The Tokyo International Film Festival Audience Award is presented to the most popular film among 15 films featured in the Competition Section determined by viewers' votes.

This year's winner was Sarah's Key, a film during the Holocaust based on a true and tragic story of the French police that conspire to persecute the French Jews. The Commendation Ceremony was held as follows:

Date/Time/Venue: October 30, 2010 (Saturday) from 15:30 @ Movie Café
Appearance: Gilles Paquet-Brenner (director/script)


At the commendation ceremony, Director Gilles Paquet-Brenner who also wrote the screenplay was called upon the stage with a big round of applause. He was presented with a commendation certificate from Deputy Mayor Kenji Yamada, 10,000 US dollar worth of prize money from Minato City Committee Chairman Tamotsu Hara, a trophy from Vice-Chairman Tatsuo Sunaga, and a bouquet of flowers from Vice-Chairman Shinji Aono. Paquet-Brenner slipped into the happi coat presented by Secretary General Masahide Hanazumi of the Minato Sports, Community, Culture, and Health Foundation, before he addressed the audience.

Gilles Paquet-Brenner: Thank you very much! Now I can pay my taxes! Also, thank you for the happi coat—I was jealous when I saw everybody wearing this on stage!

More seriously... I am extremely delighted. As you know, the Audience Award is a very special award because we make films for the audience. I am glad to know that the emotion of this film that is based on a very specific matter in World War II travels around the world and that it completely universal. I am surprised and happy that the Japanese audience is sensitive to it. Before screening the film, I asked the audience if they were interested in history and they said "No". I think the past is very important because we need the past to build our future. Therefore, it really means a lot to me that the Japanese audience enjoyed this film and chose it for this award.
Lastly, I would sincerely like to thank all the people involved in this festival who were absolutely amazing. Of course, thank you for inviting us and big thanks to the audience for choosing us and for your amazing response. Arigato!

...And to all the photographers here, I'd like your photo of me for my mother!


Congratulation to the director, Gilles Paquet-Brenner!!