What is the Tokyo International Film Festival celebrating this year?

The Tokyo International Film Festival is celebrating women's empowerment, with the opening, centerpiece, and closing films all featuring stories centered around women.

Who are the veteran Japanese filmmakers being honored at the Tokyo Film Festival?

The festival is honoring veteran directors Yōji Yamada and Sayuri Yoshinaga with lifetime achievement awards. Yamada, at 91 years old, is still actively making films and is considered a living dictionary of Japanese cinema.

How is the Tokyo Film Festival working to engage a wider audience?

The festival is working to reach not only cinephiles, but also ordinary people, by making the festival feel more open and accessible, not just for industry insiders or celebrities.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Tokyo Film Festival Celebrates Women's Empowerment and Veteran Filmmakers

Tokyo Film Festival Celebrates Women's Empowerment and Veteran Filmmakers

30 Oct

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Summary

Tokyo Film Festival sees surge in world premieres, international guests
Festival honors veteran directors Yōji Yamada and Sayuri Yoshinaga
Women make up over 57% of festival staff, focus on women's stories

Tokyo Film Festival Celebrates Women's Empowerment and Veteran Filmmakers

The Tokyo International Film Festival, under the leadership of Hiroyasu Ando, has seen significant progress in the past five years. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic during Ando's first full event in charge, the festival is now generating more buzz than it has in decades.

The festival has seen an increase in world premieres, international guests, and side events, as well as a relocation to more accessible and atmospheric districts. This has helped boost the festival's profile and clout. However, Ando is not resting on his laurels and is determined to continue driving progress, attracting more local cinemagoers, and strengthening the event's impact beyond just the cinema industry.