Japanese Academy Awards 2009

Yojiro Takita's Departures, about an unemployed cellist who finds work as a professional corpse-beautician of sorts, was the big winner at the 2009 Japanese Academy Awards, bagging a total of 10 trophies (out of 13 nominations), including best film, best director, best actor (Masahiro Motoki), best supporting actor (Tsutomu Yamazaki), best supporting actress (Kimiko Yo) and best screenplay (Kundo Koyama), along with wins for cinematography, lighting, sound and editing.

In addition to winning this year's best foreign-language film Oscar, Departures also took top prizes at the Montreal and Palm Springs film festivals, and, with a US$32 million gross, has turned out to be one of Japan's top box-office hits in 2008.

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, Japan's biggest box-office hit, was chosen best animated feature, while the planet's biggest blockbuster, The Dark Knight, was voted best foreign film.

Kon Ichikawa and Ken Ogata, both of whom died in 2008, were given special posthumous awards.

Best film: Departures

Best foreign film: The Dark Knight

Best animated film: Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea

Best director: Yojiro Takita (Departures)

Best actor: Motoki Masahiro (Departures)

Best actress: Tae Kimura (All Around Us)

Best supporting actress: Kimiko Yo (Departures)

Best supporting actor: Tsutomu Yamazaki (Departures)

Best screenplay: Kundo Koyama (Departures)

Best cinematography: Departures

Best editing: Departures

Best music: Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea

Best lighting: Departures

Best art direction: Paco And The Magical Picture Book

Best sound: Departures

Special award from the chairman: Kon Ichikawa, Ken Ogata

Topical award (actor): Kenichi Matsuyama

Topical award (film): Suspect X

Source: Screen Daily

Japan Academy Prize Site

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