Director Kichitaro Negishi won the Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix at the 18th Tokyo International Film Festival for his work "What the Snow Brings" as the event drew to a close Sunday.
The film, which depicts family ties at a stable in Hokkaido, is the second Japanese movie to win the top honor after Shinji Somai won the grand prix in the inaugural festival in 1985 with "Typhoon Club."
"What the Snow Brings" also produced a best director award for Negishi, while the film's lead actor Koichi Sato received the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role. The film was also given the Audience Award.
The Special Jury Prize went to "Conversations with Other Women" directed by Hans Canosa. Helena Bonham Carter, who starred in the film, was a cowinner of the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role. The other recipient was Jin Yaqin for the film "You and Me."