Overview
- Under Chairman Hiroyasu Ando, the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2023 has expanded with 219 films, witnessing a 25 percent increase over the previous year, and hosting over 600 international VIPs including jury chief Wim Wenders.
- To honor the 120th birth anniversary of Japanese cinema legend Yasujiro Ozu, the festival is screening a massive 33-title retrospective of his work, with Wim Wenders, a significant advocate of Ozu's work in the West, presiding over the festival's competition jury.
- The festival opened with Wim Wender's Tokyo-set drama, Perfect Days, featuring local screen legend Koji Yakusho and an official Japanese entry to the 96th Academy Awards.
- A cross-regional emphasis is seen in the festival's programming with three films from China and conversations planned with noted APAC filmmakers - aligning with Chairman Ando's vision of leveraging his diplomatic career to foster stronger ties in the Asia-Pacific region.
- The Tokyo International Film Festival has also partnered with Taipei, Hong Kong, and Shanghai film festivals for film selections this year, with an ambitious aim to enhance these collaborations under Chairman Ando's leadership.