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I am honored to have been appointed the inaugural role of Chairman of the Tokyo International Film Festival this summer.
It is deeply touching to have the opportunity to oversee the unveiling of Tora-san, Wish You Were Here in my first year as Chairman, and to hear the film’s director, Mr. Yoji Yamada say, "while harking back to those exciting and distant days, it is time for us to shift gears for the new era to come".
Much in the same way, the Tokyo International Film Festival's inception dates back to the era in which Japan was enjoying its rapid economic growth, and while it should cherish the achievements of the many filmmakers and men and women who have contributed to the festival's prosperity, I feel it is also imperative that we see to it that the festival further evolves as one befitting of the new era to come. It is my wish that the Tokyo International Film Festival becomes a place where filmmakers and filmgoers can come together, enjoy splendid filmmaking, nurture a sense of empathy, and further strengthen bonds.
I humbly look forward to your continued support and involvement.
Hiroyasu Ando was born in 1944. After graduating from University of Tokyo in 1970, he entered Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After serving as a diplomat in the US, the Philippines and the UK, he served as the Private Secretary for the Prime Minister, the Minister-Counselor at the Embassy of Japan in the US, the Director-General in charge of Middle East and African Affairs, the Ambassador of the Consulate General of Japan in New York, the Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary and the Ambassador to Italy. Since October 2011, he has been working on international cultural exchanges as the President of the Japan Foundation.
The 32nd Annual Tokyo International Film Festival will be the first TIFF held in Japan's new Reiwa Era.
Japan is already garnering much international attention with the Rugby World Cup approaching this Autumn, and the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held next year.
We therefore plan to make this year's edition of TIFF one of remembrance and rediscovery of the atractions of Japanese cinema and visual culture. Alongside our lineup of exceptional films from around the world, we will also focus on notable Japanese films and filmmakers from yesteryear and today; Japanese animation, which has paved its own unique evolutionary path to attracting a huge global following; and kaiju tokusatsu works, whose unique imagination and ingenuity have won the hearts of enthusiasts far and wide.
The festival's three principles — to be Expansive, Empowering and Enlightening — remain unchanged. We will once again offer our audiences a colorful and diverse program, provide opportunities for industry professionals and film lovers to meet, and continue to support young filmmakers, furthering the international appeal of TIFF.
Takeo Hisamatsu joined Shochiku Co., Ltd in 1978, and in 1986 became manager of Shochiku USA's Little Tokyo Cinema, Los Angeles. He returned to Tokyo in 1989 and was appointed senior manager of the Exhibition Department. In 1994, he joined Time Warner Entertainment Japan as General Director of the Theatrical Distribution Department, Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. In 2001, he rejoined Shochiku as Director of the Theatrical Distribution Department, Production and Acquisition, and became an Executive Managing Director in 2003. He was named president of what is now Shochiku Broadcasting Co., Ltd. in 2006, and in 2010 rejoined Warner Entertainment Japan Inc. as Deputy General Manager of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. In 2015, he established his own company, My Way Movies, where he serves as president. Over the past several years, Hisamatsu has participated in the production of such renowned films as Unforgiven (2013, directed by Lee Sang-il), Rurouni Kenshin (2012, Keishi Ohtomo), Air Doll (2009, Hirokazu Kore-eda), Dear Doctor (2009, Miwa Nishikawa), Still Walking (2008, Hirokazu Kore-eda), All Around Us (2008, Ryosuke Hashiguchi) and Love and Honor | Bushi no ichibun (2006, Yoji Yamada).
