120th Anniversary Ozu Yasujiro: “Shoulders of Giants,” Nippon Cinema Now Director in Focus, Animation and more

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The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is excited to unveil an unprecedented variety of special programs and screenings for its upcoming 36th edition, running from October 23 – November 1, 2023.
 
Among the principal highlights of the 36th TIFF will be special screenings and events to commemorate the 120th anniversary of legendary Japanese filmmaker OZU Yasujiro’s birth.
▽1) Special Program: 120th Anniversary of Ozu Yasujiro
▽2) 120th Anniversary Ozu Yasujiro Commemorative Conversation: “Shoulders of Giants”
▽3) Allied events
▽4) Related Screenings
 
This year’s Nippon Cinema Now section, which screens Japanese films that we are proud to introduce to the international audiences, will shine a spotlight on the works of director JOJO Hideo, who has actively produced a diverse range of films in recent years.
▽Director in Focus: Jojo Hideo in the Nippon Cinema Now section
 
The 36th TIFF will highlight a revitalized Animation section. Until 2022, we exclusively screened Japanese films in the Japanese Animation section, showcasing domestic works for world audiences. But this year, we have expanded the selection. The renamed Animation section will be featuring not only Japanese but also internationally acclaimed animated works.
▽Animation section
 
TIFF will also feature a diverse range of special screenings in collaboration with other organizations, including a collaboration with the Latin Beat Film Festival, showcasing outstanding films from Spain and Latin America in the World Focus section; Taiwan Cinema Renaissance 2023, co-organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, Taiwan Cultural Center; Special Retrospectives of the Italian maestro in “The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Franco Zeffirelli,” co-hosted by the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual of the Italian Ministry of Culture/Cinecittà; a Special Showcase of films from the Basque regions of Spain, and a focus on Hong Kong cinema in collaboration with the Asian Film Awards Academy. Additionally, as part of the Special Screenings marking the 25th Anniversary of the Opening of Japanese Popular Culture in Korea, we will screen Shiri <Digitally Remastered Version> (1999) and Love Letter (1995), two films that sparked film exchange between the two countries.
 
Special Programs and Screenings
120th Anniversary Ozu Yasujiro: “Shoulders of Giants”
This year marks the 120th anniversary of the birth and the 60th anniversary of the death of Ozu Yasujiro. TIFF will once again shine a spotlight on Ozu’s works, contemplating what we have learned from him, and how we can connect to the future from a global perspective. We will be premiering many digitally restored versions of his works and, in conjunction with the National Film Archive of Japan, presenting an extensive retrospective with rare films that covers almost all of Ozu’s films:
TIFF/NFAJ Classics: Yasujiro Ozu Week (October 24th – 29th).
 
Additionally, an international symposium with acclaimed filmmakers from around the world will be held, each offering their unique perspectives on Ozu. We hope this will be a great opportunity to learn from the past and envision the future of cinema, which is reflected in the theme of this project, “Shoulders of Giants.”
 

 
1) Special Program: 120th Anniversary of Ozu Yasujiro
This program will screen 18 digitally restored versions of Ozu films, including world premieres. Enjoy masterpieces loved around the world, restored to their original beauty.
 
Titles at TIFF:
A Straightforward Boy (1929, 21-min. version), I Was Born, But… (1932, WP*1), Dragnet Girl (1933, 4K*2, Screened with live performance by renowned trumpeter KURODA Takuya), Kagamijishi (1936, WP*1), There Was a Father (1942, 4K*2), Record of a Tenement Gentleman (1947, 4K*2), A Hen in the Wind (1948, 4K*2), Late Spring (1949, 4K*2), The Munekata Sisters (1950, 4K*2), Early Summer (1951, 4K*2), Tokyo Story (1953, 4K*2), Tokyo Twilight (1957, 4K*2), Equinox Flower (1958), Good Morning (1959), Floating Weeds (1959, 4K*2), Late Autumn (1960), The End of Summer (1961, 4K*2) and An Autumn Afternoon (1962).

 
Titles at National Film Archive of Japan during TIFF/NFAJ Classics: Yasujiro Ozu Week:
Days of Youth (1929), I Graduated, But… (1929), Woman of Tokyo (1933), The Lady and the Beard (1931), A Straightforward Boy (1929, 14-min. version), A Straightforward Boy (1929, 21-min. version), Walk Cheerfully (1930), That Night’s Wife (1930), Tokyo Chorus (1931), Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth? (1932), Passing Fancy (1933), A Mother Should be Loved (1934), A Story of Floating Weeds (1934), An Inn in Tokyo (1935), The Only Son (1936), What Did the Lady Forget? (1937), Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family (1941).
 

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2) 120th Anniversary Ozu Yasujiro Commemorative Conversation:
“Shoulders of Giants”

After an opening homage by renowned director and TIFF International Jury President Wim Wenders, we will screen Ozu’s Good Morning digitally restored version (1959). Following the screening, globally renowned filmmakers such as KUROSAWA Kiyoshi, Jia Zhangke, and Kelly Reichardt will take the stage for a discussion about Ozu’s works.
 

Outline
Hosted by: TIFF
Co-hosted by: The Tokyo Toilet Art Project
Produced by: J-WAVE (81.3FM)
Supported by: Shochiku/Kawakita Memorial Film Institute/Mitsukoshi Theater/The Yomiuri Shimbun
Date and time: October 27 (Fri), 2023 [Doors open at 4:20 pm, the event starts at 4:50 pm and ends at 7:45 pm (tentative)]
Venue: Mitsukoshi Theater (Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, 6th floor)
Tickets on sale from 10 am on September 28 (Thu), 2023
Mitsukoshi Theater Ticket store website: mitsukoshi.mistore.jp/bunka/theater/
Note: The ticket sales system for this program is different from the regular TIFF’s system.
 

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3) Allied events
Special Event in Commemoration of 120th Anniversary Ozu Yasujiro + 350th Anniversary of the Foundation of Mitsukoshi Oto-gatari, Script Reading of Ozu’s Tokyo Story
 
This special event is sponsored by Shochiku Co., Ltd., the now 350-year-old Mitsukoshi, and even Matsusaka City in Mie Prefecture, a place close to the heart of Mitsukoshi founder Mitsui Takatoshi, where Ozu Yasujiro spent much of his childhood. For the first half of this “Oto-gatari” event, memories with Ozu will be shared by NAKAI Kie, whom he personally cared for like one of his grandchildren. The latter half will be a script reading of Tokyo Story.
 
Date and time: October 26 (Thu), 2023 [The event starts at 3 pm and ends at 4:45 pm]
Venue: Mitsukoshi Theater (Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, 6th floor)
Inquiry: On-the-Field Tel: +81-50-5525-1493
Note: The ticket sales system for this program is different from the regular TIFF’s system.
 
120th Anniversary Ozu Yasujiro commemorative project:
“Shoulders of Giants – Dedicated to OZU” J-WAVE Live Recording
 
Public recording of the J-WAVE special program “Shoulders of Giants” will be held with TAKASAKI Takuma, who co-wrote and co-produced alongside director Wim Wenders the opening film of this year’s TIFF, Perfect Days. The program, hosted by Radio Personality Chris Tomoko, will feature discussions about Ozu Yasujiro by a variety of guests, as well as a mini live performance by KANENOBU Sachiko, who also sings a song in Perfect Days. The broadcast of the program is scheduled for November 3 (Fri).
 
Hosted by: J-WAVE (81.3FM)
Co-hosted by: The Tokyo Toilet Art Project
Date and time: October 27 (Fri), 2023 [Doors open at 7:15 pm, the event starts at 8:00 pm and ends at 9:30 pm]
Venue: Coredo Muromachi Terrace (1st floor)
J-WAVE “Shoulders of Giants” website: j-wave.co.jp/special/shouldersofgiants/
 

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4) Related Screenings
WOWOW TV Series: Ozu
Six up-and-coming filmmakers were selected by broadcaster WOWOW to remake six of Ozu Yasujiro’s early silent films, representing the legendary director’s roots. The films form a contemporary omnibus series that will be broadcast on WOWOW. Three episodes will be showcased at the TIFF Series section.
 
Titles:
I Was Born, But… directed by YOSHIDA Yasuhiro, Dragnet Girl directed by MATSUMOTO Yusaku and Passing Fancy by JOJO Hideo
 
Special Voice Performance by Yamazaki Vanilla
Silent film narrator and voice actor YAMAZAKI Vanilla will provide a live voiceover to Ozu Yasujiro’s silent film A Straightforward Boy (1929, 21-min. version).
 

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Director in Focus: Jojo Hideo in the Nippon Cinema Now section

Nippon Cinema Now features new films produced in Japan over the past year, curated in a lineup that can be proudly introduced to world audiences. The 36th TIFF will highlight the recent work of Jojo Hideo, who has directed over 100 films since his debut. In the past year alone, he has released notable films like Love Nonetheless, I Want to Be Killed by a High School Girl, Believers and Nighttime Warbles, demonstrating his prolific and energetic contributions to producing high-quality works.
 
Titles:
Twilight Cinema Blues (2023)

 
Believers (2022)

 
Love Nonetheless (2022)

 
On the Edge of Their Seats (2020)

 
Note: English subtitles will be available for all films in this section.
 

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Animation section
The Animation section has been revamped this year. “Intersection of Visions” showcases nine films, including the latest animated Japanese films and prominent films from overseas. We hope you enjoy how the expressive styles of domestic and international creators resonate across borders. The retrospective “International Film Festivals and Directors” introduces three films that have won awards at international film festivals. Two symposiums, “Possibilities of Animation Expression” and “Portrayal of Youth in Animation” will also be held, with directors taking the stage to discuss their works.
 
Titles:
International films
Art College 1994 by Liu Jian (2023, China)

 
Chicken for Linda! by Chiara Malta, Sébastien Laudenbach (2023, France)

 
Deep Sea by Tian Xiaopeng (2023, China)

 
Robot Dreams by Pablo Berger (2023, Spain/France)

 
Tony, Shelly, and the Magic Light by Filip Pošivač (2023, Czech Republic/Slovakia/Hungary)

 
Japanese films
Blue Giant by TACHIKAWA Yuzuru (2023)

 
The Concierge by ITAZU Yoshimi (Japan release: Oct. 20, 2023)

 
Komada – A Whisky Family by YOSHIHARA Masayuki (Japan release: Nov. 10, 2023)

 
Lonely Castle in the Mirror by HARA Keiichi (2022)

 
International Film Festivals and Directors retrospective
In This Corner (and Other Corners) of the World by KATABUCHI Sunao (2019)

 
Lu Over the Wall by YUASA Masaaki (2017)

 
On-Gaku: Our Sound by IWAISAWA Kenji (2019)

 
 
The 36th TIFF Tickets go on sale on October 14.
Details will be announced on the official TIFF website.

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