TOKYO – The program for the 27th Tokyo International Film Festival was announced in a press conference at Toranomon Hills, Tokyo on 30 September.
Following a welcoming address from the Director General of TIFF, Yasushi Shiina. “I would like to [emphasize] major objectives of the festival are to motivate people in the movie industry while strengthening brand-recognition of the TIFF among general consumers by introducing worth to watch movies. We are aiming at win-win situation that having strong name recognition of TIFF to lead growth of the movie industry and getting more audience to see movies,” Shiina said on the festival.
The complete line-up of the main sections were introduced by the programming directors. “This year, we might say the common theme among the competition films is about the “people have their backs to the wall”, who have been in cornered. Because in the changing society people cannot avoid the impact of such changes in the environment, so they have been in cornered in their situation and they have to escape from their precariat situation. Even though they are in different situations all the films are about such cornered people getting into the next stage. It is all about “How to live tomorrow?” That is the theme and that is the common theme among all films in the Competition section,” said Yoshi Yatabe, programming director.
The opening and closing films were also announced: “Big Hero 6” (Directors: Don Hall, Chris Williams) and “PARASYTE” (Director: Takashi Yamazaki).
A video message from Ichikawa Somegoro Ⅶ, who will give a Kabuki performance at Special Night Event at Kabukiza Theater was also shown. In the video he said, “The Shakkyo is a classic and popular Kabuki dance. I play the role of a lion-like animal that is an icon of strength. It is great honor for me and for Kabuki, as well, to present Kabuki to guests from around the world at a special Kabuki theater. Regarding the screening of Chaplin’s “City Lights” at the Kabukiza
Theater, Kabuki people were impressed by [it] and created a Kabuki story adopting concept of
the film. I feel that this event was destined to be shown at the Kabukiza Theater.”
For the competition section, a total of 1,373 titles from 92 countries and regions were submitted to TIFF this year.
The 27th TIFF’s International Competition Jury members were also announced during the press conference; the Jury members consist of Jury President James Gunn (director), John H. Lee (director), Robert Luketic (director), Eric Khoo (director), Debbie McWilliams (casting director) and Hiroshi Shinigawa (director, comedian).
“I am looking forward talking with people who visit the festival and also to capture the excitement and energy that everybody has in the world of film making,” Daihachi Yoshida, the director of “Pale Moon”, which was selected for the Competition section, shared his excitement toward the upcoming festival.
“I am honored to be the festival muse and would like to participate in the festival as a big movie fan as well. Films helped me out from loneliness and sadness, while giving joy, happiness, and fulfillment. I guess film has a role to sooth and heal people in their busy life, and sometimes make them escape from their reality and they can dream. Film has such a power, I believe.” Miki Nakatani, muse of the festival said, also sharing her excitement toward the festival.
An establishment of SAMURAI Award was also unveiled, and Takeshi Kitano and Tim Burton are going to be the first recipients.
During the nine-day celebration, there will be daily film-related exciting events at the festival place with welcoming addresses by celebrated guests from Japan and around the world.
The 27th TIFF will be held October 23-31, 2014, at Roppongi Hills, TOHO Cinemas Nihonbashi and other venues in Tokyo.
