Like its counterparts in Venice and Toronto, Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is going ahead as planned this year, but it’s having to do things a little differently. There will still be the usual physical screenings and Q&A, but the regular competition sections have been ditched and more of the action will be shifting online.
The choice of festival ambassador also marks a break from tradition. While in recent years TIFF has been represented by the likes of Mayu Matsuoka, Alice Hirose and Kanna Hashimoto, in 2020 the task falls to Koji Yakusho.
“Every year they’ve picked a young, beautiful actress, so I’m not sure why they asked me this time,” quips the 64-year-old actor. “But I’m happy to do what I can to help.”