In 2011 and 2012 respectively, Sono released two drama films inspired by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster and Tohoku Earthquake: "Himizu" and "The Land of Hope." The films were praised for their simplicity and seriousness compared to Sono's other works, and "Himizu" won the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the 68th Venice International Film Festival. In 2012, Sono edited and released the film "Bad Film" using footage from the production of a massive unreleased underground film he shot in 1995 starring the performance collective Tokyo GAGAGA.