I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming (Credits: Variety)
German director and screenwriter Isabelle Stever’s Ukraine-set drama “I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming” has won the Tokyo International Film Festival’s Ethical Film Award, honoring a harrowing story about a trans man barred from fleeing the war.
The film follows a trans man in Ukraine who, under wartime rules, is unable to leave the country as the conflict rages — a premise that confronts discrimination at the intersection of war, identity and state power.
What Is the Tokyo Ethical Film Award?
The Ethical Film Award was established in 2023 with sponsor Sumitomo Corporation to spotlight films that shed light on issues such as the environment, poverty and discrimination. A jury selects the winner from three nominees drawn from the festival’s lineup, making it one of the most socially pointed prizes at Tokyo’s flagship festival.
I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming: Why This Win Matters
Stever’s win brings global attention to an often-overlooked reality of the Ukraine war: the ways martial law and bureaucratic barriers can trap vulnerable people inside a conflict zone. By centering a trans protagonist, the film highlights how discrimination can become a matter of survival — precisely the kind of story the Ethical Film Award was created to elevate. The jury’s choice positions the drama as one of the defining festival statements of the year.
Also Read: ‘Magic Atlas’: Sun Xun’s Decade-Long Animated Feature Becomes Tokyo Film Festival’s First Animated Competition Title | Directors Teodora Ana Mihai and Sode Yukiko on Hiding Motherhood at Work
Source: Variety — read the full story there.
