Chloé Zhao, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Peter Chan Lead Tokyo Film Festival Talks Lineup

The Tokyo International Film Festival has unveiled the complete lineup for its sixth annual TIFF Lounge, bringing together some of Asian and international cinema’s most celebrated voices for a series of conversations running throughout the festival.

The industry networking initiative, co-presented by the Japan Foundation and TIFF, will host five talk sessions featuring an A-list roster of filmmakers.

The program kicks off with a masterclass from Asian cinema legend Peter Chan Ho-sun on Oct. 28, moderated by TIFF programming director Ichiyama Shozo.

Japanese helmer Fujimoto Akio, whose latest film “Lost Land” won the Special Jury Prize in the Horizons section at Venice, will sit down with Thai cinema luminary Pen-ek Ratanaruang on Oct. 29.

A conversation between veteran Japanese director Yamada Yoji, whose film “Tokyo Taxi” is this year’s TIFF Centerpiece selection, and Lee Sang-il takes place Oct. 30. Lee will receive the Kurosawa Akira Award for his film “Kokuho.”

Miyake Sho, whose “Two Seasons, Two Strangers” won the Golden Leopard at Locarno, will discuss his work with Rithy Panh, the acclaimed Cambodian filmmaker who served as Locarno jury president, on Nov. 1.

The series culminates Nov. 2 with a dialogue between Japanese master Kore-eda Hirokazu, who serves on the TIFF Lounge programming committee, and Oscar winner Chloé Zhao, whose film “Hamnet” closes this year’s festival. Both directors will receive Kurosawa Akira Awards.

TIFF has also unveiled its free outdoor screenings program, which spans blockbusters, anime franchises and classic cinema. The lineup ranges from animated titles in the “Macross Frontier” and “Macross Delta” franchises to Hollywood tentpoles including “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and “Venom: The Last Dance.” A trio of “Superman” films will chart the superhero’s cinematic evolution, while anniversary presentations of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” and the Japanese drama “A Distant Cry from Spring” will be accompanied by memorial tributes. Screenings will take place at Hibiya Step Square in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya.

The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival runs Oct. 27 through Nov. 5 in the Hibiya-Yurakucho-Marunouchi-Ginza area.