A lot of ‘love and care’ put into TIFF 2019 selection

Zhang Ziyi

TOKYO—“It’s more of an endurance event,” said American film producer Bill Gerber when the Asian media asked him how he intended to choose the winning film in this year’s edition of the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF).

Gerber is credited for films like “A Star Is Born,” “A Very Long Engagement” and “Gran Torino,” which won the Japan Academy Prize (outstanding foreign language film) in 2010. He is part of the five-member jury for the main competition.

Award-winning Chinese actress, Zhang Ziyi (“The Road Home,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Godzilla”) is head of the jury.

“I’d love to see what people are able to accomplish through hard work and while fighting all kinds of elements in terms of filmmaking,” added Gerber, who likewise observed that “there was great love and care put into the selection.”

Fourteen films from all over the globe are battling it out in the Main Competition category, including our very own, Paul Soriano’s “Mañanita,” starring Bela Padilla.

Michael Noer

“What I hope to experience is to be moved in a surprising way,” said Danish filmmaker Michael Noer, whose film “Before the Frost” won the Special Jury Prize in 2018.

“When you see these movies, you have to have this spontaneous reaction. They have to be able to remind you of real life. Some of them may be very simple, but we know how much effort, respect and love were put into them. I look forward to watching them with open ears and eyes,” Noer added.

Ryuichi Hiroki

Japanese filmmaker Ryuichi Hiroki said that he “had always been on the side of being judged.” Therefore, being a jury member, he said he would simply like to find “something that would entertain me, regardless of what the production cost was or the scale of production.”

For French actress, director and producer Julie Gayet, cinema should not be something you’d see if you are looking for an answer to a particular problem. “It’s poetry,” she declared, adding that it’s her “emotion, and the humor in the films” that would guide her in choosing the winner.

Julie Gayet

As for jury head Zhang, she said she was pleased with the fact that she does not personally know any of the producers or filmmakers included in the lineup this year. This means that she “would not have to worry too much about politics in judging them. We will judge them fairly.”

Zhang also pointed out that the 14 films were “diverse.” She added: “The TIFF has a wide perspective in terms of selecting films. I also feel that this diversity is not just on the surface. The films seem to reflect the culture of each country and region where they were made.”

Bill Gerber

Aside from “Mañanita,” competing in the main category are “Atlantis” (Ukraine), “A Beloved Wife” (Japan), “Chaogtu With Sarula” (China), “Disco” (Norway), “Food For a Funeral” (Turkey), “Just 6.5” (Iran); “La Llorona” (Guatemala/France); “Nevia” (Italy), “Only the Animals” (France), “Tezuka’s Barbara” (Japan/UK/Germany), “Towards the Battle” (France/Colombia) and “Uncle” (Denmark).

The 32nd TIFF will conclude with the announcement of winners on Nov. 5.