Look Back wins Kineko Grand Prix Teens at the 33rd Kineco Film Festival

Look Back adds another recognition to its list. The film directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama won the Kineko Grand Prix Teens Feature Film award at the 33rd Kineco International Film Festival, held on November 3 at Futako-Tamagawa Rise.

The award is given by teenagers aged 13 to 18 who are part of the jury. They choose the film that left the biggest mark on them among the national and international candidates aimed at that age range.

Oshiyama celebrates that young audiences connect with the story

The director, who also wrote the script and designed the characters, shared a message after hearing the news. He thanked those who voted and explained what the work means to him:

"Look Back portrays the joy and pain of devoting yourself to something, and the bonds born through creation. If young people felt something with this film, as a creator I couldn't ask for more."

The story follows Fujino and Kyomoto, two girls who share a passion for drawing manga. What begins as a creative friendship takes a turn that pulls them apart. The anime hit Japanese theaters on June 28, 2024, and has kept growing thanks to word of mouth ever since.

A film that's already part of recent anime history

The film surpassed 4.4 billion yen at the box office combining Japan and overseas. It has also accumulated major awards: the Japan Academy Prize for Best Animated Film, the Best Film award at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2025, the Filmarks Award 2024, and the Hochi Film Award, among others.

It all started from the one-shot manga that Tatsuki Fujimoto published on Shōnen Jump+ in July 2021. The chapter surpassed 2.5 million reads on its first day. Fujimoto is the author of Chainsaw Man and Fire Punch, and his name was already a guarantee before Look Back became a phenomenon.

The voices of Fujino and Kyomoto are played by Yuumi Kawai and Mizuki Yoshida, two actresses who have stood out in Japanese film and television in recent years.

Have you seen Look Back? Tell us in the comments what you thought and whether you think it deserved this award.