MUMBAI: Shortly after receiving distributor honours from Japan's Motion Picture Exhibitors Association, Warner Bros. Japan will also be awarded the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for best foreign film distributor of the Year.
 

Achievements that Warner Bros. Japan will be recognised for include the success of The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. Combined they have grossed 17.65 billion to date. The Tom Cruise epic The Last Samurai made over 13 billion.

Additionally, the success of the critically acclaimed dramas Hero and Oscar winner Mystic River will also have special mention. Warner Bros. Pictures International marketing president Sue Kroll was quoted in a company release saying, "Our market-specific strategies carefully tailor each campaign in Japan. With efforts ranging from specialized creative materials to unique publicity events, we present the films in a sensitive and culturally appropriate manner."

"This strategy was particularly successful with the The Last Samurai campaign which brought the epic film home to Japan, making it emotional, personal, and a must-see." Warner added that Japan was the biggest market outside the US. The gross for the Tom Cruise film surpassed that of the US.

This is the third time that Warner Bros. Japan has been honoured with the Minister's Award in recent years. It was earlier recognised in 1999 and in 2001. Warner Bros. Japan has been the top distributor in Japan for three consecutive years, with a nearly 30 per cent share of the market for imported films.