JAPAN PRIZE 2016 Prize Winners

The Grand Prix Japan Prize 2016
Title THE AMINA PROFILE
Entering Organization esperamos
National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
Country/Region Canada
Media Film
Amina is a lesbian dissident who lives in Damascus, Syria. She writes a blog titled A Gay Girl in Damascus, which attracts a worldwide following because of her dissident activities and erotic tone. Canadian Sandra falls in love with her online.
Then Amina suddenly disappears. Where did she go? Was she kidnapped by the secret police? Is she still alive? Speculations fly as the story grabs the attention of big media and intelligence agencies alike as they investigate the facts.
This program provides a vivid depiction of the risks behind today’s online world and the way modern society can trifle with online systems.
Audiovisual Division The Best Work in Each Category
The Best Work in the Pre-school Category
The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Prize
Title Tell me, Bonggu! - My Front Tooth Fell Out
Entering Organization Educational Broadcasting System (EBS)
Country/Region Republic of Korea
Media TV
Children come across little problems every day. When they have to face those problems, Bonggu stands by them and encourages them. The problem Minjun faces this time is losing a baby tooth. After he struggles to pull it out, he tries to throw it up onto the roof, a Korean custom meant to encourage growth of a strong adult tooth. Bonggu encourages him to be brave and go see a dentist, who teaches him how to brush his new tooth.
This series provides information to give children the courage to face life while overcoming difficulties while also teaching them sensible attitudes.
The Best Work in the Primary Category
The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Prize
Title The Boy on the Bicycle
Entering Organization Drummer TV
Country/Region United Kingdom
Media TV
Sixteen-year-old Ahmed lives in one of the world’s largest refugee camps, located in Northern Jordan. His home was destroyed by the Syrian civil war and his whole family ended up here 3 years ago.
Ahmed introduces how he and his friends live in the camp by riding around on a bicycle: Mohamed is working for a bakery; Ali’s dream is to become a doctor. All the children go to school, learn English and play together. The refugee children are very enthusiastic.
However, this is not the outside world. The refugees cannot leave the camp without permission. They are like caged birds. Ahmed says, “I want to fly like a bird back to my hometown in Syria.”
This program depicts the present circumstances of children who are caught up in the war in the Middle East.
The Best Work in the Youth Category
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Prize
Title THE OTHER KIDS
Entering Organization SALON INDIEN FILMS
LA MIRADA OBLICUA
AL JAZEERA DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL
Country/Region Spain, Qatar
Media Film
Five-year-old street child Reagan was abandoned by his parents when he was a baby and is living in Uganda’s capital city, Kampala. He survives by selling scraps and stealing but dreams of becoming a professional soccer player.
Soccer becomes a tool for him to change his life. A coach discovers his excellent technique and finds him a sports scholarship. Soccer becomes the bread and butter for him to go school. It is his passport to the future and he must take his life one step at a time.
The camera follows the little boy’s life as he innocently kicks a ball amidst the poverty of a small country in Africa. It looks at the dreams of children living in that country.
The Best Work in the Lifelong Learning Category
The Governor of Tokyo Prize
Title THE AMINA PROFILE
Entering Organization esperamos
National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
Country/Region Canada
Media Film
Amina is a lesbian dissident who lives in Damascus, Syria. She writes a blog titled A Gay Girl in Damascus, which attracts a worldwide following because of her dissident activities and erotic tone. Canadian Sandra falls in love with her online.
Then Amina suddenly disappears. Where did she go? Was she kidnapped by the secret police? Is she still alive? Speculations fly as the story grabs the attention of big media and intelligence agencies alike as they investigate the facts.
This program provides a vivid depiction of the risks behind today’s online world and the way modern society can trifle with online systems.
The Best Work in the Creative Frontier Category
The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Prize
Title The Professionals: My Philosophy
Entering Organization Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK)
DigiBook Inc.
Country/Region Japan
Media Application Software
URL
http://www.nhk.or.jp/professional/apps/
The title, My Philosophy, appears in solid white letters on a black background. The Professionals is a documentary style program application. Users can easily produce video clips of their own philosophy by applying the program’s format, which is well known for introducing frontline professionals who talk about the philosophy they use to achieve their work.
Users just input their names and professions, then film a scene of themselves at work. Finally, they input their philosophy and a video clip is completed in 5 minutes. There were over a million downloads during the first two months since its introduction in 2015. Many users are teens.
Its popularity has led to active use in educational fields. Users find strong points in both themselves and others, and thus the breeding ground of bullying can be undermined. In addition, having dreams helps build confidence. This application brings users closer to their dreams.
Audiovisual Division Special Prizes
The Japan Foundation President’s Prize
An excellent work that encourages mutual understanding among nations and races or contributes to cultural exchange
Title Baby on the way - Superman, Gaanaa!
Entering Organization Mongolian National Broadcaster (MNB)
Educational Broadcasting System (EBS)
Country/Region Mongolia, Republic of Korea
Media TV
Ganaa lives a yurt in the grasslands. At six years old, the boy is looking forward to something. A new baby girl will soon arrive. He helps prepare a bed for her and goes to the hospital with his mother. He also willingly helps his busy father.
The night the baby girl came home, Ganaa is fast asleep so he doesn’t get a chance to welcome her. He is disappointed but decides not to complain about little things because he is now a big brother. He is willing to help wash his sister’s diapers.
Sensitive Ganaa is proud of becoming a big brother. This documentary shows the lives of nomads in Mongolia’s grasslands and the feelings of a six year old boy as he faces the process of growing up.
The UNICEF Prize
An excellent work that promotes understanding of the lives of children in difficult situations
Title Sleeping Lions
Entering Organization Libra Television
David & Goliath
Country/Region United Kingdom
Media TV
Mia had a secret she cannot reveal to anybody: she had been sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend, Mark, when she was a little girl. They played a game called “Sleeping Lions” where they pretended to be sleeping. The game meant nothing until Mia became aware of what a horrible experience it had been. Mark tells her not to tell anyone so they would be happy.
After Mia’s mother marries Mark, Mia overhears him whispering her sister about playing “Sleeping Lions”. She decides to pluck up the courage to speak out about the game.
TV Proposal Division The Best Proposal

The Hoso Bunka Foundation Prize
Title The Girls are not Brides
Country/Region Bangladesh
Organization Dhrupad Communication - Media for Education and Development
Content In Asia and African, more than 70 million girls are forced to marry at less than 18 years of age. This is a serious problem. It is said that Bangladesh has the highest rate of child marriage. The people believe raising girls is merely an economic burden. Parents force girls to marry young and give up their chances of education and independence.
What kind of lives will girls have if they insist on being independent and refuse to marry young? The program asks questions about child marriage in Bangladesh by comparing girls who aim to be independent and receive education with girls who are forced to marry young.
TV Proposal Division Excellent Proposal
The National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan Prize
Title Ski in the land of Buddha
Country/Region Afghanistan
Organization Mehrgan Film Festival Secretariat
Content The stage of this program is the Bamiyan area in Afganistan within the Hindu Kush mountains. Educational and economic development have been impeded within the minority Hazara tribe by government oppression. One girl pours her passion into skiing in this region of strong traditional lifestyles. Women’s independence is growing and the girl is trying to establish her own independence through skiing. Her ski equipment is hand-made and crude, but even so, she struggles to reach higher ranks in competition despite civil war, terrorism and poverty in the country. An attempt to cope with its strong negative image, the aim of the program is to encourage young people in Afghanistan through the posture of one girl’s challenge.

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