'Tabi to Hibi' Wins Golden Leopard

Aug 17, 2025 | News On Japan

Switzerland, Aug 17, 2025 (News On Japan) - Director Sho Miyake’s film Tabi to Hibi (Journey and Days) has won the top prize, the Golden Leopard, at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland, marking the first time in 18 years that a Japanese work has taken the award.

The 78th edition of the festival, held in the southern Swiss town of Locarno, awarded Miyake’s film the highest honor in the competition section.

The film stars South Korean actress Shim Eun-kyung, alongside Shinichi Tsutsumi and Yumi Kawai. It tells the story of a struggling screenwriter who begins to confront his life after encounters during a journey.

Founded in 1946, the Locarno festival is regarded as one of Europe’s most historic film events, alongside Cannes and Venice. According to the distributor, the last time a Japanese film received the top prize was in 2007, when Masahiro Kobayashi’s Ai no Yokan (The Rebirth) was awarded, making Miyake’s achievement a long-awaited milestone.

Source: TBS

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