A 30-Year Milestone:The 2015 Film Festival Aims to Evolve

The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), which began in 1985, celebrates its 30-year milestone this year. At this 28th edition of TIFF, we will have the Japanese premiere of Ran directed by Akira Kurosawa coming back with a 4K digital presentation, and the fact that the film was once screened as the opening film at the first TIFF promises to be deeply emotional.

To raise the profile of TIFF as one of the leading and most important film festivals in the Asian region, we continue to carefully select quality films submitted from all corners of the world and ensure that award-winning films are rewarded with positive consequences both in the domestic and international film markets. Creation of such virtuous cycle is TIFF’s important role.
In addition, TIFF is a significant platform in which Japanese films gain exposure from overseas. Newly established sections this year displays the diverse works of Japanese cinema, with screenings from classical films right up to the latest releases. This year's TIFF continues its focus from last year on animation, Japan’s most well-known content.
Starting from last year, TIFF launched a program in collaboration with the Japan Foundation Asia Center to support young Asian filmmakers and to supply them with a framework to present their works to the world. This serves to deepen cultural exchange opportunities through the films for filmmakers around the world.

This year, we will hold screenings in Shinjuku as well as in our usual venue at Roppongi Hills to increase the number of screenings and visitors. In addition, in collaboration with the Shinjuku Convention & Visitors Bureau, TIFF is joining forces with Shinjuku Art Heaven 2015, which is the part of the 36th Grand Shinjuku City Festival in a spirit of neighborhood cooperation to offer a variety of ways to enjoy the film festival. This will further advance the future of this exciting festival.
During the film festival, TIFFCOM is expected to have a ripple effect, becoming a site not only for the film industry where buyer and sellers to gather but also, serving as a place to actively collaborate and pursue the excellent Japanese content represented by "Cool Japan." Screenings will be held at the Kabukiza Theatre, one of the symbols of Japanese culture, and it is hoped that this fusion of cultures between Kabuki and Tokyo will have great appeal overseas.

We are excited about the new initiatives for the 28th edition of the festival, and we appreciate your continued support and cooperation. Thank you!

Director General Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF & TIFFCOM) Yasushi Shiina

Yasushi Shiina

Yasushi Shiina was born in 1951. After graduating from Faculty of Science and Engineering at the Waseda University in March 1974, Shiina joined Sumitomo Corporation Inc. in April the same year. He became a counselor of Media Division of Sumitomo in 1987. In 1991, he was appointed Director, General Manager of Film Division, Asmik, and assumed the position of Representative Senior Managing Director in 1998 before becoming President of Asmik Ace Entertainment in 2000. In the year 2004, he became President of Kadokawa Entertainment, and then President of Kadokawa Pictures in 2009. After appointed as Representative Senior Managing Director in 2011, he currently serves as Director-Executive Advisor of KADOKAWA Co., Ltd. Among his official responsibilities, he serves as Chairman of Conference Group for Import and Clearance of Foreign Films in Japan, and Vice-Chairman of Foreign Film Importer- Distributors Association of Japan, Inc.