The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) todayunveiled the lineups in all sections, as well as announcing the jury members and highlights of this year’s 32nd edition.
At a press conference at Roppongi Academyhills Tower Hall in Tokyo, Festival Chairman Hiroyasu ANDO and Festival Director Takeo HISAMATSU delivered opening remarks and discussed the festival’s focus on Japan. Festival Muse Alice Hirose appeared on video, and wished audiences a “fateful encounter or two with a wonderful film” during the festival. TIFF’s programing directors then took the stage to introduce the lineup for each section of the festival.

In the Competition section, 14 films were selected from among 1,804 titles from 115 countries and regions. Representing the two Japanese titles in this main competitive section, director Shin ADACHI from A Beloved Wife, and director Macoto TEZKA from Tezuka’s Barbara, were welcomed on stage and made remarks (see next page for more).
This year’s International Competition Jury members were also announced. Actress ZHANG Ziyi (China) will serve as Jury President, alongside producer Bill GERBER (USA), actor and producer Julie GAYET (France), director Michael NOER　(Denmark), and director Ryuichi HIROKI (Japan).　

Acclaimed playwright and screenplay writer Kazuki NAKASHIMA, co-writer of Promare, one of the films in the Japanese Animation section, greeted the audience after the lineup of the section was announced. He will appear at TIFF talk sessions with special guests following his related screenings, Promare and the Ultra Q series.

At the end of the press conference, director Yoji YAMADA from 32nd TIFF’s Opening Film, Tora-san, Wish You Were Here, appeared on stage as a special guest and made remarks.

During the 9-day celebration, 170 films will be screened and unique film-related events will be held every day at the festival venues, including stage appearances, Q&A sessions and symposia featuring celebrated guests from around the world.

The 32nd TIFF will take place October 28 to November 5, 2019 at Roppongi Hills, EX Theater Roppongi, Hibiya Step Square and other venues in Tokyo.