26th Tokyo International Film Festival

2013.05.15

[Updates]

TIFF’s main sections

To commemorate the start of the next 25 years, TIFF will reorganize its main sections, introducing new sections on top of the Competition section.

◆ Competition
TIFF’s principal section and the highlight of the film festival, the Competition section showcases feature films that were completed after January 2013. Fifteen films from around the world will be selected for screening at the festival. The International Competition Jury of five international cineastes will award the Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix, Special Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Artistic Contribution. The winners will be announced at the Closing Ceremony on October 25.

矢田部PD Competition Programming Director : Yoshi Yatabe

Yatabe entered the film distribution and advertising business after working for the Industrial Bank of Japan (currently Mizuho Bank). He also has produced documentaries and managed the Festival du Film Francais au Japon. Joining TIFF in 2002, he oversaw the Programming Division and the selection of films, as well as served as Programming Director for Japanese Eyes. In 2007, he assumed the post of Competition Programming Director for TIFF.

◆ Asian Future [NEW]
A showcase up-and-coming Asian directors
From Asia to the World and on to the future! The new “Asian Future” section supersedes the “Winds of Asia-Middle East” section of previous festivals. The Asian Future section will showcase films by young directors who have directed no more than two feature films. Outstanding works from the Asian region, which includes Japan and the Middle East, will be selected for the festival. Members of some film production teams and casts will be invited to participate in networking sessions with audiences and the film community. One film will be selected to receive the “Best Asian Future Film Award.”

石坂PD Asian Future Programming Director : Kenji Ishizaka

Ishizaka began researching and critiquing Asian and documentary films after majoring film study at Waseda University’s Graduate School. He planned and managed approximately seventy Asia Middle-East Film Festival Series from 1990 through 2007 for the Japan Foundation. He has been a Programming Director of TIFF since its 20th in 2007. He concurrently holds the position of the professor of Japan Institute of Moving Image, which opened in April 2011. He also wrote several books including Amidst the Sea of Documentary: Dialogues with Tsuchimoto Noriaki, published by Gendai Shokan.

◆ Special Screenings
Premiere screenings of films that have not been released in Japan

都島PD Special Screenings Programming Director (Managing Director of TIFF): Nobushige Toshima

Toshima has been on detached service from Toho Co., Ltd., since October 2006. He has been involved in the theatrical distribution business ever since joining Toho. Toshima became Managing Director of the festival committee in April 2009 and continues to serve as Programming Director for Special Screenings.

◆ Japanese Eyes
Independent Japanese films that are ready for the world stage

◆ World Focus [Renewal]
Must-see films that were acclaimed at various international film festivals
The World Focus section showcases important films by noted directors that have recently been completed but not yet released in Japan. The section features films that have created a sensation on the international film festival circuit. The World Focus section also will present outstanding films from Asia as well as Europe and the United States. More than half of the films screened in the former World Cinema section were later shown at theaters in Japan. The new World Focus section will be a showcase for internationally acclaimed films.

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