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The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival opened Monday with a red carpet held in steady autumn rain in the Hibiya district of central Tokyo.
Japanese actors Tadanobu Asano, Junichi Okada, Kento Nakajima, Mei Nagano and Takumi Kitamura attended, as did Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer.
Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski, who came with the cast and producers of his competition film “Sister Brother Manhole Cover,” sheltered under a replica manhole cover.
He said manhole covers “keep the dirt of society hidden” and are what the film’s heroes steal. Kramer told Japanese film fans: “Go to the cinema.”
The ceremony took place at Hulic Hall Tokyo, hosted by Nakajima, the festival’s official “navigator." Takeo Hisamatsu returns as festival director after the departure of chairman Hiroyasu Ando earlier this year. Hisamatsu previously held the post from 2017 to 2021 and declared the festival open.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a video message that film connects people across countries and cultures.
She added that her government aims to raise overseas content sales to 20 trillion yen ($130 billion) by 2033 through faster public-private investment. Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa cited “Godzilla Minus Zero” as an example of Japanese intellectual property with export value. Jury president Rolf de Heer, an Australian director, said all jury members have been influenced by Japanese cinema.
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The festival runs Oct. 26 to Nov. 4 with 204 films from 112 countries and regions, including 35 world premieres. Screenings are concentrated in the Ginza district of central Tokyo. The TIFFCOM content market runs Oct. 28 to 30 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center in Hamamatsucho, south of central Tokyo.
The opening film was “Sukiyaki” by director Takahisa Zeze, about the song “Ue o Muite Aruko,” which topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks in 1963 under the title “Sukiyaki.” Okada plays composer Hachidai Nakamura and said he practiced piano for three months before filming.
A five-member jury will assess 15 competition films for the Tokyo Grand Prix and other honors. Besides de Heer, the panel includes producers Oh Jungwan and Alex Lo, actress Makiko Watanabe and colorist Yov Moor. Competition titles include Bahman Ghobadi’s “Trees Are Watching,” starring Eva Green, and three Japanese films.
New this year are competitive awards for the Nippon Cinema Now section and a Southeast Asian cinema programme called CROSSCUT ASIA+. The Kurosawa Akira Awards go to Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof and Japanese director Mipo O. The new Kashiko Kawakita Award goes to film critic Sahoko Hata.
Actress Cate Blanchett joins an Oct. 30 discussion with Rasoulof and Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat. Kramer speaks with Toho CEO Hiro Matsuoka, and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor joins an Oct. 28 panel. “Godzilla Minus Zero” screens as the centerpiece film Nov. 1. The festival closes Nov. 4 with Yeon Sang-ho’s “Colony.”
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