Bent Hamer

Film Director/Writer/Producer

profile

Film Director, writer, producer and owner of the film production company BulBul Film, Bent was born in Sandefjord, Norway. After studying law at the University of Oslo, he worked for some years as a sailboat skipper abroad before he completed his education in Film Theory and Literature at the University of Stockholm and in filmmaking at Stockholms Filmskola. Bent's feature films include the award winning O' Horten, Factotum, Kitchen Stories and Eggs which all internationally premiered in Cannes. 1001 Grams, O' Horten and Kitchen Stories were Norway's entry for the Academy Award. In 2013 Bent was awarded the Norwegian Amanda Honorary Award.

Message

As a member of the 28th TIFF jury I am looking forward to coming back to Tokyo and Japan again, where almost all my feature films have been distributed over the last 20 years. Throughout history, stellar artists' work have not always been recognized in its time. This indicates how difficult it is to compete in the arts, and films are no exception. Easy to be overlooked when commercial aspects count more than quality. For me this is the main reason why film festivals are important: the opportunity for audiences to watch films with no ordinary distribution and a place for filmmakers and cast to be presented to qualified audiences, journalists and critics. As a member of the jury I am also an audience member with all my nonprofessional references, taste, cultural background etc. searching for something more than just entertainment. I am honoured to have the chance to look for gems—bigger, smaller, hidden, and obvious—together with my jury associates. Hopefully we'll be able to discuss our views and understandings in a personal and subjective way but still recognize and agree on something we want to highlight as a common jury. In the end, the essence of any films has very little to do with films, which for me is the heart of the arts.

Nansun Shi

Producer

profile

Esteemed and prolific producer Nansun Shi has produced such blockbuster hits as The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate 3D (2011), Young Detective Dee – Rise of the Sea Dragon (2013) and The Taking of Tiger Mountain (2014). She was pivotal in the success of Cinema City and Film Workshop Co. Ltd., which she founded with internationally-acclaimed Producer/Director Tsui Hark. Nansun was a member of the International Jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2007 and at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011. In October 2013, the French Government honoured Nansun with the title of Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In August 2014, the 67th Locarno Film Festival honoured Nansun with the Premio Raimondo Rezzonico for Best Independent Producer. In May 2015, the 17th Udine Far East Film Festival honoured Nansun with the Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award.

Message

It is a great pleasure for me to serve as a jury member of the 28th Tokyo International Film Festival. I attended the third festival in 1989 with my partner who was serving as a jury member. Tokyo was, then, a very "young" festival. How time has gone by, and we are already at the 28th festival, quite a grown-up!
I look forward to watching many good films from around the world and passionate discussions with my fellow jury members.

Susanne Bier

Writer/Film Director

profile

Writer/director Susanne Bier is one of the most prolific and successful European directors. Her countless accolades include both the Academy Award® and the Golden Globe® for Best Foreign Language Film as well as an EFA for Best Director for In a Better World (2010). In 2007 her multi-award winning After the Wedding also achieved an Academy Award® nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. A native of Copenhagen Denmark, her first English language film was the critically acclaimed Things We Lost in the Fire (2007). Prior to this, Brothers (2004) among others won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2014 Bier helmed US drama Serena, starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. This year she premiered A Second Chance starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Bier is currently completing a six part BBC/AMC series based John Le Carré's "The Night Manager" starring Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie.

Message

Filmmakers are driven by personal obsessions.
Certain themes, specific characters or innovative ways of using the cinematic tools.
I'm no different in that respect, and when watching films I tend to favour those somehow relevant to my distinct personal obsessions…
Being in a jury is a chance to see films I would otherwise not have had the chance to see, or the awareness to seek out.
Japan and its cinema have always been a source of immense fascination to me, yet I have never actually been there. So being in the Jury of the Tokyo International Film Festival will be a great honour and an incredible opportunity to embrace the unknown.

Kazuki Omori

Film Director / Writer

profile

Born in 1952. Graduated from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine. Starting to make 8mm films in high school, won Kido Prize in 1977 for "Orange Road Express". In 1978 theatrically debuted with its film adaptation. Has directed and wrote scripts for many films. Received the New Face Award of Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts; in 1980 for Disciples of Hippocrates about his experience as a medical student; in 1981 for Hear the Song of the Wind based on Haruki Murakami's novel; in 1988 for Young Girls in Love and Totto Channel. Wrote scripts for Godzilla vs. Biollante, Godzilla vs. King Ghidrah and two other films. Has directed almost 30 films, such as Emergency Call (8th TIFF International Competition), Waga Kokoro no Ginga Tetsudo: Miyazawa Kenji Monogatari (9th TIFF Special Screenings) and Those Were the Days (19th TIFF Japanese Eyes). His latest Japan-Vietnam co-production Vietnam no Kaze ni Fukarete is due for nationwide release in Japan in October, as well as in Vietnam. Became the head of Visual Concept Planning Department at Osaka University of Arts in 2006 which has produced a number of young directors and contributed to developing young directors. Director of the Directors Guild of Japan.

Message

20 years ago at the 7th Tokyo International Film Festival in Kyoto, I was one of the jurors in the Young Cinema Competition. Watching and discussing with Roger Corman and Ahn Sung-kee was totally stimulating, and it was a valuable experience which has influenced my work. Naturally, filmmakers and audiences are on opposite sides to each other, but then where is the position of those who assess films? If the common understanding in the world is that a film is only completed when it is watched by audience, I believe the juror's position is to observe such occasion. While I am aware of the significance of this responsibility, I still like to enjoy the blessing of touching the profoundness of films.

Olivier Père

Executive Director, Arte France Cinema / Director of Film Acquisitions, ARTE France

profile

Olivier Père started his career as a programmer at the Cinémathèque française in Paris. He worked as a film critic and also served as the artistic director of the Directors' Fortnight, Cannes and then the Locarno International Film Festival. In 2012, he was appointed executive director of Arte France Cinema.

Tatsushi Omori

Director

profile

Debuted as a director with The Whispering of the Gods (2005). He won the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award for A Crowd of Three (2010). The Ravine of Goodbye (2013) received the Special Jury Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival. His other works include Bozo (2013) and Tada's Do-It-All House: Disconcerto (2014). His latest work Setoutsumi is currently in production.

Masamichi Matsumoto

Director, Cinémathèque

profile

He has been the program director of Athénée Français Cultural Center since 1979, where he screens over 200 films from across the world every year. Since 1998, he has started serving concurrently as the co-director of the Film School of Tokyo. Since 2009, as a member of the board directors of the Japan Community Cinema Center, he has promoted the establishment of a system to secure screening locations with joint cooperation of the government and private.

Hiroyasu Ando

President, The Japan Foundation

profile

Hiroyasu Ando entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1970. He served Prime Minister Hashimoto as the Private Secretary. He also served three Prime Ministers as the Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary. He was appointed as the Ambassador to Italy in 2008. Since 2011, he has been the President of the Japan Foundation.

Jeane Huang

President, Core Cultural Management
Organizer, Urban Nomad Film Festival

profile

Huang has been working in the cultural and creative industry of Taiwan for the past 15 years specializing in the areas of management of festival events. She had organized an independent international documentary film festival in Taiwan and worked at Taipei Film Festival as Director.

Makiko Watanabe

Actress

profile

Debuted as an actress in 1988 with Bakayaro! I'm Plenty Mad. Her major works are M/OTHER, The Rebirth, The Mourning Forest, Love Exposure, Himizu and Still the Water. She has participated in many international film festivals including Cannes. She won Best Supporting Actress at Asian Film Awards for her role in Capturing Dad (2013). She is highly reputed internationally.