Chloé Zhao and Kore-eda Hirokazu at the Tokyo Film Festival talk about the lineup
The Tokyo International Film Festival has revealed the full lineup for its sixth annual TIFF Lounge, bringing together some of the most celebrated voices in Asian and international cinema for a series of conversations throughout the festival.
The industry networking initiative, co-presented by the Japan Foundation and TIFF, will host five discussion sessions featuring a roster of leading filmmakers.
The program will kick off with a masterclass from Asian cinema legend Peter Chan Ho-sun on October 28, hosted by TIFF Programming Director Ichiyama Shozo.
Japanese director Fujimoto Akio, whose latest film “Lost Land” won the Special Jury Prize in the Horizons section at Venice, will speak with Thai cinema luminary Pen-ek Ratanaruang on October 29.
A conversation between veteran Japanese director Yamada Yoji, whose film “Tokyo Taxi” is selected for this year’s TIFF Centerpiece, and Lee Sang-il will take place on October 30. Lee will receive the Kurosawa Akira Prize for his film “Kokuho”.
Miyake Sho, whose “Two Seasons, Two Strangers” won the Golden Leopard at Locarno, will discuss his work with Rithy Panh, the famous Cambodian filmmaker who served as president of the Locarno jury, on November 1.
The series culminates Nov. 2 with a dialogue between Japanese master Kore-eda Hirokazu, who serves on the TIFF Lounge programming committee, and Academy Award winner Chloé Zhao, whose film “Hamnet” closes this year’s festival. Both directors will receive the Kurosawa Akira Awards.
TIFF also unveiled its free outdoor screenings program, which covers blockbusters, anime franchises and classic cinema. Programming ranges from animated titles from the “Macross Frontier” and “Macross Delta” franchises to Hollywood mainstays including “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and “Venom: The Last Dance.” A trio of “Superman” films will trace the cinematic evolution of the superhero, while anniversary presentations of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” and Japanese drama “A Distant Cry from Spring” will be accompanied by commemorative tributes. Screenings will take place at Hibiya Step Square in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya.
The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival runs from October 27 to November 5 in the Hibiya-Yurakucho-Marunouchi-Ginza region.
