Thank you for your interest in the 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) to be held from October 22 to 31, 2015. The 28th TIFF kicked off in the rather warm early autumn beautiful weather.
The Red Carpet began with the appearance of Pepper, the world’s first robot to understand human emotions, and Festival Navigators KIWA and Masao Nomura. Together they announced the opening of the 28th TIFF.
Actresses Hilary Swank starring in You’re Not You from the Specials Screenings section was the first to appear on the Red Carpet. The two-time Best Actress Academy Award winner expressed her delight to be in Tokyo. “I’m living my dream walking on the carpet as one of the 200 films at TIFF! Thank you for supporting my film and the other 199 films!”
Following this, actors, actresses, and filmmakers from around the world, as well as President of Jury, Bryan Singer and the five members of the International Competition Jury strolled the carpet. Cheers broke out from the crowd as actress Helen Mirren and Director Simon Curtis appeared on the carpet with their film WOMAN IN GOLD. Curtis explained his film as “having themes relevant to today which speaks to everybody, not only to the Jewish in Vienna.” Helen Mirren also shared her thoughts on the film. “It is a very serious story done in a light way, treated with a light touch with a wit. It is a story about memory, family, and justice, and what humans are capable of doing to each other.” She described Gustav Klimt’s artwork– Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer–as an iconic painting, and that the reproduction used in the film was breathtaking.
Other major guests on the Red Carpet were: director Jacques Cluzaud and voice actor Shofukutei Tsurubei of SEASONS from the Special Screening section; director Hideo Nakata and actress Haruka Shimazaki of Ghost Theater from the Masters of J-Horror section; director Kazuaki Kiriya and actor Tsuyoshi Ihara of LAST KNIGHTS, members of Perfume featured in WE ARE Perfume WORLD TOUR 3rd DOCUMENT, and the one and only Paddington Bear of PADDINGTON from the Panorama section; director Masato Harada featured in the Direct in Focus in Japan Now section and actor Koji Yakusho starring in one of his films KAMIKAZE TAXI; and director Tetsuo Shinohara, actor Koichi Sato, and actress Tsubasa Honda of TERMINAL which is this year’s Closing Film.
The Red Carpet finale was Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Jack Rapke with their film The Walk, the Opening Film at TIFF this year. “It’s an honor opening the festival with my film and I hope you all watch it! I understood the passion this man had and I identified with the awe-inspiring story. I hope the audience will also enjoy this character and the achievement and journey he made. Thank you!”
The Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony began with the stage appearance of the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Motoo Hayashi. “I am very happy to open the 28th edition of the Tokyo International Film Festival. Many outstanding films have gathered at TIFF this year which transcends time and boundaries.” Hayashi also expressed his joy towards Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s film Journey to the Shore winning the Best Director Prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the Festival de Cannes, and Attack on Titan being distributed and screened worldwide and also there are many good films in Japan and this festival should serve as a means to spread films to the world.
Following this, members of the jury for each section were introduced: Jacob Wong, Olivier Pere, and Tatsushi Omori for the Asian Future section; Tadao Sato, Masamichi Matsumoto, Hiroyasu Ando for the Spirit of Asia Award by the Japan Foundation Asia Center; Jeane Huang, Mark Peranson, and Makiko Watanabe for the Japanese Cinema Splash section. And finally, the six members of the International Competition Jury stepped onto stage: Tran Anh Hung (director), Bent Hamer (director/writer/producer), Nansun Shi (producer), Susanne Bier (writer/director), Kazuki Omori (director/writer), and lastly, President of Jury Bryan Singer (director/writer/producer). Singer reflected that he first came to TIFF with his film The Usual Suspects in 1995 and that “it is an honor to serve as a jury member. The biggest challenge will be to choose one film from the 16 Competition films which represent different genres; dramas, horrors, and comedy. But it will be interesting to select films from such diverse genres!” said Singer.
Lastly, Festival Navigators KIWA and Masao Nomura introduced the Opening Film for the 28th TIFF, The Walk, and invited Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Jack Rapke onto stage. Zemeckis expressed his excitement having his film in the Tokyo International Film Festival and Rapke extended his gratefulness to Sony Pictures, the hospitality of the people of Tokyo, and the staff at the festival.
On his film, Zemeckis described it as having all the elements to make a compelling movie. “Philippe Petit is a very passionate man and his dream to walk between the two towers had everything to make a spectacular and entertaining film. He knew he wanted to dance between those two towers and that awe-inspiring story is what inspired me to make this film. Philippe Petit is a magnificent storyteller and has a great passion for his art.” Rapke also described Petit as a passionate artist and that he could “connect and identify with his impossible dream, which he made come true!” The scenes are beautiful said Rapke, “but when the first step is taken on the wire, it is the most beautiful cinematography that only Bob Zemeckis can create.”
The Tokyo International Film Festival will be showcasing films from around the world and other film related events at Roppongi Hills (Minato City), Shinjuku WALD 9, Shinjuku Piccadilly, TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku (Shinjuku City) and other theaters, halls and facilities in the Tokyo metropolitan area until October 31.
