Home / Arts and Entertainment / TIFF Director Aims for 'Glocal' Future, Boosts Japanese Cinema
TIFF Director Aims for 'Glocal' Future, Boosts Japanese Cinema
26 Oct
Summary
- TIFF to reassess its global position for its 40th anniversary.
- Festival aims to leverage Tokyo's unique blend of tradition and modernity.
- New initiatives aim to boost Japanese films' international distribution.
The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is undergoing a strategic review to define its global positioning as it approaches its 40th anniversary. Festival director Hisamatsu Takeo stated that this reassessment, following the 39th edition, will guide TIFF's direction for the subsequent decade. This year's festival already reflects an evolving strategy, featuring an increased number of 204 films compared to the previous year's 184.
Hisamatsu acknowledged a competitive dynamic with the Busan International Film Festival due to their proximity in geography and scheduling. He stressed the importance of re-examining TIFF's place within Asia and the world. Drawing inspiration from festivals like Cannes and Venice, he believes TIFF should better showcase Tokyo's distinct identity—a vibrant metropolis where tradition and modernity, mainstream and subculture, converge.
UniJapan, the festival's organizer, also oversees the TIFFCOM market and international promotion programs. Hisamatsu aims for closer integration of these arms to provide enhanced support for filmmakers and producers. Beyond festival screenings, UniJapan seeks to actively assist Japanese films that gain recognition at TIFF in securing international distribution.
Two new initiatives underscore this commitment: Nippon Cinema Now, now a competitive section with new awards, and TIFF-WIP, which connects Japanese films in production with international industry figures to raise their global profile. Hisamatsu emphasized the dual role of festivals in bringing foreign films to local audiences and promoting local films abroad, noting a strong current environment for advancing Japanese cinema internationally.
He advocates for a "glocal" perspective, recognizing that festivals, while international, must remain rooted in their national and cultural identities. This year's programming, featuring mainstream titles like "Sukiyaki" and "Godzilla Minus Zero," was based on individual film merits rather than a deliberate shift in the festival's arthouse identity.
