Introduction to the Tokyo International Film Festival
The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced its full lineup for its 38th edition, which will take place from October 28 to November 5. The festival will feature 183 films, including 15 films in the competition section, with eight world premieres.
Competition Section
The competition section includes world premieres by renowned directors such as Chong Keat Aun, Rithy Panh, Amos Gitai, and Zhang Lu. Chong Keat Aun’s film, Mother Bhumi, tells the story of a widow who uses magic to save her village. Rithy Panh’s documentary, We are the fruits of the forest, explores the lives of ethnic minorities in Cambodia’s northern mountain regions. Amos Gitai’s Golem in Pompey is a French production that documents his piece Golem in the old theater in Pompeii. Zhang Lu’s Mother tongue follows a fighting actress who returns to her hometown in Sichuan and struggles to speak her local dialect.
Other Notable Films
Other notable films in the competition section include Blond by Yuichiro Sakashita, Echos from Motherland by Ryutaro Nakagawa, and Maria Vitoria by Mario Sponsoring. The gala section of the festival will feature I can’t cry with your face by Yuichiro Sakashita, as well as other notable films such as Eddington by Ari Aster and Rental family by Hikari.
Asian Future Competition
The Asian Future competition section features 10 films, all of which are world premieres. This section is dedicated to aspiring Asian filmmakers who have made up to three films. The section includes The chatter boxes by Ken Kawai, Article by Mika Imai, and Travel to Sato Tadao by Mituho Terasaki. The Asian Future jury includes Ellen Yd Kim, Daishi Matsunaga, and Akihiro Nishizawa.
World Focus Section
The World Focus section features a selection of films from around the world, including The mastermind by Kelly Reichardt, Tunnel: sun in the dark by Bui Thac Chuyen, and Hamnet by Chloe Zhao. The section also includes sub-sections focused on Taiwan, Brazil, and French-speaking Belgium, as well as the annual Latin beat section.
Festival Events
The festival will open with Junji Sakamoto’s Climb for life and close with Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet. The Tiff Lounge will feature a discussion between Yoji Yamada and Lee Sang-il, and the Tiffcom industry market will run alongside the festival from October 29 to 31. The third edition of the Tokyo Story Market, now renamed the Tokyo IP Market: adaptation & remake, will also take place during the festival.
