Our initiatives at the 27th Tokyo International Film Festival
 
As a leading international film festival in Asia, the Tokyo International Film Festival has continued to discover and support young talented filmmakers mainly from Asia, including Japan.
Last year, we established a new competition category for young filmmakers, Asian Future, to introduce films by up-and-coming Asian directors to the world.
We are pleased to announce that UNIJAPAN and the Japan Foundation (www.jpf.go.jp/e/) will conduct Film Culture Exchange Projects between Japan and Asian countries at the Tokyo International Film Festival for the next seven years until 2020. The projects are specifically conducted through a close collaboration between the Japan Foundation Asia Center, which was established in April this year, and each section of the Tokyo International Film Festival.
 
1. CROSSCUT ASIA #01 Thai Fascination　Presented by the Japan Foundation Asia Center
Starting from this year, we launch “CROSSCUT ASIA”, the showcase of Asian films focusing on particular countries, directors, actors, and themes. This unveils hidden gems of Asian films that portray what Asia is facing now.
This year, as our first project, we will focus on Thai films, which are currently making a big leap in the industry. We explore the fascination of Thailand by presenting a line-up of new films.
* The titles of the films will be announced at the Tokyo International Film Festival’s press conference to be held on September 30.
 
2. The Spirit of Asia Award by the Japan Foundation Asia Center
Experts will present the Spirit of Asia Award by the Japan Foundation Asia Center to one film from the Asian Future section, a gateway to success for up-and-coming Asian directors. The prize-winning production team will be presented with a trophy and a trip to Japan (in case a Japanese director receives the prize, they will be invited to travel to other Asian counties).
 
3. Expansion of Asian Films to be screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival and its essential support
Number of Asian films screened in major film categories, Asian Future and World Focus, will be increased. In addition, we promote Asian films through support of the cost for placing a subtitle and inviting guests of the selected Asian films to be screened from all categories, including the main Competition category.
 
4. Co-production by the Japan Foundation Asia Center x TIFF
Japan x Asia – A Series of Omnibus Film Production:
Asian Three-Fold Mirror This “Asian Three-Fold Mirror” project leads three up-and-coming Japanese and Asian directors to produce an omnibus film with a common subject. Just like a three-fold mirror, the integrated film will reflect respective directors’ angles and aesthetic values of Asia, depicting similarities and differences of the same topic. The omnibus film will be shot by a Japanese director and two directors from other Asian countries and it will have its world premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival and will be presented at major film festivals around the world (only preparation of the film will take place in 2014).
 
5. Invitation of film people and journalists to the Tokyo International Film Festival
For the promotion of people exchanges and networking opportunities among Asian film related persons, key figures including representatives of film festivals, journalists and film critics in Asia will be invited to the festival. We try to promote the films of each country, provide the guests opportunities to interact with members of Japanese film industries, and raise awareness of the Tokyo International Film Festival in their countries.
 
6. Invitation of film buyers and sellers to TIFF’s affiliated market,TIFFCOM
We aim to encourage exchanges among film buyers and sellers from Asia. We try to promote the release of Japanese films in Asia and Asian films in Japan through inviting new buyers and sellers from Asia to TIFFCOM. Networking opportunities will be provided for the invited guests ‒ movie directors, actors, staffs of movie festivals, journalists, critics, buyers, and sellers ‒ from Japan and around the world during the Tokyo International Film Festival to promote international exchange of Asian films.
 
7. Promoting film screening events specialized in Japanese films in Asia
Serving as a mediator, the Tokyo International Film Festival together with the Japan Foundation Asia Center tries to promote Japanese films overseas, especially to Asia, by introducing a Japanese film package, including those screened at the Tokyo Film Festival. (only preparation of this project will take place in 2014)
 
What is Japan Foundation Asia Center?
At the ASEAN‒Japan Commemorative Summit Meeting in December 2013, the Japanese Government announced a vision statement on a new policy for Cultural Exchanges in Asia – the “WA Project”～Toward Interactive Asia～. Serving to achieve the two-way art/cultural exchanges and supporting Japanese language learners, the Japan Foundation launched a new department, the Asia Center in April 2014.
The Asia Center carries out various projects for the objective of fostering deeper, mutual understanding of one another and further developing symbiotic relationships between Japan and our fellow Asian countries.