Tokyo Film Festival Rebounds After Navigating Current Affairs Obstacle Course, Says Ichiyama Shozo: ‘China’s Revival Happened at the Right Time for Us’ (EXCLUSIVE)
variety.comPatrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Ichiyama Shozo assumed control of the program of the Tokyo International Film Festival after a long programming career that included Tokyo and the slightly more indie Tokyo Filmex events.
He is also a regular producing partner of Chinese art-house darling Jai Zhangke. These influences have shaped his approach to this year’s Tokyo IFF lineup, he told Variety. The 2023 autumn festivals all seem to have strong line-ups.
And Tokyo is no exception. What is your understanding of the reasons for that? This year we received many more entries than previous years.
I don’t know the reason, but I feel the film production situation worldwide has come back to the level before the pandemic. What were your guidelines and criteria for selection this time around? I feel many talented filmmakers are struggling with various social problems surrounding their countries.
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