‘Sister Brother Manhole Cover’ Wins Grand Prix At Tokyo International Film Festival

Sister Brother Manhole Cover, from Macedonian filmmaker Milcho Manchevski, won the the top award at this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival.

The film was presented with the Tokyo Grand Prix/The Governor of Tokyo Award, which comes with a cash prize of $19,000 (JYP3M). One of 15 films in Tokyo’s main competition section, it follows a pair of siblings in post-Communist Macedonia, who make their living stealing bronze busts and manhole covers, until an injury forces them into contact with the Macedonian underworld. (You can read Deadline’s interview with the filmmaker here.)

Sun Xun’s Magic Atlas, an animated feature from Singapore, was presented with the festival’s Special Jury Prize and a cash award of JPY500,000 ($3,160). Chinese artist Sun Xun spent ten years making the film, which combines animation with ink wash painting, medieval European engravings and other styles of art.

The Award for Best Director went to Argentina’s Lisandro Alonso for Double Freedom, about a solitary woodcutter who is faced with taking in his sister when the mental institution she lives in closes. Best Actress went to Hu Ling for The Night That Binds Us, A France-Hong Kong production directed by Wang Jiangyong, while Japan’s Narita Ryo won Best Actor for Two Cigarettes, Three Nights, directed by Mishima Yukiko.

The Award for Best Artistic Contribution was presented to Until The Day Ends from Serbian filmmaker Jelena Maksimović. The Audience Award went to Heysel 85, directed by Romanian filmmaker Teodora Ana Mihai (read Deadline’s interview with the director here). The awards for Best Director, Actor, Actress and Best Artistic Contribution all came with a cash prize of $1,900 (JPY300,000).

Australian filmmaker Rolf de Heer headed the main competition jury, which also included Tokyo and New York-based producer Alex Lo, Korean producer Oh Jungwan, French colorist Yov Moor and Japanese actress Makiko Watanabe.

In the Asian Future competition for emerging Asian filmmakers, Best Film with a cash prize of JPY1M ($6,320) was presented to Serife Tavsan, directed by Afghan filmmaker Tareq Daoud. The Asian Future Special Mention went to Indonesian drama Jani Be Good, directed by Ariani Darmawan.

The Asian Future Jury included Japanese producer Eiko Mizuno-Gray, Japanese filmmaker Akio Fujimoto and Indonesian producer Yulia Evina Bhara.

Nippon Cinema Now, the festival’s section that presents a showcase of contemporary Japanese cinema, also handed out two prizes, which were introduced for the first time this year. The Best Film Award (JPY500,000) was presented to Silver Express, directed by Tanaka Miki, while the Special Jury Prize (JPY300,000) went to Between Us from Matsumura Shingo.

In the Asian Students’ Film Conference, the Best Film Award (JPY300,000) went to Running Wild In The Sun, while the Special Jury Prize was jointly awarded to Everything’s Peachy and All Of Her, which received JPY100,000 each.

The TIFF Ethical Film Award (JPY200,000), which had a separate jury headed by actor Isomura Hayato, went to Isabelle Stever’s I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming. The award aims to raise awareness of social issues including the environment, poverty and discrimination.

As previously announced, the Kurosawa Akira Award went to Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof and Japanese filmmaker Mipo O. Tokyo International Film Festival ran from October 26 to November 4, 2026.