On the afternoon of September 25, local time, the organizing committee of the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival held a press conference, with actress Rinko Kikuchi attending as the festival ambassador. The nominated films in various categories were also announced during the event.
In the highly anticipated main competition section, this year, there are as many as five Chinese-language films nominated, two more than last year. Films from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are all competing for the Best Film Sakura Award (Golden Unicorn Award). The winner of last year's 36th edition was the late mainland Chinese director Wanma Caidan's posthumous work, "Snow Leopard."
Chinese-language films nominated in the main competition section (from top to bottom, left to right) include: "Little Me," "The Daughter's Daughter," "My Friend Andre," "Qiao Yan's Concerns," and "Dad."
The five nominated Chinese-language films are directed by Yang Lina and feature performances by Yi Yangqianxi, Lin Xiaojie, Jiang Qinqin, and Zhou Yutong in "Little Me"; directed by Huang Xi and starring Sylvia Chang, Karena Lam, Liu Yier, Zhao Wenxuan, and Lin Xiaozhan in "The Daughter's Daughter"; directed by Dong Zijian and starring Liu Haoran and Dong Zijian in "My Friend Andre"; directed by Zhao Deyin and featuring Zhao Liying, Xin Zhilei, Huang Jue, and Dong Baoshi in "Qiao Yan's Concerns"; and directed by Weng Zi Guang with performances by Louis Koo and Gu Zulin in "Dad."
In addition to Chinese-language films, several local Japanese works have also been nominated in the main competition section, including "Desire in the Rain," directed by Shingo Koyama and starring Ryo Narita, Erika Nakamura, Go Morita, and Anri Sugiura; "The Sky of Today, I Cannot Explain," directed by Akiko Ohku and featuring Riku Hagiwara and Yumi Kawai; and "Enemy," directed by Daisuke Yoshida and starring Kyozo Nagatsuka, Kumi Takino, and Asuka Kurosawa.
Additionally, "Sunshine Club," directed by Wei Shujun and starring Huang Xiaoming; "Nujiang," directed by Liu Juan and featuring Wang Yanhui and Deng Enxi; and "Broken Hell," directed by Chan Mau-hin and starring Anthony Wong and Eric Tsang, have been nominated in the World Focus section. "Dog Formation," directed by Guan Hu and starring Eddie Peng; and "Fortress in Kowloon Walled City," directed by Zheng Baorui and featuring Louis Koo, Sammo Hung, Rainie Yang, and Lin Feng, are nominated in the Gala Selection section.
The jury for the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival is led by Hong Kong actor Tony Leung, with members including Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi, Hong Kong director Johnny To, French filmmaker Chiara Mastroianni, and Japanese actress Ai Hashimoto; the festival will take place from October 28 to November 6.
Poster for the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival
