At the 17th Tokyo International Film Festival, the Grand Prix and $100,000 prize went to “Whiskey” by Uruguayan directors Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll. The festival’s website describes the 94-minute, Spanish-language movie about a trip by a widower, his employee with whom he pretends to be married and her brother as a “heartwarming film.” The inaugural Kurosawa Akira Award went to Steven Spielberg (56), a longtime fan of the legendary director, and Yamada Yoji (photo, 73), himself a master film-maker. Both served as judges at the festival.
• Rakugo performer Shunpuutei Ryuukyou died of cancer at a Tokyo hospital on Sunday. He was 69.
• TV personality Katsumata Shukazu (39) revealed on the TBS “Akko ni Omakase” show at the weekend that he recently became a father. The former boy band member married a former flight attendant in 2002. Their baby daughter was born on October 25.