Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is set to recognize the talents of Japanese filmmaker Sho Miyake and Taiwanese director Fu Tien-yu by awarding them with the prestigious Kurosawa Akira Award at the upcoming 37th edition of the festival. The award, which is given to filmmakers who have made significant contributions to the industry and are expected to shape its future, will be presented at a ceremony at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo on November 5.
Miyake, known for his directorial debut Playback at the Locarno Film Festival in 2012, has garnered praise for his recent films Small, Slow But Steady and All The Long Nights, which were featured at the Berlinale in 2022 and 2024. Fu, on the other hand, started her career as a novelist before transitioning to directing with Somewhere I Have Never Travelled in 2009. Her film Day Off has received acclaim and multiple awards at various film festivals, highlighting her commitment to the traditions of Taiwan New Cinema.
The selection committee for the 2024 edition of the festival included esteemed members such as director Yoji Yamada, casting director Yoko Narahashi, critic Saburo Kawamoto, and TIFF programming director Shozo Ichiyama. The Kurosawa Akira Award, which was reintroduced in 2022 after a 14-year hiatus, aims to celebrate outstanding filmmakers and their contributions to the industry.
In addition to the Kurosawa Akira Award, TIFF will also feature the Ethical Film Award, with actor and director Takumi Saitoh leading the jury. This award, established last year, recognizes films that shed light on social issues such as the environment, poverty, discrimination, and diversity. Saitoh, known for his work in Shin Ultraman and The Queen of Villains, is actively involved in volunteer activities, including running a mobile cinema for disaster-affected areas and setting up daycare facilities on film sets.
Furthermore, TIFF will host the second annual International Symposium on Film Education, bringing together experts from around the world to discuss the role of film education in addressing societal challenges like war, poverty, and refugee crises. The symposium, scheduled for November 2 at the National Film Archive of Japan, aims to highlight the importance of film education in promoting cultural understanding and social change.
As the festival approaches, Cannes award-winning producers are gearing up to present their projects at the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market 2024, an exclusive platform for connecting filmmakers with potential investors and collaborators. This opportunity not only showcases diverse and innovative projects but also fosters international partnerships and collaborations within the film industry.
Overall, the upcoming edition of TIFF promises to be a celebration of creativity, talent, and the power of cinema to inspire change and drive meaningful conversations about important social issues.