Local and international stars on hand as Tokyo kicks off 23rd edition

Local and international stars walked the festival’s distinctive recycled green carpet after arriving in compact hybrid Toyota vehicles, signifying the event’s ongoing commitment to environmental awareness and action.

On hand to meet fans and the media were Social Network star Jesse Eisenberg and the film’s screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, Tron: Legacy cast members Olivia Wilde and Garrett Hedlund, Maki Horikita and Kengo Kora for local world premiere Into The White Night (sold to Taiwan’s Catchplay just before the festival opened) and legendary French star Catherine Deneuve, here with Potiche. 

TIFF Chairman Tom Yoda, now in his third year heading up the event, described this year as the festival’s “jump” after the “hop and skip” of his first two years in charge.

Before the opening screening competition jury head Neil Jordan spoke about bringing his own film The Company Of Wolves to the fledgling event back in the 1980s.

15 films from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America will compete for the Sakura Grand Prix and $50,000. The lineup was assembled with the advice of leading UK producer Jeremy Thomas, who will also chair a TIFFCOM  market event on co-productions with Asia.

TIFF runs until October 31 as the centerpiece of the 17-event Japan International Contents Festival (CoFesta), which includes the TIFFCOM market (Oct 25-28). Organizers hope to reach a combined 300,000 visitors for all the events, surpassing last year’s 278,000.