Japan prime minster pledges support for content industry at Tokyo film festival opening

Japan’s prime minster Shigeru Ishiba delivered a message of support to the local film industry during the opening of the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) on Monday (October 28).

Speaking via video message, Ishiba said work was underway to further develop Japan’s screen industries.

“The Japanese content industry has an export scale comparable to that of the steel and semiconductor industries,” said the prime minister. “The source of its competitiveness lies in the individual creators such as film directors and those on the production floor, along with their companies. The government is working to lay the groundwork to further encourage the development of the Japanese content industry by supporting the growth of the next generation of creators and optimising business transactions.

Ishiba also highlighted a recently ratified co-production agreement with Italy, which will be a focus at both TIFF and associated market TIFFCOM.

“In August this year, the Japan-Italy Film Co-Production Agreement came into effect, and the call for submissions for co-productions has finally begun,” he said. “I sincerely hope that the festival will be an event in which the charms of past masterpieces can be rediscovered and that it will provide an opportunity for everyone to meet and exchange ideas for new productions.”

The festival’s focus on Italy includes screenings of three titles by Nanni Moretti, the selection of Christophe Honoré’s Marcello Mio as the festival’s closing feature and the inclusion of actress Chiara Mastroianni in the competition jury.

The opening night event at Tokyo’s Takarazuka Theatre saw around 20% more footfall on the red carpet while the public turn-out doubled, compared to last year, according to TIFF chairman Hiroyasu Ando.

“We’ve had rain since this morning and I was a bit concerned about the red carpet but the heavens have sided with us,” said Ando. “Here, at this venue, we also have more people attending the ceremony than last year, which makes me very happy.”

Crowds came out to see celebrities such as Asano Tadanobu, star of acclaimed drama series Shogun and Mark Gill’s Ravens, which will screen in the Nippon Cinema Now section of the festival.

Filmmakers included Japan’s Yu Irie, who is the festival’s director in focus this year, Singapore’s Eric Khoo, Malaysia’s Cong Keat Aun and Midi Z, the Myanmar-born, Taiwan-based director who Chinese drama The Unseen Sister plays in competition.

The international competition jury took to the stage led by Hong Kong star Tony Leung alongside Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To, French actress Chiara Mastroianni, Hungarian writer/director Ildiko Enyedi and Japanese actress Ai Hashimoto.

The evening was co-hosted by Kaf, a Japanese singer-songwriter and virtual YouTuber, who has more than one million subscribers on the video platform. The pink-haired anime character appeared on both the massive screen and as a hologram.

Also hosting was prominent voice actress Ayane Sakura, who introduced guests including actress Kikuchi Rinko, who is this year’s festival ambassador and appears on TIFF’s poster; Yuji Moto, Japan’s minister of economy, trade and industry; and director Kazuya Shiraishi alongside the stars of opening night film 11 Rebels.

TIFF is set to run until November 6 in the Hibiya-Ginza district of Tokyo.