Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The 37th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) will focus on enhancing international exchange initiatives, nurturing talents for the industry’s future and implementing programs to support female empowerment, TIFF Chairman ANDO Hiroyasu said at a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The 37th TIFF will be held in central Tokyo from October 28 to November 6.

“Over the past two or three years, we’ve made several changes to refocus the festival,” Ando said. “We feel we have been able to establish and solidify collaborations with government entities and corporations in the area, and we feel that TIFF has finally won the acknowledgment and recognition of the citizens.”

‘And we have further deepened our focus on international exchange programs. The TIFF Lounge, a dedicated space for filmmakers and industry professionals to network and collaborate, is a key platform for such international exchange. At this year’s TIFF, we have further focused on nurturing talents for the future empowerment.’

The event at The Foreign Correspondents’ Club also featured a special screening of IRIE Yu’s film “A Girl Named Ann,” a surprise early-summer hit.

Irie, the Director of Focus for the Nippon Cinema Now section, displayed a humble attitude: “To be honest, I was a little bit confused why they chose me for the Nippon Cinema Now Director in Focus because there are many wonderful Japanese filmmakers, especially of my generation, who have established their places in the film industry. However, this type of honor doesn’t happen often in life, and I felt that ‘A Girl Named Ann’ would be a special work in my filmography, so I gladly accepted the honor. I hope this mini retrospective at TIFF will allow me to take a fresh look at my work.”

TIFF Programming Director ICHIYAMA Shozo explained more about Nippon Cinema Now: ‘Nippon Cinema Now is a section in which we focus more on independent than established directors. It’s a platform that celebrates the diversity and innovation of Japanese cinema, showcasing the works of both emerging and established filmmakers.’