“Love Mooning” by MANDA Kunitoshi will open the festival, and the closing film will be “It Must Be Heaven” by Elia SULEIMAN. New films by the directors close to TOKYO FILMeX such as HONG Sang-soo, Rithy PANH, TSAI Ming Liang, Amos GITAI and JIA Zhang-ke will be presented in the Special Screening program. In the TOKYO FILMeX Competition section, we present 12 new films by the best emerging filmmakers in Asia.
Stay in tune, we will announce the screening schedule and the ticket system in the near future.

■TOKYO FILMeX Competition Jury

MANDA Kunitoshi（ The Chairperson of the Jury ／ Japan ／ Film Director, Scriptwriter, Producer ）
Chris FUJIWARA（ United States ／ Film Critic ）
SAKAMOTO Abi（ Japan ／ Programmer ）
Eric NYARI（ United States ／ Producer ）
Tom MES ( Netherlands ／ Film Critic )

■TOKYO FILMeX Competition

This year’s TOKYO FILMeX Competition will present 12 new films by the best emerging filmmakers in Asia. The Jury that consists of five international film professionals will judge the films in this program, and the following prizes will be announced at the award ceremony on the evening of November 7th. All films in the section will be screened with English Subtitles. （★＝first feature）

Should The Wind Drop ★

France, Armenia, Belgium / 2020 / 100min.
Director: Nora MARTIROSYAN

Nagorno-Karabakh is a district that shares a border with Armenia and claims independence from Azerbaijan. The film follows a French technician who investigates an airport that was destroyed in the war and rebuilt after the ceasefire. Selected for Cannes 2020, this is Nora MARTIROSYAN’s feature directorial debut.

In Between Dying

Azerbaijan, Mexico, America / 2020 / 88min.
Director: Hilal Baydarov

This is the second dramatic feature film by Hilal BAYDAROV, an up-and-coming Azerbaijani filmmaker who trained under TARR Bela. Set during a day’s journey depicted against the desolate Central Asian landscape, the film follows the protagonist as he is chased by the shadow of death wherever he goes and throws various mysteries at the viewer. Screened in competition at the Venice International Film Festival.

Careless Crime

Iran / 2020 / 139min.
Director: Shahram MOKRI

In 1979, on the eve of the Iranian Revolution, movie theaters were burned down by mobs rejecting Western culture. Forty years later, four men hatch a plan to burn down movie theaters…. An intelligent adaptation of an outlandish idea, this is director MOKRI’s third film. Screened in the Orizzonti section at the Venice International Film Festival.

Yellow Cat

Kazkhstan, France / 2020 / 90min.
Director: Adilkhan YELZHANOV

Set in the steppes of Kazakhstan, a comedic portrayal of an ex-con’s struggle to escape the underground world and open a cinema. This is the latest film from the brilliant filmmaker Adilkhan YELZHANOV, whose many works have been consistently selected by international film festivals. Screened in the Orizzonti section at the Venice International Film Festival.

Milestone

India / 2020 / 98min.
Director: Ivan AYR

Set in north Indian, the film depicts the anguish of a veteran truck driver who works to compensate his wife’s family for her death while suffering from severe back pain. Screened in the Orizzonti section at the Venice International Film Festival, this is the second film by director Ivan AYR, whose debut film “Soni” (2018) was highly acclaimed.

Aswang ★

Philippines / 2019 / 85min.
Director: Alyx Ayn ARUMPAC

This documentary follows the struggles of those who suffer under a policy set by the Duterte regime, which gives police the right to shoot drug patients and dealers on sight. The title is taken from the name of a monster in Philippine folklore. Screed at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.

The Silent Forest ★

Taiwan / 2020 / 104min.
Director: KO Chen-Nien

A boy who has transferred to a school for students with disability witnesses a “game” on a school bus. This is just the beginning of a brutal reality. Based on a real incident that occurred in Taiwan, this film is the directorial debut of director KO Chen-nien. Screened as the opening film at the Taipei Film Festival.

The Best Is Yet To Come ★

China / 2020 / 115min.
Director: WANG Jing

Based on a real-life newspaper reporter who sounded the alarm on many social issues, this film follows the rags to riches story of a young man who matures as a reporter. This is the directorial debut of WANG Jing, who has been assistant director to JIA Zhang-ke since “A Touch of Sin” (2013). Screened in the Orizzonti section at the Venice International Film Festival.

Any Crybabies Around?

Japan / 2020 / 108min.
Director: SATO Takuma

SATO Takuma’s theatrical debut film depicts the struggles of a man who works to preserve the traditional culture of “Namahage” on the Oga Peninsula in Akita Prefecture as he tries to regain the bond with his family that he lost due to his past mistakes. The film stars NAKANO Taiga and YOSHIOKA Riho. It had its world premiere in competition at the San Sebastián Film Festival.

The Blue Danube

Japan / 2020 / 105min.
Director: IKEDA Akira

In a fictional town where war with the neighboring town across the river is ingrained into everyday life, people experience moments of happiness and hardship. Wrapped in a unique sense of humor, this is the fourth feature length film by IKEDA Akira, whose “Anatomy of a Paper Clip” (2013) was highly acclaimed.

A Balance

Japan / 2020 / 152min.
Director: HARUMOTO Yujiro

Documentary director Yuko investigates the suicide of a high school girl. As Yuko gets closer to the truth of the case, her father, who runs a cram school, exposes a shocking revelation… This is the second film directed by HARUMOTO Yuijro, following his debut film, “Going the Distance” (2016). Starring TAKIUCHI Kumi, MITSUISHI Ken, KAWAI Yuumi, and UMEDA Masahiro.

OKINAWA SANTOS

Japan / 2020 / 90min.
Director MATSUBAYASHI Yoju

The long-awaited new documentary from MATSUBAYASHI Yoju of “The Horses of Fukushima” (2013). During World War II, many Japanese people immigrants in Santos, Brazil, were forced to move to another place. MATSUBAYASHI draws attention to the fact that 60% of the migrants were from Okinawa. Based on testimonies from interviewees, this film reveals the hidden historical relationship between Okinawa and Brazil.

(c)玄要社

NEWS

Lineup Announced: TOKYO FILMeX 2020 Competition

■TOKYO FILMeX Competition Jury

■TOKYO FILMeX Competition