TIFF ‘08 starts down green carpet one step at a time
Written by Writer on Friday, October 17th, 2008
TIFF ‘08 starts down green carpet one step at a time
The Yomiuri Shimbun
The weeklong Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF)–one of the main events and finale of the monthlong Japan International Contents Festival–will be held mainly in Roppongi, Tokyo, under the new theme “Action! for Earth.”
To emphasize the film fest’s ecofriendly theme, the special guests from around the world who are gathering at Roppongi Hills this week will walk down the green carpet, instead of the usual red. The carpet, in keeping with the theme, is made from recycled plastic bottles.
Movies by world-renowned directors such as Hayao Miyazaki or Takeshi Kitano have already shown at Venice, but two Japanese movies–Echo of Silence directed by actor Atsuro Watabe and School Days with a Pig, starring Satoshi Tsumabuki–will be among the 15 films that were chosen from 690 entries for TIFF’s competition.
Meanwhile, John Woo’s Chinese historical action film Red Cliff Part 1 and Disney’s latest animated movie Wall-E will be shown at the opening and closing as Special Screenings, respectively, giving the audience a chance to see the films before their actual release date.
The movies chosen for the Competition Special Screenings and Winds of Asia-Middle East categories, though, are not necessarily related to the environment. The panel this year consists of the same members of that of last year.
During a press conference held earlier this month, reporters asked critical questions about the 21st annual event, including such concerns as why the carpet is the only “green” aspect of the event, and why the filmmakers had chosen to go with this theme.
New TIFF Chairman Tom Yoda, who replaced Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, replied, “We’re going to take this just one step at a time. For the first year, this means committing ourselves to an environmental issue and shining the spotlight on the importance of the environment through film.”
Although his answer remained vague, the event organizers set up a “natural” TIFF section, awarding the “ecology award” to the best films featuring nature, ecology and the environment.
For more information, visit www.tiff-jp.net. Tickets are available online and at the door. - (Oct. 17, 2008)
