Milcho Manchevski’s ‘Sister Brother Manhole Cover’ Takes Tokyo Grand Prix at 39th International Film Festival

On Wednesday, 4 November 2026, Milcho Manchevski’s motion picture *Sister Brother Manhole Cover* received the Tokyo Grand Prix honor during the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival. The top prize, officially the Tokyo Grand Prix/The Governor of Tokyo Award, includes a cash component of JPY 3 million (approximately US $19,000). The film was selected from a competition slate of 15 entries and was judged by a jury chaired by Australian filmmaker Rolf de Heer, alongside other industry professionals.

The movie follows two siblings, Victor and Marina, who survive in post‑Communist Skopje by stealing manhole covers and bronze busts. The pair’s illegal commerce undergoes a sharp change when a stolen bronze statue of a national figure strikes Victor’s foot, pulling them into the more sinister strata of the North Macedonian criminal network. The work is Manchevski’s first fiction feature since *Kaymak* and is a co‑production involving North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Background

Manchevski, a Macedonian filmmaker known for his earlier acclaimed work *Before the Rain*, returned to narrative cinema with *Sister Brother Manhole Cover* after a period focused on other projects. The film’s allegorical tone combines dark comedy with social commentary on the economic hardships faced in the region after the fall of communism. The Tokyo International Film Festival, now in its 39th edition, awards the Grand Prix as its highest honour, a tradition that recognises artistic excellence and international collaboration. The jury, led by de Heer, also presented a Special Jury Prize to Sun Xun’s animated feature *Magic Atlas* from Singapore, and best‑director, acting and artistic‑contribution awards to other entries such as Lisandro Alonso’s *Double Freedom* and Jelena Maksimović’s *Until the Day Ends*.

Why it matters

The award highlights the growing visibility of Balkan cinema on the global stage, especially for films that explore contemporary social issues through unconventional storytelling. The cash prize, while modest, supports further production and distribution efforts for a film that already involves six nations. Recognition at a major Asian festival may facilitate wider theatrical releases and streaming deals, potentially increasing revenue for the co‑producing companies in North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, Italy and the UK. The win also underscores the festival’s commitment to diverse, cross‑cultural narratives, as evidenced by the range of countries represented among the winners.

What happens next

The festival’s awards ceremony concluded on 4 November, and the winning film will be featured in the festival’s closing programme and subsequent promotional tours. Organisers indicated that the Grand Prix winner typically receives additional exposure through Tokyo’s cultural outreach initiatives, though specific future screenings or distribution agreements were not detailed in the source material. The jury’s composition, announced as including producer Alex Lo alongside de Heer, suggests continued emphasis on international collaboration for future editions of the festival.