The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is adding a series of new initiatives for its 39th edition. The festival is adding two new awards for the Nippon Cinema Now section; launching a new section titled Crosscut Asia+; and establishing the Kashiko Kawakita Award to honor women in cinema.
The festival says the new initiatives “aim to enhance the global reach of Japanese cinema, foster next-generation talent and co-creation across Asia, and promote the preservation and continuation of diverse film cultures.”
The two new awards linked to Nippon Cinema Now include best film and a special jury prize. The festival is looking to draw more attention to local talent and “provide stronger support for undiscovered Japanese talent— from promising newcomers to visionary veterans—and to bring their work to worldwide audiences.”
“Through the establishment of a new competition within the Nippon Cinema Now section, we will shine a spotlight on exceptional new Japanese talent and introduce them to the world,” Takeo Hisamatsu, TIFF’s festival director, said in a statement. “We hope to give creators the courage to take on their next challenge while empowering them to advance to the global stage. By serving as a platform for emerging talent to take flight, the Tokyo International Film Festival aims to contribute to the growth and development of the Japanese film industry.”
