Milcho Manchevski’s ‘Sister Brother Manhole Cover’ Wins Tokyo Grand Prix

Milcho Manchevski’s “Sister Brother Manhole Cover” won the Tokyo Grand Prix at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival on Wednesday. The film, described as a comic allegory about two siblings who strip scrap metal from the streets of Skopje, won the award which carries JPY3 million ($19,000).

Award Winners and Ceremony Details

Jury president Rolf de Heer said the jury chose the film “for the humanity and compassion shown towards its characters” and for being “a complex, coherent film that manages to be both touching and playful.” Because Manchevski had already left Tokyo, producer Jane Kortoshev and the film’s leads, Sara Klimoska and Filip Trajković, accepted the prize. Tokyo Vice Governor Yamashita Satoshi presented the Governor of Tokyo Award on behalf of Governor Koike Yuriko, who could not attend.

“We came here to Tokyo with a manhole cover, and we are going back to Macedonia with a beautiful award,” Kortoshev said. “I’d say it’s a pretty good deal, huh?”

In a video message, Manchevski stated, “This award is a little vindication for a quirky film that almost did not happen,” and added, “A film about unusual families, and about the haves and have-nots. A film not about messages, but about people.”

Other major winners at the festival included:

• Best Director: Lisandro Alonso for “Double Freedom.”
• Best Actress: Hu Ling for “The Night That Binds Us.”
• Best Actor: Narita Ryo for “Two Cigarettes, Three Nights.”
• Special Jury Prize: Sun Xun’s “Magic Atlas,” an animated feature from Singapore.
• Best Artistic Contribution: Jelena Maksimović for “Until the Day Ends.”
• Audience Award: Teodora Ana Mihai for “Heysel 85.”

Competition Sections and Special Awards

In the Asian Future section, Tareq Daoud’s Swiss-Turkish film “Serife Tavsan” won best film and JPY1 million ($6,300). Ariani Darmawan’s Indonesian film “Jani Be Good” received a special mention.

In the Nippon Cinema Now section, Tanaka Miki’s debut “Silver Express” won best film (JPY500,000), while Matsumura Shingo’s “Between Us” took the Special Jury Prize (JPY300,000).

In the Asian Students’ Film Conference, Nguyen Vu Hien Chi’s “Running Wild in the Sun” won best film (JPY300,000). The Special Jury Prize was shared by Nah Yi-chen’s “Everything’s Peachy” and Kim Nam-hyeon’s “All of Her,” receiving JPY100,000 each.

Additional honors included:

• TIFF Ethical Film Award: Isabelle Stever’s “I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming” (JPY200,000).
• Kurosawa Akira Award: O Mipo and Mohammad Rasoulof.
• Global Cinema Leadership Special Award: Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Why it matters

The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival ran from October 26 to November 4, 2026. The festival's main competition featured 15 titles. The awards ceremony concluded at 6:30 pm, following a schedule that included a closing film screening of Yeon Sang-ho’s Korean zombie thriller “Colony.”

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Sources

• variety.com: 'Sister Brother Manhole Cover' Wins Top Prize at Tokyo Film Festival
• deadline.com: ‘Sister Brother Manhole Cover’ Wins Grand Prix At Tokyo Film Festival

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