Films from the South's Honorary Award goes to Ryusuke Hamaguchi
This year's Silver Mirror Honorary Award goes to Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi. The award was presented at the screening of his latest film, All of a Sudden, at Cinemateket in Oslo on Sunday, 8 November.
At the presentation, Lasse Skagen, Head of Programming of Films from the South, said:
«He is awarded for his exceptional mastery of filmmaking, his unique cinematic vision, and his outstanding contribution to the Art of Cinema. Ryusuke Hamaguchi has established himself as one of the most original and remarkable filmmakers of our time. With films such as Happy Hour, Asako I & II, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, Drive My Car, and Evil Does Not Exist, he has created a body of work that explores the deepest complexities of human relationships with extraordinary sensitivity and precision.»
To accompany the honorary award, the festival is presenting a mini-retrospective featuring Drive My Car, which won Best Screenplay at Cannes and the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, and Asako I & II (2018), which has never before been shown in Norwegian cinemas.
Asako I & II is screened at the festival.
Further, Skagen says:
«Hamaguchi is a true master of storytelling, with a rare ability to turn seemingly ordinary conversations and everyday encounters into captivating cinema. In his films, words carry enormous emotional weight, while silences, gestures and subtle changes in expression can reveal entire worlds of hidden feelings. His characters are complex, unpredictable and profoundly human. Through long, beautifully crafted scenes, he gives them the time and space to unfold, allowing the audience to discover the emotional truths beneath the surface. Few filmmakers possess his remarkable ability to make the simple act of listening so dramatically powerful.»
All of a Sudden is his newest film.
Hamaguchi’s new film, All of a Sudden, is also screening at the festival and will be released in Norwegian cinemas by Arthaus in 2027. Skagen continues
«His cinema is both intellectually stimulating and deeply moving. With great patience, curiosity and empathy, he explores love, loss, memory, coincidence and the fragile connections between people. His latest film, All of a Sudden, further demonstrates his exceptional talent for exploring the human condition through intimate encounters and profound conversations. Ryusuke Hamaguchi reminds us that great cinema does not always need spectacular events or dramatic gestures. Sometimes the most extraordinary moments unfold between two people simply talking to each other. In his hands, these moments become pure cinematic magic.»
