Since its inception, Tokyo Filmex (often styled as TOKYO FILMeX) has become Japan’s second most important film festival after the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF). There isn’t any rivalry between the two festivals. On they contrary, they complement each other. TIFF primarily screens mainstream Japanese and international films, while Tokyo Filmex focuses on auteur, innovative and experimental cinema.
The Tokyo International Film Festival and Tokyo Filmex differ in atmosphere, too. TIFF is a FIAPF-accredited film festival with a red carpet and accompanying events for movie stars, while Tokyo Filmex has a more relaxed atmosphere and allows attendees to meet filmmakers in a casual environment.
The program of Tokyo Filmex includes a film competition and out of competition sections. The competition is open to new films by emerging Asian filmmakers. It includes works by up-and-coming directors and films made by the participants of Talents Tokyo, a special program for young filmmakers and producers from East Asia and South East Asia.
The winners of the Tokyo Filmex competition are selected by an international jury comprising five film professionals. The jury presents two awards, the Grand Prize and the Special Jury Prize. Other awards presented at the festival include the Student Jury Prize and the Audience Award. The Audience Award can be given to any film screened at the festival, both in the competition and out of competition sections, except for the closing film and FILMeX Classics.
The out of competition sections include Special Screenings (new films from Asia and around the world, including the opening film and closing film), Special Screenings FILMeX Classics, Filmmaker in Focus (a special program featuring a retrospective of works by an outstanding filmmaker), and others.
Tokyo Filmex is held in several venues, including Yurakucho Asahi Hall, Toho Cinemas Nichigeki, and the National Museum of Modern Art.
Photo: filmbiz.asia
