The World Catholic Association for Communication awards the SIGNIS Film Prize at the Venice Film Festival to a Japanese film about friendship and talent that shows how art can transform pain into hope.
Hailed by the Jury as “an act of hope and healing“, Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda’s film Look Back has won the prestigious SIGNIS Award at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
The SIGNIS Film Prize, which was established in 1948, is the oldest independent award at the Venice Film Festival.
Announcing the winner, this is how the SIGNIS jury motivated its choice:
“Following the story of two girls who are different from one another but united by their passion for manga, this moving film tells the story of the birth of a creative vocation, nurtured through tireless dedication and professional commitment. Hirokazu Kore-eda sensitively captures the strength of human solidarity, showing how mutual support and the gift of friendship lead the protagonists out of isolation and towards discovering their place in the world.
The film also touches on a profound spiritual dimension: the recognition of artistic talent as a transcendent gift, received with gratitude and cultivated through commitment. In confronting guilt, tragic loss and the harsh blows of fate, Look Back reveals that acceptance and reconciliation emerge from honouring the bond of friendship that has shaped their lives.
Finally, artistic creation emerges as an act of hope and healing, a bridge that transforms pain into purpose and rekindles the courage to move forward.”