Takeo Hisamatsu has been appointed director of the Tokyo International Film Festival. Hisamatsu takes over the lead role from Tokyo Festival President Hiroyasu Ando, effective April 14. Ando is scheduled to step down as president of Asia’s largest film festival on May 31.
Hisamatsu, who previously served as festival director in Tokyo from March 2017 to March 2021, is a veteran of the Japanese entertainment industry. In recent years he served as president of what is now known as Shochiku Broadcasting as well as deputy general manager of Warner Bros. Television. PicturesJapan. Hisamatsu is also a successful film producer and his productions include that of Lee Sang-il the unforgiven (2013); Kishi Otomo Rurouni Kenshin (2012); Hirokazu Kore-eda Air doll (2009) and He’s still walking (2008); Miwa Nishikawa Dear doctor (2009); Ryosuke Hashiguchi All around us (2008); And Yuji Yamada Love and honor | Bushi no Ichibun (2006).
Ando’s beloved and widely respected tenure as Tokyo Festival President began in 2019. In his time in that position, Ando oversaw the festival’s major move from Roppongi to Tokyo’s Hibiya-Yorakucho-Marunouchi-Ginza district, reorganizing the programming structure, and promoting greater international exchange, such as the TIFF Lounge Talk Series. Ando also shepherded the festival through the global challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent slow recovery faced by the film industry.
Ando is set to receive the French government’s prestigious award as Officer of the Order of Arts and Lettres (Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) at an awards ceremony held by the French Ambassador to Japan on April 15.
“During my seven-year tenure as TIFF President, I focused on addressing four key challenges: 1. Deepening international exchange through film and people. 2. Addressing social issues through the film platform. 3. Nurturing talent to shape the future. 4. Fostering collaborative relationships with the local host community,” Ando said in a statement. “I believe we have achieved tangible success, which is reflected in the growth of our audience numbers, revenue and number of international guests. However, TIFF is still a work in progress and must therefore continue to strive for greater heights. I sincerely appreciate your continued support and cooperation under the festival’s new leadership.”
“Five years since my last appointment at the Tokyo International Film Festival, it is a great honor to once again have the opportunity to shoulder the great responsibility of festival director,” Hisamatsu said in a statement. “During my previous tenure, I championed the vision of ‘entertainment and art in sameness’. Through a diverse range of films and events, we aimed to create a festival filled with a sense of celebration, which ultimately contributed to increased attendance.”
Hisamatsu added: “The Japanese government has now positioned the content sector as a vital sector for growth and is working to strengthen its support. Given this opportunity, I will commit to ensuring that TIFF plays a major role in deepening the cultural value and promoting the commercial development of the film industry. I sincerely appreciate your continued support and cooperation.”
The 39th Tokyo Film Festival will open on October 26 and run for 10 days until November 4. The associated film market, TIFFCOM, will open to attendees on October 28 and run until October 30. The festival will be held again in the Hibiya-Yorakucho-Marunouchi Ginza district of the Japanese capital. TIFFCOM will once again be located in Tokyo Metropolitan Hamamatsucho-kan Industrial Trade Center.
Festival organizers UNIJAPAN began the call for applications on April 7 and it is now open until July 7 via the festival’s website.
