Tokyo International Film Festival

The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) today unveiled the full lineup and other highlights of this year’s 34th edition, in a press conference held at Base Q Hall in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, one of TIFF’s new main venues in the Hibiya-Yurakucho-Ginza area of Tokyo, considered the city’s center of cinema. The festival will be hosting a hybrid edition, with physical screenings and online events, from October 30 to November 8, 2021.

Festival Chairman ANDO Hiroyasu delivered opening remarks at the conference, and outlined the festival’s vision for a post-pandemic future. TIFF’s prevention measures against COVID-19 were discussed, as well as the festival’s enhanced alignment with TIFFCOM and its SDG efforts. Designer KOSHINO Junko, who created the main visuals, commented via video. TOKYO FILMeX Director of Programming KAMIYA Naoki then discussed the 2021 festival, which will once again run concurrently with TIFF, from October 30 to November 7. TIFFCOM Managing Director MATSUMOTO Hiroshi spoke about TIFFCOM 2021, running online during TIFF, from November 1 to 3.

Acclaimed French actress Isabelle HUPPERT, who will serve as the President of the International Competition Jury at the 34th TIFF, sent a message that was shared with the audience. Her fellow jurors are Director/Screenwriter AOYAMA Shinji, Film Critic/Programmer Chris FUJIWARA, Film Score Composer SEBU Hiroko and Producer/Curator Lorna TEE.

The 34th TIFF Festival Ambassador HASHIMOTO Ai then took to the stage and recalled how she had always come to TIFF in the past, one of which had changed her life (more below).

Following an introduction of TIFF Opening Film Cry Macho and Closing Film Dear Evan Hansen, new TIFF Programming Director ICHIYAMA Shozo greeted the audience and shared highlights of the Competition, Gala and TIFF Series sections. The Competition section includes 15 films*, 10 of them world premieres, selected from among 1,533 titles from 113 countries and regions, with 2 from Japan, 7 from Asian countries and regions, and 6 from other areas.
*Please see full press release for the full list of Competition titles.

Japanese Animation Programming Advisor FUJITSU Ryota discussed the section’s lineup, highlighting Seeing 2021 Through the Main Character, which will investigate themes portrayed in the latest animated works. The Tokusatsu Section will feature the KAMEN RIDER series, which now boasts a 50-year history.
*Please refer to TIFF’s official website for the full lineup of the Japanese Animation section.

Distinctive director YOSHIDA Keisuke then appeared on stage and discussed being selected as this year’s Director in Focus. He will be saluted with screenings of his work in TIFF’s Nippon Cinema Now section, a newly expanded section that replaces Japan Now and will bring more diverse Japanese films to world audiences.

Finally, world-renowned director KORE-EDA Hirokazu appeared by video to discuss the lineup of the Conversation Series at Asia Lounge, a series of sessions featuring Asia’s leading auteurs, to be co-presented for the second year by The Japan Foundation Asia Center and TIFF.

During the 10 days of the festival, physical screenings, stage appearances and Q&A sessions will be held, along with unique film-related events and online webinars featuring guests from around the world.

The 34th TIFF will be held from October 30 to November 8, 2021 at our new main venues in the Hibiya-Yurakucho-Ginza area, and other venues in Tokyo.