TOKYO – The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) rolled out its signature red carpet on Oct. 27, marking the start of a 10-day celebration of global cinema. Under clear autumn skies, over 200 filmmakers, actors, and festival guests made their way down the 162-meter carpet lined with cheering fans and camera flashes.
Juliette Binoche (Photo by Din Eugenio)
From autograph seekers to selfie fans, the energy was electric as stars from around the world greeted the crowd before entering the grand Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, whose classic movie palace design set the tone for the evening’s opening ceremony.
Ko Shibasaki (L) and Hikari Mitsushima (R) (Photo by Din Eugenio)
Keiko Kitagawa (Photo by Din Eugenio)
Fan Bingbing (Photo by Din Eugenio)
Among the international guests were French icon Juliette Binoche, presenting her directorial debut “In-I In Motion,” Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Schrader, who attended the Japan premiere of his restored 1985 classic “Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters,” Chinese superstar Fan Bingbing and director-producer Peter Ho-sun Chan.
Paul Schrader, 2nd from left (Photo by Din Eugenio)
From left to right: Matthieu Laclau, Vivian Qu, Carlo Chatrian, Gwei Lun-Mei and Takumi Saitoh (Photo by Din Eugenio)
Representing Japan were some of the country’s most celebrated talents, including Festival Navigator Kumi Takiuchi, and actresses Keiko Kitagawa, Ko Shibasaki, Hikari Mitsushima and Kyoka Suzuki.
Kumi Takiuchi (Photo by Din Eugenio)
Peter Ho-sun Chan (Photo by Din Eugenio)
Kyoka Suzuki, 5th from right (Photo by Din Eugenio)
Closing the parade of stars were the members of this year’s International Competition jury: Jury President Carlo Chatrian, Taiwanese actor Gwei Lun-Mei, French editor Matthieu Laclau, Japanese actor-filmmaker Takumi Saitoh and Chinese director-producer Vivian Qu. - FJJ
