Philippine trans people, Scandinavian reindeer herders and a romantic comedy about the Holocaust dominated the closing ceremony of the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival on Thursday.
The ceremony at Ex Theater Roppongi opened appropriately enough with awards to individuals who furthered domestic cinema this year, including Godzilla, who appeared on stage to accept an award for the year's big hit, "Shin Godzilla," on the 62nd anniversary of the first "Godzilla" film released in 1954.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, decked out in a matching black pantsuit and fedora, awarded the Grand Prix to "The Bloom of Yesterday," a provocative comedy about two Holocaust researchers — one German, the other French — who battle over history while falling in love.