Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) announced the TIFF presents the SAMURAI Award Special Talk Session which will be held to feature Takeshi Kitano, one of Japan’s most prominent film director. We will also invite young Japanese filmmakers, international film critic and film curator to talk about “Now and Future of Japanese Film” on 25 October. This year, TIFF has launched the SAMURAI Award to commend achievements of filmmaker who continues to create groundbreaking films that carve out a path to a new era. Takeshi Kitano and Tim Burton are the first recipients of the award. In commemoration of establishment of this award, TIFF will hold this special talk session.
The 27th TIFF will be held from 23 to 31 October, at Roppongi Hills, TOHO Cinemas Nihonbashi and other venues in Tokyo. Takeshi KITANO and Tim BURTON will be receiving the SAMURAI Award at the Closing Ceremony on 31 October.
Outline of the Event
Title: TIFF presents the SAMURAI Award Special Talk Session, Featuring the first recipient of the Award, Takeshi Kitano
Date: October 25 (Sat) 15:00-16:30
Venue: Tower Hall, Roppongi Academy Hills, Roppongi Hills 49F
Theme: “Now and Future of Japanese Movie” (tentative)
Speakers: Takeshi KITANO (film director), Winners of PFF Award 2014,
Winners of three student film festivals in Japan
The event will be streaming live on Nico Nico Douga, Ustream and YouTube.
Takeshi Kitano
Born in Tokyo in 1947, and made his directorial debut with Violent Cop in 1989. In 1997, he won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival with his Fireworks. It was the first time for a Japanese film to win the award in 39 years. In 1999, Kikujiro was officially entered in the Competition section of the Cannes International Film Festival. He was also the special professor of the Graduate School of Visual Arts and the head of films at the Tokyo University of the Arts between 2005 and 2008. At the 64th Venice International Film Festival in 2007, a new award, “Glory to the Filmmaker!”, was established, named after the film, Glory to the Filmmaker!, directed by Kitano. In 2008 Kitano was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 30th Moscow International Film Festival. His filmography includes: A Scene at the Sea (1991); Sonatine (1993); Kids Return (1996); Brother (2001); Zatoichi (2003); Outrage (2010) and Outrage Beyond (2012)
Pia Film Festival (PFF)
PFF has a competition, the PFF Award, for young artists who dream of becoming film directors. TIFF has strengthened collaboration with PFF. This year, five award-winning films of the 2014 PFF will be shown during the TIFF.
The 4th Japan Student Film Festival
Grand Prix winner films of three major student film festivals in Japan, including Tokyo Student Film Festival, TOHO Cinemas Student Film Festival, and Kyoto International Student Film Festival to be screened during TIFF. Audience can experience cutting edge contents developed by students in Japan.
