The soft autumn light and cool breeze surround Tokyo’s Hibiya Park. The leaves are changing colors. The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival is gathering in such an atmosphere. Film lovers, producers, stars and critics from all over the world have gathered around this traditional Japanese event. From the red carpet to the cinema hall, from masterclasses to Tiff Lounges—everywhere now only the celebration of films is celebrated.
Festival begins::
On Monday evening, October 27, the festival curtain rose at the traditional Takarayuka Theater in Hibiya with a grand opening ceremony. More than two hundred film personalities from different parts of the world walked along the 162-meter-long red carpet. The red carpet featured Oscar-winning director Paul Schrader, famous French actress Juliette Binoche, Malaysian director Chong Kit Aun, Korean-Chinese director Zhang Lu, renowned cinematographer Christopher Doyle and Azerbaijani director Hilal Baidarov. Japanese cinema was represented by actress Takeuchi Kumi, director Fukada Koji, Nakagawa Ryutaro, Saito Kyoko and many others.
The jury president of the International Competition section is Italian film critic Carlo Chatrian. His co-jury includes Taiwanese actress Giwei Lun-mei, French editor Mathieu Laclau, Japanese actor and director Saito Takumi and Chinese producer Vivian Ku.
Women and new voices in film::
Like last year, this year too, TIFF is focusing on women’s empowerment in film. French star Juliette Binoche was present on the opening night for the premiere of her first film, ‘In-Eye in Motion’. In a conversation with festival navigator Takeuchi Kumir, Binoche said, ‘Dedication is essential in any art. In the age of artificial intelligence and social media, there is no alternative to being creative.’ Binoche’s speech reflects the determination of women, as well as her deep faith in cinema. The audience responded to that message with enthusiastic applause.
A festival of love for cinema::
The festival’s jury president, Carlo Chatrian, said in his opening speech, ‘I am proud to be able to participate in such a festival in film-loving Japan. For 10 days, we will watch diverse films, learn about unknown stories from around the world. We will become richer in this—that is the power of cinema.’ Chatrian’s statement seems to be the mantra of the entire festival—film brings people closer, makes the world more understandable.
Opening Film and Awards::
The opening film of the 38th edition was Sakamoto Junji’s ‘Climbing for Life’. He was accompanied on stage by famous actress Yoshinaga Sayuri and young co-star Nona. Inspired by the life of Tabei Junko, the first female mountaineer to conquer Everest, this film moved the audience. On that stage, Yoshinaga Sayuri, who played the lead role in the film, was given the TIFF Lifetime Achievement Award. The star, who has participated in 124 films, has won the Japan Academy Award four times for best performance in a leading role. The award was presented by jury president Carlo Chatrian and TIFF chairman Ando Hiroyasu presented a bouquet of flowers. This is the first time a Japanese actress has received this honor since the first edition of TIFF held in 1985. Sayuri said in a humble voice, “This recognition has deeply inspired me.”
Competition in the realm of cinema::
Chairman Ando Hiroyasu officially opened the festival. This year, 184 films are being screened at TIFF, along with various events such as Q&A sessions, symposiums, masterclasses and ‘TIFF Lounge Talk’. Fifteen films selected from 1,970 submissions from 108 countries and regions around the world are competing for the ‘Tokyo Grand Prix’ award.
The list includes Macedonian director Tiona Struger Mitevska’s ‘Mother’, Cambodian director Rithi Pan’s documentary ‘We Are the Fruits of the Forest’, Chinese director Zhang Lu’s ‘Mother Tongue’, Azerbaijani director Hilal Baidarov’s ‘Sermon to the Void’ and Japanese director Sakashita Yuichiro’s ‘Blonde’. Among the films made in a political context, Haley Gates’ Iraq war-based ‘Etropia’ and Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Zakir’s ‘Palestine 36’ are also attracting attention.
Japan’s active presence in the film market::
Alongside the festival, the 22nd edition of the film market ‘Tifcom’ is underway, which is being held at the Hamamatsucho-Kan building in Tokyo. Various producers, distributors and streaming platform representatives from around the world are participating in this market. Co-production meetings, screening pitches and new film sales agreements are taking place here. This commercial part will continue until October 31.
Every day, audiences flock to the halls in the Hibiya, Yurakucho, Marunouchi and Ginza areas. Exhibitions, question-and-answer sessions, discussions and cultural performances are taking place from morning until late at night. As Japanese audiences are seeing their own films in a new way, they are also fascinated by the new languages and perspectives of filmmakers from Asia and Europe.
The curtain will fall on ‘Hamnet’::
The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival will continue until November 5. The closing screening will be ‘Hamnet’, a film based on William Shakespeare’s play ‘Hamlet’, directed by Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao. At the end of the festival, awards will be announced for the best films, actors, directors and screenwriters in various categories. In the autumn atmosphere, cinema is now the kingdom in Tokyo, where stories of people, time and feelings are unfolding on every screen.
