Kyoto International Movie Festival has set up this award to honor world-renowned actors and filmmakers.
We are proud to announce that the first recipient for Most Respect Award is a celebrated actor / director, Mr. Clint Eastwood, who, at the age 80, continues to make films that inspire filmmakers and fans around the world.
To commemorate this occasion, the festival will hold retrospective screenings of his masterpieces; Dirty Harry, The Unforgiven, Gran Torino and Flags of Our Fathers.

“A few years ago, I was surprised when I heard a college student referring to Clint Eastwood as Master.He told me when he started watching films, he was already a Oscar winning director. Then it made sense for me. For me, Clint Eastwood is first and foremost Harry Callahan in Dirty Harry (1971). Though he had a long career as a director making a directorial debut with Play Misty for Me (1971) the same year, Clint Eastwood, in my mind, is not a director, let alone, a master. I remember my father talking about Eastwood as a young and smug Rowdy from Rawhide, an American western TV series from 1959. So the impression of who Clint Eastwood is depends on your age. That also means that Clint Eastwood has always been the recognizable movie icon during his long career of 55 years. For some, he is an actor. And he’s also a director, producer, musician, and politician as well. I wonder who you think Clint Eastwood is. No matter how others answer the question, your answer is also right.”

Takeo Matsuzai, Film Critic

- Message from Clint Eastwood -
Thank you, Kyoto International Film and Art Festival, for this honor. It’s especially gratifying to be recognized by the film community of Kyoto. The support you’ve given us over the years is much appreciated, and though we’re currently in post-production on American Sniper, we wanted to send along our sincerest thanks for this wonderful tribute.