Tokyo: Taiwanese director Fu Tien-yu was presented a Kurosawa Akira Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) for her feature film "Day Off," according to a news release by event organizers. Fu's film tells the story of a female barber who embarks on a long journey to cut the hair of an old customer who moved away and is too sick to travel, as detailed by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency established by the Ministry of Culture.According to Focus Taiwan, at the awards ceremony, TIFF Programming Director Ichiyama Shozo, who also serves as a selection committee member, praised Fu for capturing the essence of Taiwan's New Cinema wave and depicting life in Taiwan in a realistic and sympathetic manner. Renowned Japanese director Yamada Yoji described Fu's film as "a really lovely film, which depicts people with precision and warmth," and lauded her "state of the art" cinematic expression. Yamada further expressed his admiration for the film, questioning why similar works are not produced in Japan.F u expressed her gratitude for the recognition she received from the festival and its selection committee, calling Yamada her "idol" and acknowledging the inspiration she draws from his work. Addressing a Taiwanese journalist's inquiry about the future of young filmmakers in Taiwan, Fu acknowledged the differences between her generation and that of Kurosawa Akira, emphasizing the irreplaceable experience of watching a film in a dark theater with others. She pledged to dedicate her heart and soul to filmmaking in the future.TIFF Chairman Ando Hiroyasu explained that the Kurosawa Akira Award was established to ensure the legacy and spirit of Kurosawa Akira's work are passed down to younger filmmakers who may not be familiar with it. Kurosawa Akira is celebrated as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The award was first established in 2004 but was discontinued for 14 years before resuming in 2022.Fu is the second Taiwanese director to be honored with the award, following Hou Hsiao-hsien. This year, th e award also recognized Japanese filmmaker Miyake Sho, with recipients receiving a crystal trophy and a cash prize of 1 million yen (approximately US$6,500). The 2024 selection committee, besides Ichiyama Shozo and Yamada Yoji, included casting director Narahashi Yoko and film critic Kawamoto Saburo.As the Tokyo International Film Festival enters its 37th year, it remains committed to its mission of amplifying the possibilities of cinema from Tokyo and fostering international interactions. This year, the festival focused on principles such as "international exchange," "nurturing talent for the industry's future," and "the female perspective," in alignment with its mission, as outlined on its official website.