The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) today unveiled the lineups in all sections, as well as the jury members, and highlights of this year’s 31st edition.
At a press conference at Toranomon Hills Forum in Tokyo, Festival Director Takeo HISAMATSU delivered opening remarks and emphasized the festival’s vision for the future. Mayu MATSUOKA, one of Japan’s most popular actresses, discussed her role as the 31st TIFF Ambassador. The Opening, Gala screening and Closing films were showcased. TIFF’s programing directors then took the stage to introduce the lineup for each section of the festival.
In the Competition section, 16 films* were selected from among 1,829 titles, which was the largest number of entries in TIFF, from 109 countries and regions. Representing the two Japanese titles in this main competitive section, director Junji SAKAMOTO from Another World, and director Rikiya IMAIZUMI and actress Yukino KISHII from Just Only Love, were welcomed on stage and made remarks.
Competition Lineup for 31st TIFF
This year’s International Competition Jury members were also announced. Director Brillante Ma MENDOZA (The Philippines), winner of the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival, will serve as Jury President, alongside producer Bryan BURK (USA), actress Taraneh ALIDOOSTI (Iran), director-producer Stanley KWAN (Hong Kong), and actress Kaho MINAMI (Japan).
Profile of Brillante Ma MENDOZA, Jury President, 31st TIFF
Well regarded for his masterful direction and his neo-realist depictions of the social realities and lives of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, Mendoza’s first film Masahista (The Masseur), won the Golden Leopard at Locarno International Film Festival in 2005. In 2012, his film Captive competed in the Berlin International Film Festival, while Tirador (Slingshot) won the Caligari Film Award in 2007. Thy Womb won La Navicella Venezia Cinema Award at the Venice Film Festival in 2012. Lola was nominated for the Venice Golden Lion in 2009. His most notable achievement is winning the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival for the film Kinatay in 2009. In 2015, his film Taklub received the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and in the following year, his film Ma’ Rosa won the Best Actress Award (Jaclyn Jose) at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was the Philippines entry for the 2017 Oscars. Recently, the French government decorated Brillante Ma Mendoza with the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters).
Acclaimed director Masaaki YUASA, who is being honored this year with a retrospective in the Animation Focus section, greeted the audience after the retrospective lineup was announced. He will appear at talk sessions with special guests following his TIFF screenings.
Full Lineup of The World of Masaaki YUASA
During the 10-day celebration, close to 200 films will be screened and unique film-related events will be held every day at the festival venues, including stage appearances, Q&A sessions and symposia featuring celebrated guests from around the world.
The 31st TIFF will take place October 25 to November 3, 2018 at Roppongi Hills, EX Theater Roppongi, Hibiya Step Square and other venues in Tokyo.
