Tokyo
Tokyo International Film Festival Opens 39th Edition with Star-Studded Red Carpet and 204 Films: The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) opened Monday with a star-studded red carpet, international film personalities and a ceremony celebrating the power of cinema to connect cultures and audiences worldwide.
Running from October 26 to November 4, the festival features 204 films across its diverse programming, bringing filmmakers, actors and industry leaders from around the world to Tokyo. Despite steady rain, the opening red carpet welcomed 262 guests, while 620 spectators gathered to see the arrivals along the 250-metre carpet. A total of 214 press members covered the red carpet and opening ceremony.
International Stars Shine on the Red Carpet
Nearly 300 filmmakers, actors and industry personalities representing all 11 festival sections and four competition juries attended the opening celebrations.
Among the international guests were Indonesian director Garin Nugroho and actor Nicholas Saputra, presenting their competition film Red Before Dawn. Other international representatives included Belgian-based director Teodora Ana Mihai and actor Violet Braeckman, Chinese director Qiu Jiongjiong, Iranian Kurdish director Bahman Ghobadi and Kazakh director Azamat Shargyn.
Japanese stars also drew attention, including festival navigator and actor Nakajima Kento, Tadanobu Asano, Yukino Kishii, Lily Franky, Mayu Matsuoka and Mei Nagano.
The red carpet also welcomed a delegation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars. The delegation was led by Academy CEO Bill Kramer, marking the Academy’s first participation in an international film festival, according to TIFF.
‘Sukiyaki’ Opens the Festival
The festival’s opening film is Sukiyaki, directed by Takahisa Zeze and starring Junichi Okada, Tori Matsuzaka and Nana Seino.
The musical drama explores the story behind the iconic 1963 Japanese song “Ue o Muite Aruko,” internationally known as “Sukiyaki.” The song became the first Japanese-language track to top the US Billboard Hot 100, holding the number-one position for three consecutive weeks.
The film follows composer Hachidai Nakamura, lyricist Rokusuke Ei and singer Kyu Sakamoto as they overcome personal differences and professional challenges to create a song that would achieve international success.
At the opening ceremony, the filmmakers expressed their appreciation for the selection. Zeze said he hoped the film would allow audiences to experience Japanese film and music while serving as a celebration of peace.
Japanese Government Highlights Global Content Ambitions
Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ryosei Akazawa, welcomed the international film community and highlighted the growing importance of the country’s content industry.
Akazawa noted that overseas sales in Japan’s content industry had reached approximately 6.1 trillion yen. The government aims to increase overseas sales to 20 trillion yen by 2033, with proposed fiscal 2027 budget requests including approximately 250 billion yen across government agencies to support growth investment in the sector.
He also highlighted the international potential of Japanese intellectual property, including Godzilla, manga and anime, which are expanding into film, merchandise, events and other commercial opportunities.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addressed the ceremony through a video message, emphasizing cinema’s role in connecting cultures, promoting mutual understanding and encouraging international collaboration. She reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening Japan’s creative industries and attracting international film and television productions.
International Competition Features 15 Films
The festival’s International Competition will feature 15 films competing for the Tokyo Grand Prix. The selection was made from 1,892 submissions representing 112 countries and regions.
The jury is led by Australian writer, director and producer Rolf de Heer, alongside Korean producer Oh Jungwan, Japanese actor Makiko Watanabe and DI colorist Yov Moor.
The festival also includes Asian Future and Nippon Connection Now programming, alongside additional awards, industry discussions, masterclasses, question-and-answer sessions and networking opportunities.
Festival navigator Nakajima Kento welcomed the opportunity for filmmakers and audiences to discover new perspectives through cinema, describing the festival as a shared cinematic journey.
Tokyo Celebrates the Global Power of Cinema
The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival continues through November 4 across Tokyo’s Hibiya, Yurakucho, Marunouchi and Ginza districts.
With 204 films, international guests and a wide range of industry events, the festival offers a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work, exchange ideas and develop new relationships across the global entertainment industry.
