2010.02.19
TIFF reveals to the world the power of films
The 23rd Tokyo International Film Festival will be held October 23-31, 2010, in Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan.
At the 21st TIFF, the Green Carpet was rolled out for the first time as a symbol of our commitment to the environment. The ecological theme was also reflected in the festival's four main concepts, Linkage, High Quality, Opportunity, and Innovation, and in various innovative projects, including the "natural TIFF" section and the TOYOTA Earth Grand Prix. This unique approach to environmental issues enhanced TIFF's presence and appeal to the world.
At the 22nd TIFF, we took a more active role by launching Green Carpet Club (GCC) to raise environmental awareness and send a green message from Tokyo to the world. GCC's charity campaign included an Internet auction, a live charity auction, and donation collections at the festival venues. Through these activities and the support given by film fans and people in the film industry, TIFF has become an internationally recognized venue for outstanding films, as well as a meeting place and a forum for exploring global environmental issues under our slogan, "Action! for Earth."
Film quality is the key to success for a truly international film festival such as TIFF, where people from Japan, Asia and the world come together to see outstanding films. Our first priority, therefore, is to seek out the finest films featuring the biggest directors and most glamorous stars from around the world. To this end, TIFF has appointed Mr. Jeremy Thomas, the award-winning British producer, and Mr. Ken Umehara, known as the blockbuster buyer of foreign films, as the 23rd TIFF advisors.
TIFF film selection panel:
Tom Yoda, Chairman, TIFF&TIFFCOM
Yoshi Yatabe, Programming Director for the Competition
Kenji Ishizaka, Programming Director for Winds of Asia and the Middle East
Jeremy Thomas, 23rd TIFF Executive Advisor
Ken Umehara, 23rd TIFF Advisor for Programming
In 2010, the third year of the Green Carpet, TIFF will use the power of films to take another bold leap toward the future.
| Profile of the 23rd TIFF Film Selection Panel |
| Tom Yoda: Chairman, TIFF & TIFFCOM Tom Yoda was born in 1940. After serving as director of Sansui Electric, he established Thomas Yoda Limited (later renamed T.Y. Limited Inc.) in March 1988. In August of the same year, he became an Advisor to Avex Group Holdings, Inc. He was appointed Chairman of the group in 1993, and served as Chairman and CEO from 1995 until August 2004. He currently heads T.Y. Limited, GAGA Corporation, Dreamusic, and T.Y. Entertainment, as well as serves on the board of directors for T-Joy Co. Ltd and Rakuten, Inc. In March 2008, Yoda was appointed chairman of the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF & TIFFCOM). He also contributed to the Japan Business Federation as a board member/ Chairman of the Subcommittee on Entertainment and Content. Among his other responsibilities, he serves as Executive Director of the Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO) and as Vice Chairman of the Japan International Contents Festival (CoFesta). |
| Yoshi Yatabe: Programming Director Yatabe undertook film distribution and advertising business followed by the employment with Industrial Bank of Japan (current Mizuho Bank). He also engaged himself in producing documentaries as well as managing Festival du Film Francais au Japon. He joined TIFF and served to oversee Programming Division with the selection of films as well as Programming Director of Japanese Eyes in succeeding years. He has been assuming the post of Competition Programming Director of TIFF since 2007. |
| Kenji Ishizaka: Programming Director Ishizaka commenced research and critique of Asian and documentary films after majoring film at Waseda University Graduate School. He planned and managed approximately 70 Asia Middle-East Film Festival Series from 1990 through 2007 in Japan Foundation. He is a lecturing professor at Waseda University and Meiji Gakuin University and also served as a visiting professor of the Korean National University of Arts (1998-1999). |
| Jeremy Thomas C.B.E.: The 23rd TIFF Executive Advisor Jeremy is a British film producer, founder of the Recorded Picture Company. He was the producer of Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Last Emperor", which won the 1987 Academy Award for Best Picture. In 2006 he received the European Film Award for Outstanding European Achievement in World Cinema. He was Chairman of the British Film Institute from 1992 to 1997. Amongst his prolific output, he has produced films with several major Japanese directors and stars, including directors Nagisa Oshima and Takeshi Kitano, and Ryuichi Sakamoto. |
| Ken Umehara: The 23rd TIFF Advisor for Programming Born in Kochi, Japan, Ken graduated from Cinema Studies at New York University, and then worked for Shochiku, GAGA, and Nikkatsu as a purchaser of foreign films. The first film he purchased was The Wanderers. He has since purchased five Academy Award-winning films - Amadeus, The Last Emperor, Chicago, Crash, and Million Dollar Baby - and earned 10.5 billion yen with the blockbuster films, "RED CLIFF PART I & II". As a result, he is known as the Blockbuster Buyer. Ken is currently Senior Acquisition Director of at Avex Entertainment. |
