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The 29th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) kicked off Tuesday, with some 200 films to be shown in the next 10 days.
With the festival abandoning its modern, eco-friendly “green carpet” this year, Japanese stars dominated the promenade at the Roppongi Hills Arena, with special attention given to director Shunji Iwai, whose films are being given a special retrospective.
Fans also clamored for a glimpse of Oscar-winning American actress Meryl Streep, whose “Florence Foster Jenkins” was the festival’s opening film.
Actress Meryl Streep attends the opening ceremony of the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival in Tokyo, Japan on October 25, 2016. Photo. Photo: UPI
Streep stars in the festival's opening film "Florence Foster Jenkins," in which she plays the title role, a real-life American heiress and socialite who aspired to be an opera singer and perform at Carnegie Hall despite her off-key singing.
Wearing a dress with the design of a crane, the three-time Academy award winner took time to sign autographs for film fans who gathered along the red carpet.
"Hello Tokyo! I love you for coming out in the rain," the 67-year-old actress told the audience. "I'm very, very proud that Madame Florence has been chosen to be the opening of the festival offering."
Among the most popular stars on the red carpet was Korean actor Yesung of the K-pop boy band Super Junior, who stars in the Japanese movie “My Korean Teacher.”
From left: Daigo MATSUI, Yu AOI, Munetaka AOKI, and Mamoru HOSODA in the film festival. Photo:tiff-jp.net
Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe closed the red carpet ceremony and then opened the actual opening ceremony across the street at Ex Theater Roppongi.
Flanked by Streep and actor Kenichi Matsuyama, who plays the title role in the closing film, “Satoshi: A Move for Tomorrow,” about professional shogi player Satoshi Murayama, Abe said that “the red carpet here is so much more exciting than the carpetat the parliament building.”
He said he told Streep that his favorite role of hers was Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady,” and even quoted a line from the movie, which amused Streep to no end.
After the emcee pointed out some Liberal Democratic Party bigwigs in the audience, Streep came onstage to say a few words about the opening film and added that she had to get back to the U.S. quickly “to help elect the next president.”
The festival runs through Nov. 3.
The still of movie "My Korean Teacher". Photo:tiff-jp.net
A total of 16 works will compete for the festival's top honor Tokyo Grand Prix, including two Chinese films, namely, Mr. No Problem by Chinese Mainland director Mei Feng and Shed Skin Papa by Hong Kong director Roy Szeto.
The winner of the top honor will be announced on the final day based on the decision of an international jury headed by French director and producer Jean-Jacques Beineix.
Meanwhile, films will also compete for a number of other awards, including the Best Asian Future Film Award in the Asian Future session established at the 26th TIFF.
The TIFF, which started in 1985 as Japan's first major film festival, is expected to attract tens of thousands of movie fans, students, professionals and buyers in a wide range of events.
(APD)
