Tokyo Film Festival Chief Ando Hirayasu Emphasizes International Dialog, Women’s Empowerment

As a seasoned cinematic connoisseur with decades of immersion in the enchanting world of global cinema, I find myself deeply moved by the progressive strides being made by the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF). The commitment to fostering genuine networking and gender equality initiatives is not only inspiring but also a much-needed step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable film industry.


At the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), efforts are being intensified towards global networking and promoting gender equality, as stated by festival chairman Ando Hirayasu.

Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, genuine networking has become possible again, Ando shared with EbMaster. To foster better connections between Japanese and international filmmakers, the festival has moved its TIFF Lounge – a platform for global exchange – to the more central Lexus Meets venue.

One of the standout new features for this year is the introduction of a Women’s Empowerment segment. This initiative comes after TIFF being the first Asian film festival to endorse the Collectif 50/50 charter in 2021. The Collectif 50/50 is an international group that advocates for gender equality within the movie industry. By featuring films that highlight women’s accomplishments and organizing a symposium, we aim to provide a platform for diverse perspectives, fostering conversations and projects that champion and examine women’s empowerment, as stated by Ando.

The festival is broadening its efforts to foster upcoming artists by implementing several programs. These include the TIFF Teens Meet Cinema workshop, a global seminar centered around film studies, as well as an advanced course for Asian students guided by esteemed director Kurosawa Kiyoshi.

Japanese movies have been experiencing international acclaim lately with films such as “Shoplifters,” “Drive My Car,” “How Do You Live?,” “Godzilla Minus One,” and “Desert of Namibia.” Moreover, the country has gained significant global attention following the success of the series “Shogun.” To take advantage of the increasing worldwide interest in Japanese content, TIFFCOM, the market segment of the festival, introduced the Tokyo Story Market in 2023, bridging connections between Japanese publishers and film producers for potential adaptation possibilities.

Nonetheless, Ando identified several hurdles confronting the Japanese film industry, such as enhancing work environments on sets, broadening the reach of Japanese films internationally, and defining relationships with streaming services.

Ando stated that the objective of the Tokyo International Film Festival is to offer maximum support in addressing these issues,

The head of the festival eagerly anticipates that both film experts and viewers will re-experience the enchantment of Japanese movies and cultivate a stronger passion for promoting international film collaborations.

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2024-10-28 08:46