The director and the cast made their stage greetings at the Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon before the screening of the Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix awardee film, Tulpan, which took place following the Award Ceremony. Many movie goers came to the box office to purchase a current ticket showing a strong turn out at the theatre.

Sergey Dvortsevoy (dir.), Samal Yeslyamova (actress), and Askhat Kuchinchirekov (actor) appeared on the stage before the screening and expressed their joy for winning the awards. Sergey Dvortsevoy won both Grand Prix and the Best Director Award, thus becoming an awardee in two categories!



"I am glad to share the lives of people of Kazakhstan with the Japanese audiences through the screening at TIFF. I am really happy that the Japanese people understand this film, he said. Dvortsevoy was glad to be accepted by Japan with an honorable awarding of Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix!


Samal Yeslyamova (leading actress) said, "I came to like Japan more than ever. I am very happy to be able to see you." I apologize for giving you such an ordinary comment." She looked honest and charming when she made a speech.


The actor, Askhat Kuchinchirekov said, "I've learned about Japan through Akira Kurosawa's "Rashomon" and learned about the greatness of Japan by reading Ryunosuke Akutagawa's novel, I came to like Japan more than ever. Thank you so much,"he showed his intimacy in Japan while giving his speech..


Sergey Dvortsevoy said, "Two awards are more than enough for me (laughingly). I have been making many documentary films and Tulpan was my first fiction film. Winning an Award in such a large film festival will definitely become a big advance for my future." He said with a smile. "I am looking forward for coming to Japan. Tulpan is co-produced by 5 countries. When we visit Poland, we mention that Polish cinematographer shot the film and when we are visiting France, we've introduced Tulpan as a French movie. He pointed at Askhat saying, "He looks like a Japanese fellow, that is why Tulpan is a Japanese movie as well."He concluded his greeting by making a preliminary remark to break the ice before the screening.


Askhat who was mentioned by Sergey as a Japanese look-alike said he took his tie off not expecting the film to win the show.

The winners for the prestigious Awards of 21st Tokyo International Film Festival held at Shibuya Bunkamura Orchard Hall has been announced!

「TULPAN」（Sergey Dvortsevoy）


「4 Nights with Anna」（Dir. Jerzy Skolimowski）


Sergey Dvortsevoy「TULPAN」


Felicite Wouassi「With a Little Help from Myself」


Vincent Cassel「Public Enemy No.1(Part1&2)」


「With a Little Help from Myself」（Dir. Francois Dupeyron）


「School Days with a Pig」（Dir. Tetsu Maeda）



「Ashes from the Sky」（Dir.Jose Antonio Quiros）


「School Days with a Pig」（Dir. Tetsu Maeda）


「THE MEERKATS」（Dir. James Honeyborne）



「My Marlon and Brando」（Dir. Huseyin Karabey）


「The Sun Also Rises」（Dir. Jiang Wen）
「The Convert」（Yasmin Ahmad）
「The Way We Are」（Ann Hui）


「buy a suit」（Dir. Jun Ichikawa）


Ittoku Kishibe「Osaka Hamlet」


Nikita Mikhalkov

Chen Kaige

　The 21st edition of Tokyo International Film Festival which was held for nine days will reach its finale with the Closing Ceremony which will be held at Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Shibuya on Oct. 26 (Sun).

The announcement of the respective awards, namely Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix chosen from 15 selected titles of the Competition section, the Best Asian Film Award (selected from the entries of Winds of Asia - Middle East) and Best Picture Award for the Japanese Eyes section will be made at this finale.

The new award, TOYOTA Earth Grand Prix introduced this year will be commended to a stellar film from selections of films based on theme such as ecology, commitment to earth and symbiosis between nature and mankind.
　
TIFF official site will live broadcast the Closing Ceremony, ofcourse the climax of the film festival on internet. Don't miss it!

The 21st Tokyo International Film Festival Closing Ceremony Internet Live Broadcast
　Date　Oct. 26 (Sun) 14:00 - until the ceremony ends.
　Venue　Shibuya city　Bunkamura Orchard Hall
　The Awards to be presented at this event
　　　
■Competition section
　　Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix
　　Special Jury Prize
　　Award for Best Director
　　Award for Best Actress
　　Award for Best Actor
　　Award for Best Artisc Contribution
■Winds of Asia - Middle East section
　　Best Asian-Middle Eastern Film Award
■Japanese Eyes section
　　Best Picture Award
　　Special Award

Akira Kurosawa Award
　　　
TOYOTA Earth Grand Prix

　　　About the Awards

　※　Audience Award for the Competition section will be awarded at TIFF park (Roppongi Hills Area) at Oct. 26 (Sun) at 13:45.
　※　For viewing the rerun of the Green Carpet Opening Ceremony,
Please refer to Microsoft home page. You will need Windows Media Player
for viewing the broadcast. Please follow the instructions for installing
the Windows Media Playe. The dowload is free of charge.
　　　
　　　Windows Media download

・Mr. Tadano's Secret Mission - From Japan with Love - Stage Greetings w/ Katsunori Takahashi (actor), Hisashi Ueda (dir.)
・Hamoon and Darya - Press Conference w/ Ebrahim Forouzesh (dir.), Mehran Gol-Mohammad-zadeh (actor)
・Sing for Darfur - Press Conference w/ Johan Kramer (dir.) and the staff
・ROUTE134STORY Feathers of a Chamomile Micro (dir.) Mini Live
・Filth and Wisdom - Stage Greetings - Kano Sisters
・Fire Festival - Talk Show Mitsuo Yanagimachi (dir.)
・TIFFCOM 2008

The teach -in of the Blue Symphony (naturalTIFF) was held at TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills Screen 2 on Oct. 22 (wed). Takahiro Mitsuyoshi (dir.), Akira Baba (exec. prod.), Yuzo Koyama (storyboard) and Maomi Yuuki (nar.) and Magibon (voice actor) made their appearance.
Please enjoy the scenes from stage greetings and the interview with Maomi Yuuki (Japanese) on the video.

Teach in


Exclusive Interview


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TIFF Earth Conference is a new project introduced this year at which filmmakers will speak on their experiences and share views with the audience in accordance with the theme of the 21st TIFF – “Ecology”.

What can we do at TIFF as a first step toward becoming more aware of the need to protect the global environment? While screening films from around the world with different messages related to “protection of the Earth”, we have also invited those involved in film-making to discuss various themes, such as nature, their hometowns and the global environment.

Following to the screening, Mr. Sophokles Tasioulis, one of the producers of the film ‘earth’, and Professor Shinichi Takemura, a professor at Kyoto University of Art and Design, spoke in front of the audience.




Professor started off by asking the producer about the production of the film.

Q (Prof. Takemura): How did you come about producing ‘earth’?
A (Tasioulis): After releasing ‘Deep Blue’ in 2004, we thought of what we would do next. We wanted to shoot to show everyone, the great rivers and forests of the world, in ways that no one dared before. In portraying our planet, we wanted to focus on its beauty as well as problems in the way the audience could sympathize.

Q (Prof. Takemura): Please tell us about the camera technique you used.
A (Tasioulis): One of the biggest breakthroughs for us was the aerial cinematography. The aerial system that we invented enabled us to fly with helicopters almost 2 kilometers high up in the air. It was so far away that the only person who could see the animals was the cameraman through his zoom lenses. This way, we could shoot the nature without any disturbance. We also used special techniques and technology to shoot animals in water.”

Q (Prof. Takemura): What would be your next project?
A (Tasioulis): That’s a tough question. Shooting ‘earth’ was like climbing up the Everest. We went limp with relief. But after climbing up the mountain, we first need to climb down. The wonderful music in the film is performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Music expressed the emotions while we showed the reality, to make you think about the earth with your heart.

Professor Takemura explained about the ‘Tangible Earth’ using the screen. The size of this globe is 1/1000 of the real earth. It is a digital globe illustrates to help you understand the mechanism of, for example, global warming and typhoon. Professor Takemura hopes for the children to learn more about earth.


During the 50-minute talk show, Mr. Tasioulis and Professor Takemura agreed that we need to see environmental issues as global problems, and to have as many children a possible to see this film to raise awareness. Mr. Tasioulis also mentioned that “the world is trying to cope with the financial crisis together.” And concluded by saying, “We need to address climate change more seriously. In order to save the plane, we need to know about it more.”


earth


For film details

・LOVE FIGHT- Special Live & Stage Greeting
・The Homeless Student - Stage Greeting & Interview
・Winds of September - Teach-n
・Claustrophobia - Press Conference
・Half-Life - Press Conference
・In the City of Sylvia -Teach in
・Parque via - Teach in

The TIFF Competition Cafe interview for the film, Sing for Darfur, was held on Oct. 24 (Fri) at the TIFF Movie Cafe in Roppongi Hills. Johan Kramer (dir.), Esther Udaeta (prod.), Ernesto Guaru Sore(prod. manager) and Wouter Westendorp (dir. of photography) and Rikke Jelier(prod. designer) appeared at the interview!

"This was the first screening outside of Holland and were glad to recieve the good response from the audiences," says Johan Kramer (dir.)

"Sing for Darfur was produced for non-profitable purpose with the hope of raising the awareness towards Darfur. The completion of film was possible only through friendship of the people who participated in the film making. It is their film as well." He showed his gratitude for being linked in friendship with them.

Most part of the film was shot in mono-chrome. When Kramer was asked about the choice of this color,"Kramer replied.

"I thought that the cinematography with the use of monochrome was appropriate as a mirror to reflect the reality of the tiresome and superficial modern society in endless rapid transition. I wanted to end the film with the feeling of the hope."

Finally the Team of Sing for Darfur said they hoped that the film would reach the whole world.





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The film, Ocean is a first Russian-Cuban co-productions made in 25 years, dating back to the Soviet era.
　
Mikhail Kosyrev-Nestrov (dir.) appeared in the TIFF Competition Cafe Interview which took place on Oct. 21. He expressed his production method which makes the use of the emotions that derive from the sound and the air of the location in Cuba.



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