A Japanese actor Ryohei Suzuki (40) will receive the Rising Star Asia Award at the 22nd New York Asian Film Festival 2023, it was announced on June 19, and Suzuki expressed his joy.

The festival will be held from July 14 to 30 at the Lincoln Center in New York City, USA, and more than 60 films from around the world will be screened. The film “Egoist” (R15+), in which Mr. Suzuki plays a sensitive gay guy, the film will be entered in the Standouts section, which introduces Asian films that are attracting worldwide attention. The award ceremony will be held during the screening at Lincoln Center on July 15 (local time), and the director, Daiji Matsunaga, is scheduled to attend the ceremony with Mr. Suzuki.

Suzuki has been acting on screen for more than 15 years, with a string of roles in Japanese TV series such as historical drama “Segodon,” “Ship of Theseus,” and “Tokyo MER.” and but he has been gaining more attentions through some of his films such as “Last Of The Wolves,” for which he won best supporting actor at last year’s Japanese Academy Awards.

The Rising Star Asia Award, which Mr. Suzuki will receive, is given to the most promising actors in the world, and Japanese actors Sousuke Ikematsu, Nana Komatsu, and Tsuyoshi Ayano have received this award in the past.

The film is a fashion magazine editor, played by Suzuki, who grew up hiding his gay identity, and a personal trainer, played by actor Miyazawa Hyoui (29), who lives with his mother and supports her. Mr. Suzuki’s sensitive performance as the gay protagonist who pours out his love for his girlfriend and her mother in this film was highly evaluated and led to his winning the award.

Mr. Suzuki made a comment on receiving the award,”I am very happy that the film “Egoist” is being appreciated across borders and cultures,” he said.

He also commented on the film, “Along with themes such as ‘love between lovers,’ ‘parent-child love,’ and ‘salvation,’ the film has made me realize a great deal about sexuality and identity. I hope that this film will spread further around the world and reach many more people.