Rei the directorial debut of Japanese filmmaker Tanaka Toshihiko won the Tiger Award at the 2024 International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). The drama follows thirtysomething Matsushita Hikari who on a trip into the mountains of Hokkaido encounters a Deaf landscape photographer, Masato, who takes her on a journey that will transform her sense of being and connectedness with the world.

The jury stated: “The jury decided to give the Tiger Award to a burgeoning film director who chose to develop his debut film in a loose and unbounded environment. His strength relies on a collaborative environment centred on the actors, an attention to the power of recitation – and, perhaps most importantly, a taste for performative sequences that operate as discrete units within the overall structure, but which typically resist acting as the power of the different chosen locations slowly emerges. The film’s ending suggests that people dwell in constant threat from the outside world. But they might yet live, together.”

The VPRO Big Screen Award went to the Iranian film The Old Bachelor by Oktay Baraheni, about two middle-aged brothers who live with their bullying father.

The jury stated: “Gripping from start to finish, this film left a strong impression on the jury long after it had ended. Exploring powerful themes of patriarchy, misogyny, love, violence and tragedy, this film is a masterclass in storytelling, through its gripping, nuanced dialogue, exquisite attention to detail and its development of tension, which simmers throughout the film until it reaches boiling point in the final, explosive act. It is a deeply visceral cinematic experience that takes you captive along with its characters as their world encloses around them. We are sure that the viewers will appreciate the powerful performances from the central cast, who so captivatingly portray a family at breaking point.”

Other major award winners include the FIPRESCI Award went to Kiss Wagon (India) by Midhun Murali and Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust by Ishan Shukla won the NETPAC Award.

In the Tiger Short Competition , Crazy Lotus (Thailand) by Naween Noppakun, Few Can See (Ireland) by Frank Sweeney and Workers’ Wings (Kosovo) by Ilir Hasanaj won Tiger Short Awards. I Would Rather Be a Stone (Croatia) by Ana Hušman was selected to compete for the next European Short Film Award, whilst a jury from the KNF (Circle of Dutch Film Journalists) awarded the KNF Award to Daphne was a torso ending in leaves (Italy, Greece) by Catriona Gallagher.

Tiger Competition

Rei (Japan) by Tanaka Toshihiko wins the Tiger Award 2024.

Kiss Wagon (India) by Midhun Murali wins a Special Jury Award.

Flathead (Australia) by Jaydon Martin wins a Special Jury Award.

The Tiger Competition Jury consisted of Marco Müller, Ena Sendijarević, Nadia Turincev, Billy Woodberry, and Herman Yau.

Big Screen Competition

The Old Bachelor (Iran) by Oktay Baraheni wins the VPRO Big Screen Award 2024.

FIPRESCI Award

The FIPRESCI Award 2024 goes to Kiss Wagon (India) by Midhun Murali.

The jury stated: “We decided to unanimously award a film that astounded us with its epic superhero storytelling and its bold defying of cinematic conventions. With its intricate collage of styles, genres, and themes, and elaborate, artisanal, very personal craft, it reminded us that cinema is a limitless space for play and invention, which constantly renews itself. We would like to celebrate its sheer spunk and freshness in approaching the grave issue of lack of liberties and of sexual and gender repression in a manner that combines humour, spectacle and intrigue.”

NETPAC Award

The NETPAC Award is awarded to the best Asian feature film by a jury from the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema.

Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust (India, France, Germany) by Ishan Shukla wins the NETPAC Award 2024.

The jury stated: “The NETPAC Award at the IFFR 2024 goes to a film that bravely but not aggressively tackles the problems in current politics and in society, not only in Asia but worldwide. It is a film with a universal approach, done in a spectacular style with a clear vision, with a lot of astonishing ideas and with a great sense of humour.”

Youth Jury Award

The Youth Jury Award, selected by a panel of young local film lovers aged between 16 and 22, goes to Levante (Brazil, France, Uruguay) by Lillah Halla.

The jury stated: “The film that we chose is daring, fearless and representative of the turbulent experiences and emotions that young people go through. It’s a film that finds a balance between being challenging and resonating with a young audience, one with a promising longevity, a film that remains with its viewers long after they’ve left the movie theatre. Moreover, the film we chose spreads a powerful message that touched our hearts that we, as young people, would like to stand behind.”

Tiger Short Competition

Tiger Short Competition 2024 winners:

Crazy Lotus, Naween Noppakun, 2024, Thailand, world premiere

Few Can See, Frank Sweeney, 2023, Ireland, world premiere (festival)

Workers’ Wings, Ilir Hasanaj, 2024, Kosovo, world premiere

European Short Film Award nomination:

I Would Rather Be a Stone, Ana Hušman, 2024, Croatia, world premiere