Ruben Östlund receives the Best Director award at the Tokyo Film Festival. Photo: Marie Kjellson © 2011 Plattform Produktion
At the Tokyo International Film Festival Ruben Östlund picked up the award for Best Director. Östlund himself attended the festival together with Katja Wik (casting) and Marie Kjellson (line producer). The jury members included legendary producer Edward R. Pressman, who has worked together with such greats as Terrence Malick, Werner Herzog and Oliver Stone. Earlier in the week Play also won the Grand Prix for Best Film at the "2-in-1" International Film Festival in Moscow.
Play has also been nominated for the Lux Prize for films that crystallise debate on important issues in Europe, presented at the European Parliament. The winner will be announced on 16th November and the award includes funding for translation and distribution.
Based on real events, Östlund's film follows five black boys who rob three young whites in Sweden's second city, Göteborg. Play will be in competition at the Stockholm International Film Festival and is set to premiere in Sweden on 11th November. Play is distributed in Sweden by SF, with international sales via Coproduction Office.