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Films
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TIFF Sections / Programming DirectorTIFF Sections
TIFF Sections
TIFF will showcase its selection of films in diverse sections.
The Competition section will screen 15 films carefully selected from among the many submissions to this year's Tokyo International Film Festival, including nine world premieres, one international premiere, and five Asian premieres. On the final day of the festival, we will hold the award ceremony, where the five jury members will present the Tokyo Grand Prix and Special Jury Prize as well as Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Artistic Contribution Awards. As in the previous year, three films from China were selected, reflecting the high quality of Chinese cinema. From Slovakia, a country whose films have rarely been introduced in Japan, an impressive directorial debut was selected. As for the three Japanese films, we are pleased to introduce talented directors who are steadily building their careers.
Please discover on screen how each filmmaker, with the world in turmoil, is facing social issues and what cinematic techniques they use to depict them.
Ichiyama Shozo
Programming Director
The Asia Future section, launched in 2013 and marking its 11th edition, is TIFF's competition section for emerging Asian filmmakers (the 2020 edition wasn't a competition due to the pandemic). All ten selected films will have their world premieres at the festival. This year, entries from East Asia and the Middle East are prominent. Viewers will note a wide range of themes from mythological references to the recent pandemic, discover ambitious cinematography of long takes and POV shots, and witness films that depict society through the eyes of women. The realities of the world will emerge (If I may add, there are three titles with animals: cows, goats, and whales). Be among the first to experience the powerful works of these up-and-coming Asian filmmakers, who are sure to feature in the world's film scene in the years to come.
Ishizaka Kenji
Senior Programmer
This year's Gala Selection presents 13 diverse films. A Real Pain was honored with the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival, while two Chinese films, Black Dog and Twilight of the Warriors, garnered widespread acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. Nightbitch showcases the unconventional acting of Amy Adams, who impressed audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival. Emmanuelle and Lumière! The Adventure Continues recently made their world premieres at the San Sebastian International Film. White Bird, starring Helen Mirren, touches the audience's heart. Spirit World and Orang Ikan feature Japanese actors in international productions. The selection also includes four Japanese films rich in both entertainment values and creativity, including Sunset Sunrise, directed by Kishi Yoshiyuki, who received the Award for Best Director at the 2023 Tokyo International Film Festival. This presents an excellent opportunity to preview high-profile films from around the globe.
Ichiyama Shozo
Programming Director
The Women's Empowerment program at TIFF features a diverse selection of films by female directors, exploring the intricate realities of women's lives from Köln (Germany) to Hong Kong, Tehran to futuristic Japan. These films reveal hidden aspects of identity, resilience, and transformation, celebrating the diversity and strength of women worldwide. By amplifying female voices, the program provides a crucial platform for their perspectives in cinema. For ecades, cinema has been shaped by male viewpoints, often overlooking the full spectrum of human experience. However, advancements in digital technology have made filmmaking more inclusive, fostering a surge of female storytellers.
This year's TIFF program highlights these innovative directors, writers, and cinematographers, honoring their contributions and ensuring they receive the recognition they deserve.
Andrijana Cvetkovikj
Senior Programmer
World Focus introduces films which represent current trends in world cinema. This year, many documentaries dealing with various issues facing the world today were selected, including Berlinale Golden Bear winner Dahomey. In addition, the screenings of six films will be co-hosted by Latin Beat Film Festival, which has introduced excellent films from Spain and Latin America. The lineup includes the top award winners from prestigious film festivals in Europe, such as Venice Golden Lion winner The Room Next Door and San Sebastian Golden Shell winner Afternoons of Solitude. Each of these films reveals various facets of the world we live in. Many of the films have yet to be released in cinemas in Japan, and we hope the screenings at TIFF will catalyze their theatrical release in Japan.
Ichiyama Shozo
Programming Director
In previous years, this section introduced films we highly recommend for teenagers. This year, we are showcasing must-see films that will captivate both teenagers and regular movie fans. In our selection, we have two films featured in the Generation section of the Berlin International Film Festival, known for showcasing exceptional films for young audiences. One is She Sat There Like All Ordinary Ones, which powerfully portrays Chinese high school students. The other is Who by Fire, which depicts the coming-ofage journey of a boy at a remote Canadian lodge in a distinctive style. We will also showcase The Sparrow in the Chimney, depicting the dark side of a seemingly peaceful family. This is the latest film by the director Ramon Zürcher, whose creative work garners attention.
Ichiyama Shozo
Programming Director
The Nippon Cinema Now section showcases a carefully curated selection of new Japanese films that we believe are essential for international audiences to experience.
This year, we have selected seven diverse films, including feature films, documentaries, and international co-productions, all pushing the boundaries of traditional filmmaking. Particularly noteworthy are the screenings of the latest films by filmmakers who have been awarded the Amazon Prime Video Take One Award, a short-film competition established in 2021. We anticipate an increased appreciation of films from talented directors who are shaping the future of Japanese cinema at various international film festivals.
Ichiyama Shozo
Programming Director
In the "Intersection of Visions," the Animation Section will screen a total of 12 films, five international films and seven Japanese films. Audiences will be able to experience the five regionally diverse international films, along with the Japanese films, and feel the power of animation through a variety of styles, from 3D animation to hand-drawn animation to 3D CG. This year's program will also feature three Japanese films that go beyond the border between independent and major motion films, a new trend in Japan. The Retrospective will feature the 1977 film that was truly influential in the history of Japanese animation and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year: Space Battleship Yamato.
Fujitsu Ryota
Programming Advisor
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late renowned director Masumura Yasuzo, we will premiere three of his films: Nakano Spy School, The Red Angel, and The Wife of Seisaku.
Additionally, in honor of the 10th anniversary of the passing of the legendary actor Takakura Ken, we will be screening Japanese Yakuza and Abashiri Prison, which are the first films of two special series representing the golden age of Toei yakuza movies. We will also showcase the masterpiece Wolves, Pigs And Men by Fukasaku Kinji, known for its outstanding action scenes. Furthermore, the legendary film Nomugi Pass by Yamamoto Satsuo, a featured director at last year's festival, will be presented in a digitally remastered version in 4K. Another must-see 4K digital remaster is Godzilla restored to celebrate its 70th anniversary, which earned high praise at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.
Ichiyama Shozo
Programming Director
The TIFF Series is a section that showcases outstanding TV and internet series, acknowledging the recent increase in such productions, with some even surpassing theatrical films in quality.
This year's lineup will include The New Years and Disclaimer, both of which had their world premieres at the Venice Film Festival.
On a big screen, you can enjoy the cinematic works of Rodrigo Sorogoyen from Spain, who received the Grand Prix award at the 2022 Tokyo International Film Festival for The Beasts , and master director Alfonso Cuarón from Mexico. Also to be screened are the first two episodes of The Dogs of Karma , straight from production. The series has been generating significant buzz due to the collaboration of actors Kubozuka Yosuke and Kamenashi Kazuya. We will also present a special screening and a talk session showcasing Jean-Luc Godard's final work, Scénarios & Exposé du film annonce du film "Scénario", which received great acclaim when screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
Ichiyama Shozo
Programming Director
Ichiyama Shozo
Born in 1963. As a producer for Shochiku Co., Ltd. and Office Kitano Inc., Ichiyama mainly produced works by the non-Japanese filmmakers. His major films include Hou Hsiao-Hsien's Flowers of Shanghai (1998), Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize-winning director Samira Makhmalbaf's Blackboards (2000), and Cannes Film Festival Best Screenplay winner A Touch of Sin (2013) directed by Jia Zhangke. He was also in charge of selecting films for the Tokyo International Film Festival from 1992 to 1999. In 2000, he launched the Film Festival Tokyo FILMeX and served as the director. Since 2013, he has been a visiting professor at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media. He is the recipient of the 2019 Kawakita Award. He was appointed Programming Director of the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2021.
Ishizaka Kenji
Born in 1960. Ishizaka began critiquing Asian and documentary films after majoring in film studies in Waseda University’s Graduate School. He planned and managed an Asia-Middle East Film Festival Series from 1990 to 2007 for the Japan Foundation.
Ishizaka has been serving as Asian Section's Programming Director for TIFF since its 20th edition in 2007. He has been serving as Senior Programmer since 2020. He concurrently holds the position of professor and dean of the Japan Institute of the Moving Image. He has written several books, including “Amidst the Ocean of the Documentary,” published by Gendaishokan Co., Ltd. (As he is currently in the United States as a visiting professor at the University of Michigan, he is in charge of selecting the works this year.)
Fujitsu Ryota
Animation critic. Born in 1968 in Shizuoka prefecture. Originally a newspaper reporter and weekly magazine editor, Fujitsu started writing about animation in 2000. Fujitsu’s works include books such as "Anime Hyoronka Sengen – Revised Edition" (Chikuma Bunko), "Anime no Rinkaku" (Seidosha), "Anime to Senso" (Nihon Hyoronsha). He serves as lecturer at Tokyo Polytechnic University.
Andrijana Cvetkovikj
Andrijana Cvetkovikj was Macedonia's first ambassador to Japan and received the WIN Inspiring Women Worldwide Award in 2022. She holds a Ph.D. in Cinema Studies from Nihon University, an honorary Doctorate from the European University, and was a visiting professor at Kyoto University. As a filmmaker, she has received an Award of Excellence from the Japan Association of Audiovisual Producers. She has spoken at the World Economic Forum and UN Conferences. She was Chief Curator of the SDGs in Motion at TIFF 2023 and a jury member for the Amazon Prime Video Take One Award in 2021.
Comment from Andrijana Cvetkovikj, Senior Programmer
For years, screen representation has been limited by a predominantly male perspective, missing a fuller range of experiences. However, with advancements in digital technology, filmmaking has become more accessible, leading to a surge in female directors, writers, and protagonists. This year's TIFF program highlights these emerging voices, celebrating their diverse stories and contributions to cinema.
With the support of external experts with a wide range of knowledge, connections, and diverse values, the films to be showcased this year were selected.
Ando Kohei
Emeritus Professor at Waseda University
Kimbara Yuka
Journalist
Sekiguchi Yuko
Journalist
