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Oscar Contenders Shine at Tokyo Filmex Fest
21 Oct
Summary
- Tokyo Filmex runs Nov. 20-29 with 10 films competing.
- Lee Kang-sheng to head jury, awarding JPY700,000 prize.
- Competition features emerging Asian directors' works.
The 27th Tokyo Filmex festival is set to captivate audiences from November 20 to November 29 in Tokyo's Yurakucho district. This year's competition features 10 films by emerging Asian directors, including Oscar submissions "9 Temples to Heaven" from Thailand and "Elephants in the Fog" from Nepal.
Esteemed Taiwanese actor Lee Kang-sheng, a frequent collaborator of auteur Tsai Ming-liang, will preside over the three-member international jury. The jury will bestow a Grand Prize of JPY700,000 ($4,500) to the winning director, alongside a Special Jury Prize of JPY300,000 ($1,900). The awards ceremony is scheduled for November 29.
Among the 10 competition titles, four are directorial debuts. The selection spans diverse narratives, from Sompot Chidgasornpongse's "9 Temples to Heaven," a family comedy with a fortune-telling twist, to Abinash Bikram Shah's "Elephants in the Fog," which addresses third-gender community issues. Films from Venice and Toronto film festivals also add to the competition's prestige.
Beyond the competition, Tokyo Filmex will present special screenings. "We Are All Strangers," Anthony Chen's film completing his trilogy, and "The Day She Returns" by Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo are among the highlights. The festival will also screen documentaries and shorts, offering a comprehensive look at contemporary Asian cinema.
