'Melancholic': When cleaning the tub brings dirtier jobs
Almost every year at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) at least one film by a new Japanese director gets talked up by visiting programmers, journalists and critics as a find. Last year one such buzz film was Seiji Tanaka's debut feature, "Melancholic." I was ...
The Japanese films that made a splash at TIFF
Every year people from the film industry — buyers, programmers and critics — descend on the Tokyo International Film Festival to see what this country has to offer, and every year they usually find at least one gem among the selections in the Japanese ...
For once, the best film won. Though the jury at Tokyo International Film Festival has erred in the past, there could be few complaints about this year's choices. Mikhael Hers' "Amanda" was a worthy recipient of the Tokyo Grand Prix: An emotionally devastating portrait ...
French film 'Amanda' takes top prize at Tokyo International Film Festival
French director Mikhael Hers' family drama, "Amanda," was awarded the Grand Prix at the 31st Tokyo International Film Festival on Friday. Edoardo De Angelis, meanwhile, took top directing honors for his emotional Italian drama "The Vice of Hope," a film that also won his wife, ...
The faces of the Tokyo International Film Festival 2018: Competition
The 31st Tokyo International Film Festival, which opened on Thursday, is screening a variety of cinema from all over the world at various venues in Tokyo. The festival runs until Nov. 3, when the jury will announce the winning films from the competition. In collaboration ...
The faces of the Tokyo International Film Festival 2018: Special screenings
The 31st Tokyo International Film Festival, which opened on Thursday, is screening a variety of cinema from all over the world at various venues in Tokyo. The festival runs until Nov. 3, when the jury will announce the winning films from the competition. In collaboration ...
Asian presence dominates Tokyo International Film Festival red carpet
The 31st Tokyo International Film Festival kicked off Thursday with a notable dearth of Hollywood stars, namely the two who star in the opening movie. Despite Lady Gaga's professed love of Japan, the American singer didn't show up as had been rumored to promote "A ...
Masaaki Yuasa: Anime for the discerning fan
Masaaki Yuasa is one of the most exciting directors working in Japanese animation today, with a three-decade career behind him. Yet until last year, you may not even have heard of him. Long the filmmaker of choice for discerning anime fans, the 53-year-old has ...
Junji Sakamoto points his camera at small-town Japan in 'Another World'
Born in Osaka in 1958, Junji Sakamoto belongs to a generation of Japanese directors who carved out independent paths in the industry, outside the then-defunct studio system. His feature debut, the 1989 boxing film "Knockout," won a shelf of domestic prizes, including the Blue ...
Thai filmmaker creates an intimate portrait of girl group BNK48
Thai filmmaker Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit wasn't sure whether to believe it when he was offered unfettered, behind-the-scenes access into the normally closely guarded and secretive world of one of Asia's biggest pop idol bands. Turns out the director got closer than he could have ever dreamed. "There ...
Your guide to our Japanese film picks at this year's Tokyo International Film Festival
The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) offers fans a rare chance to see dozens of new and classic Japanese films with English subtitles on the big screen. Among my own picks for the event's 31st edition: 'Another World' (TIFF Competition): Junji Sakamoto's drama about two ...
The meteoric rise of Mayu Matsuoka
As a film critic, I occasionally come across something on the screen that sets off fireworks in my brain. It happened with Sakura Ando's explosive performance as a desperate boxer in "100 Yen Love" and with the funny, surprising and moving zombie comedy "One ...
