The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is thrilled to unveil an unprecedented variety of special programs and screenings for its upcoming 36th edition, running from October 23 through November 1, 2023. With an increase in the number of film screenings and international guests, we anticipate a significant surge in excitement for the largest international film festival in Japan.
 
Kurosawa Akira Award Co-hosted by CAPCOM CO., LTD.
Honoring the renowned auteur’s legacy and ongoing influence, the award is presented to filmmakers who are making extraordinary contributions to world cinema and are expected to help define the film industry’s future. The 2023 Kurosawa Akira Award will go to Chinese director Gu Xiaogang and Indonesian director Mouly Surya.
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Amazon Prime Video Take One Award Co-hosted by Prime Video
Inaugurated in 2021, the award recognizes short films (15 minutes or less) by filmmakers living in Japan who have never participated in the production of commercial films. Filmmaker YUKISADA Isao will once again serve as jury president, with fellow jury members TAMASHIRO Tina (Actor), ASHIZAWA Akiko (Cinematographer), MORISHIGE Akira (Producer), and TOISHI Noriko (Producer, Amazon Studio), who will select the winner out of eight finalists.
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TIFF Ethical Film Award Supported by Sumitomo Corporation, a・un ethical hyakkaten
The new TIFF Ethical Film Award will recognize one film that aligns with “ethical” principles defined as “concepts that display concern for the society and environment.” New titles from all this year’s entries are eligible, and the winner will be a film that most skillfully addresses major issues in modern society such as gender equality, the environment, poverty, diversity and discrimination. The very first nominated films are 20000 Species of Bees, Power Alley and The Fisher, and an award ceremony and screening of the award-winning film will be held.
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TIFF Outdoor Screenings 2023
Co-hosted by Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Sponsored by Tokyo Midtown Management Co., Ltd. / Hibiya Area Management Association
The Annual Outdoor Screenings will be held again this year. Celebrating Warner Bros.’ 100th anniversary, a total of 29 films encompassing various genres will be shown every day on the large screen at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, Hibiya Step Square. Films include new titles less than a year from their release, primarily focusing on masterpieces from Warner Bros. In conjunction with SDGs in Motion, which will be screened during the Outdoor Screening programs, there will also be a talk session about world issues that can be resolved through films on October 28 (Sat) at YURAKUCHO micro FOOD & IDEA MARKET.

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TIFF Lounge
TIFF Lounge is now in its fourth year. Under the planning of the committee members we will provide a place for filmmakers gathering in Tokyo to interact with each other and present talk sessions where they will share their stories.
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The 13th MPA Seminar
The MPA Seminar will focus on investments in the content industry and introduce location attractions and production incentives that will benefit the film industry.
⇒ Official Site
 
Symposium: The Future of Filmmaking in Japan and Korea
To celebrate the launch of the Amazon Original Movie Knuckle Girl, a special symposium panel will be held for creators and film industry. Actor, creators, and producer from Knuckle Girl members will look back on the film making and will give the audience a bird’s eye view of the present and future of filmmaking in Japan and Korea.
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“City, Film, and Film Festival: Making of Perfect Days and Monster” TIFF×STORY STUDY Hosted by MITSUBISHI ESTATE Co., Ltd. / STORY inc.
TAKASAKI Takuma, screenwriter of this year’s TIFF Opening Film Perfect Days, and KAWAMURA Genki, director of A Hundred Flowers and producer of Monster, will discuss the city, Japanese films and international film festivals.
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TIFF Roundtable: Female Gaze on Film Journalism
This roundtable discussion highlights and celebrates the works and achievements of female film journalists from around the world, helping to advance gender parity in the film media and the future of the film industry through the eyes of women film journalists.
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Tony Leung Masterclass
Co-hosted by Asian Film Awards Academy/Financially Supported by Create Hong Kong, Hong Kong Film Development Fund /Supported by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo)
Leading Hong Kong actor Tony Leung will hold a masterclass after the screening of his film 2046 (2004) and reflect on his acting career to date.
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Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary The Wizard of Oz in Dolby Cinema (Japanese premiere) Supported by Dolby Japan K.K.
One of the most beloved films in cinema history, The Wizard of Oz (1939) was remastered into a Dolby Cinema version to celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2019, by scanning the original negative. The film’s vivid Technicolor will be brought back to the screen for the first time in Japan at the Marunouchi Piccadilly Dolby Cinema. In addition, Dolby Technology can be experienced at b8ta Tokyo-Yurakucho (Yurakucho Denki Building 1F, 1-7-1, Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku) until Oct. 31.
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Taste of Tokyo Organized by Tokyo Metropolitan Government
An event to discover the diverse attractions of agriculture and food by tasting and experiencing locally grown Tokyo produce. This year, TIFF will again issue meal coupons that can be used at the events and enliven the Marunouchi, Hibiya and Yurakucho areas with food and film during the festival period.
⇒ Official Site (Japanese)
 
Kering’s Women In Motion Organized by Kering Japan Limited
This program shines a spotlight on women in various positions in the film and art world. Starting with a speech by director Kore-eda Hirokazu, actors Bae Doona and MIZUKAWA Asami, and producer WASHIO Kayo will talk about the role of women in the film industry in South Korea, Japan and the US, and their challenges and the future from their unique perspectives.
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Special Program: 120th Anniversary of Ozu Yasujiro
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.
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Anime Symposium: Portrayal of Youth in Animation
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Anime Symposium: Possibilities of Animation Expression
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The 1st Marunouchi Film Festival
Hosted by Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd./Co-hosted by TIFF/In cooperation with Pia Film Festival
The festival will consist of two pillars: a Special Program to introduce in depth the gorgeous guests coming to TIFF, and a Japanese Film Program in which Japanese filmmakers will explain how to enjoy films from their own unique perspectives. There will be screenings and guest talks. The first edition focuses on Wim Wenders and screens four of his works: Tokyo-Ga, Until the End of the World, Lisbon Story and Pina. In the Japanese Film Program, director IMAIZUMI Rikiya will reveal the secrets of his creative process. Three highly acclaimed Japanese films that received praise from domestic and international audiences will be screened: Call Me Chihiro by Imaizumi Rikiya (2023), Hush by HASHIGUCHI Ryosuke (2001) and Let Me Hear it Barefoot by KUDO Riho (2021) In addition to film screenings, there will be lectures and talks about the films.
⇒ Official Site
 
International Symposium on Film Education 2023:
Toward the Next Steps from Overseas Case Studies
Co-hosted by National Film Archive of Japan/Produced and operated by Children Meet Cinema
An international symposium on film education will be held. Films made by children from overseas will be screened, and international experts will deepen the discussion of the social significance of film education and the future of film.
⇒ Official Site
 
The Fukushima Hamadori Film, Art and Culture Project (Hamacal)×Tokyo International Film Festival 2023, Special Talk Session: Fukushima Hamadori Now and Future Hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
The Fukushima Hamadori Film, Art and Culture Project (Hamacal), an initiative of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to create new attractions in the Hamadori region of Fukushima Prefecture, will hold a talk session on film production originating from Fukushima. One year has passed since Making Films in Fukushima Hamadori was held at the Tokyo International Film Festival last October, and the project is now in full swing with the establishment of an Artist-in-residence program and a film commission, as well as the screening of Hamadori in January next year. The talk session will be held with INUDO Isshin, the director of Josee, the Tiger and the Fish, and NON, who produced Ochi Wo Tsukenanse at Artist-in-residence and is expanding her activities not only as an actress but also as a film director.
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TIFF SDGs in Motion Talk
Part of the Outdoor Screenings’ SDGs Program, a TIFF programmer will talk with directors HARADA Masato (Kakekomi) and Tamara Kotevska (Honeyland, participating online).
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Filmmakers’ Dilemma: Building Human Networks Presented by Kyoto Filmmakers Lab
Young filmmakers will hear examples of establishing human networks in filmmaking from young to mid-career filmmakers. Additionally, the Kyoto Filmmakers Lab, providing a platform for building networks from Kyoto, will be introduced.
⇒ Official Site (Japanese)
 
Directors Guild of Japan Symposium: How Have the Eiteki Guidelines Changed Film Production?
In April 2023, new guidelines for working conditions in film production (Eiteki) went into effect. In this symposium, location crew members will assess the changes since then.
⇒ Official Facebook (Japanese)
 
Symposium：The Importance of Restoring and Preserving Indie Films
This talk will focus on the current state of preserving and restoring independent films in Japan. Drawing comparisons to the US, where increasing effort has been put into indie film preservation and salvation, guests will discuss the restoration and preservation of Japanese independent films that should be passed on to future generations.
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Streaming of the Red Carpet from Multiple Angles & Non-Stop Streaming of Various Events
Red Carpet Multi-Angle Streaming: October 23 (Mon) 2:55 pm onwards
 
Tokyo Cinema Days Campaign
In addition to the above events, a New Promotional Campaign will be launched this year. Tokyo is a city where a wide variety of films, from Hollywood blockbusters to arthouse titles from every corner of the world, can be enjoyed in various sizes of theaters. Currently, there are 80 such theaters in Tokyo. The city is one of the only places where such diverse movies can be enjoyed, and this is one of the cultural aspects that Tokyo can be proud of.
 
Going through the COVID-19 pandemic, as the experience of watching films in theaters enters a new phase, we aim to expand the joy of watching movies in the diverse theaters of Tokyo, using TIFF’s lineup of films from all over the world as an opportunity. With this in mind, we are launching the #Tokyo Cinema Days campaign, collaborating with all the theaters in Tokyo.
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Period： October 20 （Fri） though November 5 (Sun)
Campaign:
Get a chance to win film merchandise if you post your impressions of a film you saw during the above period along with the name of the theater where you saw it on X (Former Twitter), Instagram and/or note with the hashtag #Tokyo映画 (#Tokyo Eiga).
*Posts on Instagram Story are not eligible for this campaign.