Esli Balatova wins Best Underground Documentary at Doc.Berlin

Tokyo Toy Boy offers an intimate portrait of Kazuho, a 24-year-old former host boy from Tokyo’s underground nightlife districts. The film follows his inner struggle between self-destruction and the hope for a better tomorrow, reflecting the pressures faced by young adults worldwide.

With a running time of 22 minutes, the documentary approaches its subject with restraint and empathy, allowing space for silence, vulnerability and reflection. The film was part of Doc.Berlin’s official selection, within the international Doc.World festival network.