Founded in 1958 by the Committee To Honor Shozo Makino, a Kyoto born filmmaker often regarded as the father of Japanese cinema, the award is given to filmmakers who contributed to the development of Japanese cinema.
Kyoto Citizen Film Festival has selected and awarded the recipients from the 1st to the 19th recipient. Starting in 1977, the Toei Koto Studio Park has taken over the operation of the award ceremony and selection as the voting system evolved over the years.
In 1982, Shozo Makino Award Corner had been set up at Cinema Culture Hall, exhibiting all the past recipients and various memorabilia.
In 1990, the voting system changed and the award was given based on a council system. In 1977, the award ceremony took place during the 1st edition of the Kyoto Film Festival.
Since 1999, the 44th award was given at the Kyoto Film Festival and starting in 2014, Kyoto International Film and Art Festival will take over the operation of the award ceremony and announce the 46th recipient.

Qualification

Any filmmakers, producers, directors, screenwriters, or other staff members, alive who contributed to the development of Japanese cinema

Jury in Charge

Sadao Nakajima (Director / Chair Person of Kyoto International Film and Art Festival)

Jury

Tsuneyuki Kamikura (Professor, Osaka University)
Hiroshi Mazawa (President, Toei Kyoto Studio)
Kazuyoshi Okuyama (Film Producer)