas, and our heart with you. And I’m so happy that we are still able to carry on this international cinematic conversation that we’ve been having through film festivals.
＜Special Jury Prize＞ Kaweh MODIRI (Director) “Mitra”
― How do you feel after receiving the Special Jury Prize?
I am very honored and pleased to just have learned that Mitra has been selected to the winner of Special Jury Prize at SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL for this year. I couldn’t have been happier. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the festival for having us this year, of course to the Jury for selecting this film as a winner. I wish I could have been there and participated in person in this year to the festival. Unfortunately, this situation around the globe did not allow for that. Just yet, I hope for better times in near future where we can all celebrate this great art form in person, all together, in full cinemas.
＜Audience Award＞ Shirel PELEG (Director) “Kiss Me Before It Blows Up”
― How do you feel after receiving the Audience Award?
I just got noticed that my film Kiss Me Before It Blows Up got the Audience Award from SKIP CITY festival. This is a great pleasure and honored to know that my film was so overseen by the audience in Japan. I never thought it would make it to Japan, so I’m really thrilled about it. Thank you so much. It’s really fun to know that you enjoyed it. Thank you.
Award Winners of Japanese Film Competition
＜SKIP CITY AWARD＞ Zenzo SAKAI (Director) “Psychology Counselor”
― How do you feel after receiving the SKIP CITY AWARD?
I am very honored not only to be invited to the film festival, which is full of wonderful films, but also unexpectedly to receive the award. Psychology Counselor has no statement or anything like that. I do not let characters or stories represent such values or ethics. Therefore, I hope that you will receive something completely different depending on the person who sees it or the timing of it.
＜Best Picture (Japanese Feature Category)＞ Takayuki KAYANO (Director) “Journey Beyond the Night”
― How do you feel after receiving the Best Picture (Japanese Feature Category)?
I feel afraid to receive this award, but first of all, I’m glad that I could report the great thing to the crew and cast members. Having received this award is the biggest event for Journey Beyond the Night and I feel that this is a kind of beginning, so I would like to continue to devote myself to it.
＜Best Picture (Japanese Short Category)＞ Yoshiro OSAKA (Director) “A Little Circus”
― How do you feel after receiving the Best Picture (Japanese Short Category)?
It is unbelievable for me to receive two awards in the competition where only great films are gathered. This film was made by snuggling up to the Cambodian circus troupe, which is suffering from the Covid pandemic. The Cambodian Circus, which expresses the power and joy of living through the body, is dazzlingly strong and has full of smiles both on and off the stage. I made it with the hope that this energy could be conveyed to the Japanese people through this film. This award is the result of my encounter with the people who live beautifully and surrounded and supported me. I want to share this joy with everyone. Finally, I hope that the art of film will continue to be a vital force for people, and I am grateful to everyone involved in this festival and honored the filmmakers who aimed for this festival. I will replace it with the greeting.
＜Audience Award (Japanese Feature Category)＞ Takayuki KAYANO (Director) “Journey Beyond the Night”
― How do you feel after receiving the Audience Award (Japanese Feature Category)?
I’m really honored. I am aware that I made something quite mysterious, so it’s really encouraging and purely gratifying that many people enjoyed it. Thank you very much.
＜Audience Award (Japanese Short Category)＞ Yoshiro OSAKA (Director) “A Little Circus”
― How do you feel after receiving the Audience Award (Japanese Short Category)?
I think it is because many people watched this film with an interest because it is a movie with the theme of the Covid pandemic. I myself have felt uncomfortable with a society where the news condemns and loses the truth under the pandemic. Therefore, I aimed to make this that is as true as I can see and know. The circus boys in the film do not consider the coronavirus to be evil, they have strong friendships and just continue to do what they can positively. The circus is still closed today, but they are still fine today. When the circus resumes, we can imagine them showing off their surplus energy on stage. It would be a great pleasure for those who watched this film to go to see their stage someday.