Kicking off on Monday evening in Tokyo's Hibiya district, the festival's opening saw a parade of umbrellas accompanying notable figures from the Japanese entertainment scene, including actors Tadanobu Asano, Junichi Okada, Kento Nakajima, Mei Nagano, and Takumi Kitamura. International guests also graced the carpet, with Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski notably using a replica manhole cover—a prop from his competition film Sister Brother Manhole Cover—to shield himself from the downpour, blending promotion with practicality.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer was also present, offering a clear message to Japanese film enthusiasts: “Go and support your filmmakers. Go to the cinema.” Kramer is set to participate in several events throughout the festival, highlighting the Academy's growing international engagement. Later in the week, Oscar winner Cate Blanchett is expected to arrive, promoting her Displacement Film Fund and engaging in public discussions.
The opening ceremony, held at Hulic Hall Tokyo, marked the return of veteran industry figure Takeo Hisamatsu as festival director. Pop star turned actor Kento Nakajima served as the evening's host and official “navigator.” Hisamatsu, reflecting on his nearly five decades in the film industry, declared the festival open, expressing his hope to infuse a stronger entertainment focus while maintaining TIFF's commitment to independent and international cinema. The Japanese government, represented by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa, also underscored cinema's role in cultural exchange and pledged to boost the country's entertainment and intellectual property exports.
The festival's program is expansive, featuring 204 films from 112 countries and regions, including 35 world premieres, primarily screened around central Tokyo’s Ginza district. The opening film was Takahisa Zeze’s Sukiyaki, a music biopic detailing the creation of the iconic Japanese pop song. However, much anticipation surrounds the centerpiece film, Godzilla Minus Zero, set for a high-profile screening on November 1st, promising a thrilling spectacle from the legendary Japanese studio Toho.
This year's competition jury is led by Australian filmmaker Rolf de Heer, who paid tribute to the profound impact of Japanese cinema on global filmmakers. “As filmmakers, we’ve all been influenced by the Japanese masters,” de Heer remarked, acknowledging the privilege of judging films in Japan. The jury will assess 15 international films for the Tokyo Grand Prix. New initiatives include competitive awards for the Nippon Cinema Now showcase and the CROSSCUT ASIA+ program, spotlighting Southeast Asian cinema.
TIFF will also present its annual Kurosawa Akira Awards to Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, known for politically charged works like There Is No Evil, and Japanese director Mipo O, acclaimed for dramas such as The Light Shines Only There. A new Kashiko Kawakita Award, recognizing women's contributions to film culture, will be inaugurated, with Japanese film critic Sahoko Hata as its first recipient. The festival concludes on November 4th with Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho’s latest outbreak thriller, Colony.