The 37th Tokyo International Film Festival began its 10-day run on October 28 with a colorful Red Carpet event featuring Japanese and international cinema luminaries, ahead of the TIFF Opening Ceremony.

The Red Carpet festivities got under way with brief stage appearances by over 200 filmmakers, actors and luminaries from across sections of the festival, as well as the TIFF juries. They then moved along the 162-meter serpentine walk, stopping for multiple autographs and selfies with fans from far and wide before arriving at the elegant staircase leading into the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater. The theater was built in the style of yesteryear’s grand movie houses, providing the perfect backdrop for TIFF’s Opening Ceremony.

Among the international luminaries making the stroll were Chinese actor Zhao Liying and director Midi Z (at TIFF with the film The Unseen Sister); Hong Kong actor Michael Hui (The Last Dance); Taiwanese director Huang Xi and Hong Kong actors Sylvia Chang and Karena Lam (all from Daughter’s Daughter); Malaysian director Chong Keat Aun and actor Natalie Hsu (Pavane for an Infant); Chinese director Dong Zijian and actor Liu Haoran (My Friend An Delie); Singaporean director Mike Wiluan and Japanese actor Dean Fujioka (Orang Ikan); Chinese director Wei Shujun and actor Huang Xiaoming (Mostly Sunny); and Singaporean director Eric Khoo with actors Fubuki Jun and Sakai Masaaki (Spirit World).

The many Japanese celebrities appearing included 37th TIFF Festival Navigator Kikuchi Rinko; Shiraishi Kazuya, director of the festival’s Opening Film 11 Rebels and nine of the film’s stars, including Yamada Takayuki and Nakano Taiga; recent Emmy nominee for Shogun Asano Tadanobu and British director Mark Gill (Ravens); actor Ayase Haruka, making her first TIFF Red Carpet appearance for the film Route 29; actor Suda Masaki with director Kishi Yoshiyuki (winner of the 36th TIFF Audience Award) for his latest film, Sunset Sunrise; Matsushige Yutaka, director and star of Solitary Gourmet; anime director POPREQ (A Few Moments of Cheers); actors Iura Arata and Mizuhara Kiko (Adabana); and actor Kawai Yuumi and director Ohku Akiko (She Taught Me Serendipity).

The final Red Carpet appearance was by the members of the esteemed International Competition jury: Jury President Tony Leung, Enyedi Ildikó, Hashimoto Ai, Chiara Mastroianni, and Johnnie To.

The Opening Ceremony got underway inside the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, with a unique combination of video, music and dance, featuring Sarah Àlainn (vocalist-violinist), Leo (koto player), KAF (virtual singer), Oi Kazuya (drummer), and dancers Ikeda Mika and Suzuki Yohei. An introduction to the festival’s lineup and the awards to be presented were then made via video, with KAF acting as emcee, accompanied by Leo and Oi.

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto Yoji then took the stage to deliver opening remarks. Offering his congratulations, he said, “The Tokyo International Film Festival is one of the most important film festivals in the world, as a representative film festival of Asia. It’s my great pleasure to welcome many filmmakers from Japan and abroad to Tokyo. I believe that movies stay in people’s memories for a long time, and give them insights and important triggers that can change their lives. I myself enjoy watching movies, and my home prefecture has been the setting for various films, attracting many tourists to the prefecture. Recently, there’s been a worldwide interest in Japanese-themed works, such as “Shogun” and Perfect Days, as well as in films by Japanese directors, such as Godzilla Minus One. In this context, I believe that collaborative creation with creators and companies is important, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, considering the film industry as one of the key industries, will continue to provide firm support. Once again, I wish that the Tokyo International Film Festival will be a wonderful opportunity for many excellent films to be created.”

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru then appeared via video with a warm greeting, commenting, “The Tokyo International Film Festival is an Internationally renowned celebration of cinema representing Asia. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you who have contributed to the development of cinema through your ingenuity and efforts. The Japanese content industry has an export scale comparable to that of the steel and semiconductor industries. The source of its competitiveness lies in the individual creators, such as film directors and those on the production floor, along with their companies.

“The government is working to lay the groundwork to further encourage the development of the Japanese content industry by supporting the growth of the next generation of creators and optimizing business transactions. In August this year, the Japan-Italy Film Co-production Agreement came into effect, and the call for submissions for co-productions has finally begun.

“I sincerely hope that the festival will be an event in which the charms of past masterpieces can be rediscovered, and that it will provide an opportunity for everyone to meet and exchange ideas for new productions. In closing, I would like to express my sincere wishes for the success of the Tokyo International Film Festival and for the further development of the film industry in Japan.”

37th TIFF Festival Navigator and actor Kikuchi Rinko, an Academy Award® nominee for her role in Babel who is currently starring in US-Japan hit “Tokyo Vice,” then took to the stage and after remarking that it was a huge honor for her to be serving in the position of Festival Navigator, noted, “Through movies, I would like to be connected with many people. Tonight, in the middle of this unique city of Tokyo, there were so many people on the Red Carpet. Films are one common language that connects us to others. This is amazing for us. My life changed because of film. I’ve had many opportunities to watch and experience lives with different characters, and when I leave the theater, I feel more encouraged for tomorrow. I would like to communicate a message of hope through the films [in which I appear] as well.”

Asian Future section jury members Nia Dinata, Yamashita Koyo and Yokohama Satoko greeted the audience from their seats, before members of the International Competition jury were called on stage. Jury President Tony Leung, one of Asia’s most heralded actors, was flanked by his fellow jurors: Hungarian director Enyedi Ildikó, Japanese actor Hashimoto Ai, French actor Chiara Mastroianni, and Hong Kong director-producer Johnnie To.

Said Leung, “It’s my honor to be on the jury team this year I hope our judgements will make everyone happy. It’s not an easy job to do, but we will do our best. Have a lovely evening.”

The audience was then treated to a trailer of Shiraishi Kazuya’s 11 Rebels, TIFF’s Opening Film and a hotly anticipated world premiere, a jidaigeki action-epic based on an unproduced story from the late, legendary scriptwriter Kasahara Kazuo (Battles Without Honor and Humanity). The director was joined on stage by actors Yamada Takayuki, Sayashi Riho, Sakumoto Takara, Chihara Seiji, Ichinose Hayate, Nomura Shuhei, Oyanagi Ryouta, and Motoyama Chikara.

Shiraishi said: “We’re so grateful that this film was selected as the Opening Film of TIFF. We shot from August to November last year, mired in mud. Some of the cast members weren’t able to make it here tonight, but looking at you, I feel very proud. You all look so cool, after spending such a long time covered in dirt.”

Yamada added, “This jidaigeki is set long ago, but our thoughts and behaviors today aren’t so different from what they were then. Everyone is thinking that they want to do better and improve their conditions. I hope this can resonate with you.”

As the ceremony came to an end, Festival Chairman Ando Hiroyasu delivered the official 37th TIFF opening declaration: “I’m so grateful that so many of you were able to join us, and relieved that the rain lifted and we had a very active Red Carpet. We will have a diversity of films from around the world and I hope you’ll all be able to enjoy yourselves over the next 10 days and continue to support the festival. I now pronounce the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival to be open.”

TIFF’s 37th edition, running from October 28 – November 6 at venues in the Hibiya-Yurakucho-Marunouchi- Ginza area of Tokyo, will feature 208 screenings, Q&A sessions, symposia, masterclasses, TIFF Lounge talk sessions and an enormous array of allied events. The TIFF Lifetime Achievement Award and the Kurosawa Akira Award will be bestowed, as will awards to the chosen films. Fifteen titles are competing for the Tokyo Grand Prix in the festival’s International Competition, drawn from 2,023 submissions from 110 countries and regions, up from last year’s 1,942 submissions.