Chinese director Zhang Yimou receives lifetime award at Tokyo International Film Festival

Chinese director Zhang Yimou on the red carpet, ahead of the opening ceremony of the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) in Tokyo, Japan, Monday, Oct 23, 2023. Photo: AP

Chinese director Zhang Yimou was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening ceremony of the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) on Monday (Oct 23).

The 73-year-old recalled in his acceptance speech that his connections to TIFF stretch back three decades. He won Best Actor for the movie Old Well (1986) at the second TIFF in 1987. It also nabbed the prestigious Tokyo Grand Prix awarded to the best film.