More than 200 guests attend Tokyo International Film Festival opening
“Perfect Days” director Wim Wenders, third from right in the front row, actors Koji Yakusho, fourth from left in the back row, and Tokio Emoto, fifth from left in the back row, and other guests are seen on the red carpet at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival, in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on Oct. 23, 2023. (Mainichi/Ririko Maeda)
TOKYO — German film director Wim Wenders and Japanese actor Koji Yakusho were among the 200-plus guests to celebrate the opening of the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival on Oct. 23.
Red carpets were rolled out around the venue, the Tokyo Midtown Hibiya complex, to welcome notable guests including Wenders, the director of the opening film “Perfect Days” and president of the jury in the competition division, and its lead actor Yakusho.
At the opening ceremony, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Chinese director Zhang Yimou. He said in a speech, “I won the Award for Best Actor at the 2nd Tokyo International Film Festival, but time flies. This is a new start.” Chairman Hiroyasu Ando declared the opening of the festival, saying, “Now that the coronavirus pandemic has settled, we would like to make a further leap forward.”
The festival will show 219 films, mainly at movie theaters in the Marunouchi, Yurakucho, Hibiya and Ginza areas in the capital. Fifteen films, including three Japanese titles, will be screened in the competition division, in which the Tokyo Grand Prix and other prizes will be awarded. The festival will continue until Nov.
