The Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival (YIDFF) 2021 was held on October 7 to October 14. Held biennially since 1989, this 17th edition of YIDFF presented a lineup of 53 films across 8 programs of which 49 films were streamed online. To the open call for the two competition sections (International Competition and New Asian Currents), there were 1,972 entries from 124 countries and regions from which a total of 33 films were programmed (of which 29 were streamed online). 15 films in the International Competition and 18 films in New Asian Currents were eligible for the awards.
The festival's opening screening following the Opening Ceremony on October 7 was the world premiere of Pickles and Komian Club, a record of the final year in the history of the old pickle shop Maruhachi Yatarazuke. The owners who had offered YIDFF's nightly hangout Komian Club its venue had sadly closed down in 2020. At this year's festival, the Online Komian Club was organized in order to carry on the legacy of the old Komian. Over seven nights during the festival period, many guests and film fans visited the virtual Komian Club to enjoy conversations about cinema.
Other events took place online. Yamagata Roughcut! (filmmakers discussed their works-in-production with the public), the live talk session featuring Cinema with Us 2021, an online discussion in collaboration with Taiwan colleagues, online workshops and symposiums on film appreciation Film Letter to the Future, and other events were attended by participants from around the world, taking part in meaningful dialogue across cultures and generations.
For most films in the International Competition and New Asian Currents, Q&A sessions were hosted with most filmmakers as usual. The viewers typed their questions into a chat box which started conversations with the filmmakers. On one occasion, a comment from the viewer who was concerned about the safety of the film's protagonists triggered tears in the Yamagata live stream studio. This was indeed a film festival space albeit online, where audiences could watch films at the same time and could share their thoughts with filmmakers and other audience members.
The jurors of the two competition sections are all professionals who reside in Japan and have been invited to attend the jury screenings at the cinema Forum Yamagata. The winners of the top prizes are announced below.
Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival 2021 Award Winners
International Competition
Jurors: Higashi Takuma (Chair/ Japan), Asato Mari (Japan), Saito Ayako (Japan), Mark Schilling (USA),
Shiga Lieko (Japan)
Awards: The Robert and Frances Flaherty Prize (The Grand Prize) ¥2,000,000
The Mayor's Prize ¥1,000,000
Two Awards of Excellence ¥300,000 each
Special Jury Prize ¥300,000
The Robert and Frances Flaherty Prize (The Grand Prize)
Inside the Red Brick Wall Directors: Hong Kong Documentary Filmmakers
Hong Kong / 2020 / 88min
The Mayor's Prize
Camagroga Director: Alfonso Amador
Spain / 2020 / 111min
Two Awards of Excellence
City Hall Director: Frederick Wiseman
USA / 2020 / 274min
Night Shot Director: Carolina Moscoso Briceño
Chile / 2019 / 80min
Special Jury Prize
The First 54 Years – An Abbreviated Manual for Military Occupation Director: Avi Mograbi
France, Finland, Israel, Germany / 2021 / 108min
New Asian Currents
Jurors: Lee-Kil Bora (Korea), Hirose Nanako (Japan)
Awards: Ogawa Shinsuke Prize ¥500,000
Two Awards of Excellence ¥300,000 each
Ogawa Shinsuke Prize
Little Palestine, Diary of a Siege Director: Abdallah Al-Khatib
Lebanon, France, Qatar / 2021 / 89min
Two Awards of Excellence
Three Songs for Benazir Directors: Gulistan Mirzaei, Elizabeth Mirzaei
Afghanistan / 2021 / 22min
Makeup Artist Director: Jafar Najafi
Iran / 2021 / 76min
Special Mention
Broken Director: Nan Khin San Win
Myanmar / 2021 / 13min
Citizens' Prize
This prize is based on votes by viewers in response to questionnaires distributed during the festival.
Writing With Fire Directors: Rintu Thomas, Sushmit Ghosh
India/ 2021 / 93min
