The 20th edition of SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL had been physically held from July 15 to July 23 (and virtually from July 22 to July 26), and wrapped at the Closing Ceremony, Sunday July 23. Jury and Audience award winners were announced at the Ceremony.
For the International Compeition, an Asian Premiere film, When the Seedlings Grow (Syria), directed by Rêger Azad Kaya, received the Grand Prize. I Woke Up with a Dream (Argentina, Uruguay), directed by Pablo Solarz, won the Best Director and Six Weeks (Hungary), directed by Noémi Veronika Szakonyi received the Special Jury Prize. This year's jury members were Masao Teshima, President of the Jury and a renowned producer from Asmik Ace, Naomi Akashi, the producer of Egoist (Dir. Daishi Matsunaga) and Patrice Nezan, a French producer, who produced the festival's 2019 winner The Tower (Dir. Mats Grorud). In addition, Midwives (France), directed by Léa Fehner, was chosen for the Audience Award.
For the Japanese Film Competition, Yoshiki Matsumoto's feature debut Alien's Daydream (Japan) received Best Picture (Feature Length) and SKIP CITY AWARD, which is selected from all Japanese films both in the International Competition and the Japanese Film Competition, for production support by the festival, Hunting Results (Japan), directed by Minami Ikemoto, won Best Picture (Short Length). This year, Special Mention was exceptionally added for the Short Length section. Mimic (Japan), directed by Akihiro Takahama, scooped this Special Mention. The jury members were led by a director Ryota Nakano, whose The Asadas marked a big success in box office in France this year, Misa Wada, an actress from the 2018 festival's Japanese Film Competition winner Siblings of the Cape, and Mark Schilling, a film critic for The Japan Times. Variety's Japan Correspondent, and the Japanese film advisor for the Udine Far East Film Festival. The Audience Award (Feature Length) went to Hierophanie (Japan), directed by Kazuomi Makita, and the Audience Award (Short Length) was given to Don't Go (Japan), directed by Daichi Amano. All Japanese film winners had their world premieres at the festival.
