SIGNIS Jury honours the Japanese film for its portrayal of friendship, creative dedication and the healing power of art.
(Venice, September 12, 2026). Hirokazu Koreeda’s Look Back has won the SIGNIS Award at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, with the international Catholic jury recognising the film for its exploration of solidarity, artistic vocation and loss.
The award was announced on 11 September. The film follows two girls brought together by a shared passion for manga, and the jury’s citation said it explores how friendship and mutual support help them overcome isolation and find their place in the world.
The SIGNIS Jury praised Koreeda’s sensitive treatment of human connection and the sustained effort behind creative work. Their citation also offered a spiritual reading of the film, describing artistic talent as a gift to be cultivated with gratitude and commitment.
On the story’s treatment of guilt and tragic loss, the jury emphasised the role of friendship in making acceptance and reconciliation possible, saying artistic creation becomes a source of hope and healing.
The SIGNIS Prize at La Mostra has been presented since 1948, making it the oldest collateral award at the Venice Film Festival.
The five-member jury was chaired by Germany’s Thomas Kroll, with Italy’s Sergio Perugini serving as secretary. Its other members were Eliana Ariola of Italy, Néstor Briceño of Venezuela and Barbora Cihelková of the Czech Republic.