Tokyo International Film Festival: A blend of cultures and cinematic excellence

The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) has revealed its competition lineup for the 37th edition, showcasing an impressive array of films from both China and Japan. This year’s festival promises a rich tapestry of cinematic experiences, with a total of 110 films selected from a staggering 2,023 submissions. The event serves as a platform for discovering new talent, celebrating Japanese cinema, and presenting the best international art house films of the year.

A diverse competition lineup

The competition section features 15 titles, with a notable presence of Chinese films. Among them are “The Unseen Sister” by Mizi Z, “Big World” by Yang Lina, and “My Friend An Delie” by Dong Zijian. Adding to the Chinese representation are “Papa” by rising Hong Kong director Philip Yung and “Daughter’s Daughter” by Huang Xi, which stars Sylvia Chang and recently premiered at Toronto.

From Japan, the competition includes “She Taught Me Serendipity” by Ohku Akiko, “Teki Cometh” by Yoshida Daihachi, and the Japan-Taiwan co-production “Lust in the Rain” directed by Katayama Shinzo. These films highlight the diversity and creativity of Japanese filmmakers.

Other notable entries in the competition are “The Englishman’s Papers” by Portugal’s Sergio Graciano, “Bury Your Dead” by Brazil’s Marco Dutra, and “In His Own Image” by France’s Thierry de Peretti.

Spotlight on emerging Asian talent

The Asian Future section is dedicated to showcasing the work of rising talents, featuring ten world premieres. Highlights include “Pavane for an Infant” by Malaysia’s Chong Keat Aun, “Sima’s Song” by Afghanistan’s Roya Sadat, and “The Bora” by Iran’s Mohammad Esmaeilie. Additionally, two Chinese-language films, “The Vessel’s Islw” by Wang Di and “Three Castrated Goats” by Ye Xingyu, are credited as U.S. productions.

Gala presentations and world focus

The festival’s Gala Presentation section includes 13 high-profile Asian and international titles. Among them are Marielle Heller’s “Nightbitch”, which debuted in Toronto, the Hong Kong action hit “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”, Chinese director Guan Hu’s Cannes comedy-drama “Black Dog”, and Eric Khoo’s Japan-set “Spirit World” starring Catherine Deneuve.

The World Focus section features 27 titles, including ten contemporary films selected globally, a retrospective of Arturo Ripstein’s work, a trio of Nanni Moretti films, and a five-film look-back at Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni. Notably, “The Room Next Door” by Pedro Almodóvar has been added as a late entry.

Animation and female empowerment

The festival’s Animation section is particularly strong this year, featuring “Ghost Cat Anzu” by Kuno Yoko and Yamashita Nobuhiro, Chris Sanders’ “The Wild Robot”, Gints Zilbalodis’s “Flow”, and Adam Elliot’s “Memoir of a Snail”. Japanese animation is well-represented with the world premiere of “Make a Girl” by Yasuda Gensho, “Toto Chan: The Movie The Little Girl at the Window” by Yakuwa Shinnosuke, and a 4K restoration of Masuda Toshio’s 1977 classic “Space Battleship Yamato”.

The newly launched Female Empowerment section features nine titles, including “IVO” by Eva Trobisch, “My Favourite Cake” by Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, and the world premiere of “Doctor-X The Movie” by Tamura Naoki. This section also includes “Women Make Films – The Tokyo International Women’s Film Festival” by Kumagai Hiroko.

Special series and opening night

The TIFF Series section includes three titles: “The Dogs of Karma” by Japan’s Shiraishi Koji, “The New Years” by Rodrigo Sorogoyen and Sandra Romero, and “Scénarios & Exposé du film annonce du film ‘Scénario’” focusing on Jean-Luc Godard.

The festival will open with the historical action film “11 Rebels”, setting the stage for a week of cinematic celebration from October 28 to November 6 in the Hibiya-Yurakucho-Marunouchi-Ginza area.

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