The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival Reveals Its Lineup; Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters Set for Japanese Premiere
Last year, I found immense joy in attending the Tokyo International Film Festival, which features a mix of world premieres, restorations, and first looks at emerging filmmakers. In a few weeks, I will be returning to the festival, with the complete lineup revealed today.
The opening film of TIFF will be Junji Sakamoto’s Climbing for Life; the Centerpiece will showcase Yoji Yamada’s Tokyo Taxi; and the closing night feature is Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, who is this year's recipient of the Kurosawa Akira Award, sharing the honor with Lee Sang-il (who directed Japan’s Oscar submission Kokuho). Additionally, Soi Cheang will conduct a masterclass, following last year’s lead by Sammo Hung.
The lineup of Japanese Classics includes retrospectives dedicated to Masahiro Shinoda, Mikio Naruse, and Shunji Iwai, along with a program honoring Yukio Mishima’s centennial. Notably, Paul Schrader’s Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters will have its Japanese debut, albeit 40 years later than expected. Also worthy of mention are Kon Ichikawa’s significant work, Conflagration, and Kenji Misumi’s The Sword.
You can find the full competition lineup below and explore TIFF’s program here:
Atropia — dir. Hailey Gates (USA)
Blonde — dir. Yuichiro Sakashita (Japan)
Echoes of Motherhood — dir. Nakagawa Ryutaro (Japan)
Golem in Pompei — dir. Amos Gitai (France)
Heads or Tails? — dir. Alessio Rigo de Righi & Matteo Zoppis (Italy/USA)
Hen — dir. György Pálfi (Greece/Germany/Hungary)
Maria Vitoria — dir. Mário Patrocínio (Portugal)
Morte Cucina — dir. Pen-Ek Ratanaruang (Thailand)
Mother Bhumi — dir. Chong Keat Aun (Malaysia)
Mothertongue — dir. Zhang Lu (China)
Mother — dir. Teona Strugar Mitevska (Belgium/North Macedonia)
Palestine 36 — dir. Annemarie Jacir (Palestine/UK/France/Denmark)
Sermon to the Void — dir. Hilal Baydarov (Azerbaijan/Mexico/Turkey)
Take Off — dir. Pengfei (China)
We Are the Fruits of the Forest — dir. Rithy Panh (Cambodia/France)
The Greatest Funeral Hits — dir. Ziya Demirel (Turkey)
Halo — dir. Roh Young-wan (Korea)
Linka Linka — dir. Kangdrun (China/Tibet)
Kiiroiko — dir. Imai Mika (Japan/Taiwan)
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Last year, attending the Tokyo International Film Festival brought immense joy, as it features a variety of world premieres alongside restorations and early glimpses at the emerging talents of the future. In a few weeks, I will be going back to the festival, which has today revealed its complete lineup. Junji Sakamoto's Climbing for Life will act as