Introduction to the Tokyo International Film Festival
The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival has announced its final film, which is Chloe Zhao’s period drama Hamnet. This film is based on Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel and stars Jessie Buckley as the wife of William Shakespeare, played by Paul Mescal, as they mourn the loss of their child. The festival will take place from October 27th to November 5th.
Gala and Animation Selection
The festival has also revealed its gala and animation selection, which includes top-class titles from the USA, Hong Kong, and Korea. Some of the notable titles include Ari Aster’s Eddington, Hikari’s Rental Family, and Scott Cooper’s Springsteen: I Ran Out of Nowhere. The animation lineup is led by Japan, with films such as Yasuhiro Aoki’s Chao and Ryuya Suzuki’s Jinei.
Gala Titles
The gala titles include a mix of Japanese and international films, such as:
- Blue Boy Trial (Japan)
- Bring it to a portable size (Japan)
- I can’t cry with your face (Japan)
- Eddington (US)
- Holy Night: Demon Hunter (S Korea)
- Love in Court (Japan)
- Night Flower (Japan)
- One Last Litter (Japan)
- Rental Family (US/Japan)
- She Has No Name (China)
- Sons of the Nonnacht (HK)
- Springsteen: I Ran Out of Nowhere (US)
Animation Titles
The animation lineup includes films from Japan, France, Spain, China, and Mexico, such as:
- Allah is Not Committed (France)
- Chao (Japan)
- Decorated (Spain)
- Edge (China)
- Engels Egg 4K Residualization (Japan)
- I Am Frankelda (Mexico)
- Jinei (Japan)
- Labyrinth (Japan)
- Little Amélie or the Character of the Rain (France)
- Momotaro, Holy Seafarers (Japan)
- The Last Flower (Japan)
- The Possessed (Japan)
Market Keynote
The festival will also feature a market keynote, where industry professionals will discuss the future of global adaptations of Japanese IP. The Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation and Remake will bring together publishers and production companies to support the production of new visual content based on Japanese IP.
Festival Opening
The festival will open with Junji Sakamoto’s Climb for Life, the story of Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabe, who was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The closing film will be Yoji Yamada’s Tokyo Taxi, a drama that marks the 91st feature of the experienced Japanese filmmaker.
