The Tokyo International Film Festival announced July 28 the initial outline of the 28th edition to be held this October 22-31. In what is sure to attract significant interest, the Jury President will be Bryan Singer, director of “The Usual Suspects,” “X-Men” and the upcoming “X-Men: Apocalypse.”“First of all I am thrilled to be returning to Tokyo,” said Singer via a statement. “It’s my eighth time, but it has been awhile. As a lover of film, the opportunity to see fresh new work is first and foremost an honor. To help in the advancement of filmmakers as a jury president/member of such a prestigious festival is an even greater honor. Although I have made some rather commercial pictures, my career was born out of the festival system. I truly understand its importance and look forward to being part of it again. As a juror, but most importantly as an audience member.”Held at the Roppongi Hills complex in central Tokyo where the festival will take place, the press conference also announced the opening and closing films, and a series of new initiatives – including adding new venues in Shinjuku.“The Walk” by director Robert Zemeckis will open TIFF 2015. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the movie tells the true story of Philippe Petit, a high wire artist who in 1974, walked between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. A 2008 documentary “Man on Wire” chronicled the events, but with “The Walk,” the audience will experience a 3D character-driven story.Closing the festival will be “Terminal” from Tetsuo Shinohara. An adaptation of the book by Shino Sakuragi, which won the 149th Naoki Prize of literature, it tells the story of two people who plan to abandon their own lives in Hokkaido, but restart anew together.“Ten years ago in 2005, I won the best actor award at the Tokyo International Film Festival for the film “What the Snow Brings” directed by Kichitaro Negishi,” said Koichi Sato, who stars in the film. “Strangely, when I went to the shooting location of the film “Terminal” on the first day, I felt the same sensation, the same air and determination from everyone on-site, including the director and the staffs, that this film was going towards a certain direction and that was exactly what I felt on the first day of shooting “What the Snow Brings.”“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in giving my story a new expression as a film to be loved by a great audience. I hope that this film will be the first station in your life even in a small way,” said author Sakuragi via a statement.First up to the stage was TIFF Director General, Yasushi Shiina, who announced the plan to keep Tokyo’s leading film festival distinct and local. “This year is the special year as the milestone since the festival has started 30 years ago in 1985. While we respect Cannes and Venice, which have much longer histories than TIFF, we would like to maintain “Tokyo taste.” TIFF is a significant platform in which Japanese films gain exposure from overseas. To enhance the role, we reestablished sections this year to display the diverse works of Japanese cinema. To attract wider audience we will expand the festival area and number of screenings and hold special events that everyone can enjoy.”Those additions will include three new sections; Panorama – featuring premieres from a diverse range of films across genres; Japan Now – showcasing Japanese works from the past year, and Japanese Classics – showcasing digitally restored classic Japanese films.
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