Masahiro Ando's Sword of the Stranger (Stranger - Mukoh Hadan) was awarded the Menzione Speciale recognition at the Future Film Festival. Sword of the Stranger completed with Yukihiko Tsutumi's 20th Century Boys, and Tetsuya Nakajima's Paco and the Magical Book.

The Future Film Festival is held annually in Bologna, and focuses on animated, as well as live-action special effects films. Last year, Michael Arias' Tekkonkinkreet won the Menzione Speciale recognition, and Makoto Shinkai's 5cm per Second took the grand prize for animation.

Sword of the Stranger was animated by Studio BONES. Bandai Entertainment currently holds the rights to Sword of the Stranger. The film will run in 367 theatres on February 5.