Chen Kaige To Head 26th Tokyo International Film Festival

                   (Photo: Toronto International Film Festival)

                                   by David Parmer

Chinese director Chen Kaige has been tapped to act as Jury President at the 26^th Tokyo International Film Festival to be held from October 17- 25, 2013 in Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills complex. Chen, a member of the so-called “fifth generation” (1980s) of Chinese filmmakers is best known for his films “Raise The Red Lantern,” (1991) and “Farewell My Concubine” (1993), both films having received  wide international recognition. “Farewell My Concubine” was nominated for two academy awards and received  the Palme d’Or at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.

In a piece published online in the Hollywood Interview, Chen was asked about working with talent from Japan, Korea and China during the filming of The Promise, a 2005 wuxia (martial arts) film:

 “It wasn’t that difficult. It’s always been my dream to work with the best talents from different countries in Asia. I don’t mean that politically, but if you look at the history of these three countries, it’s very complicated. I think at least that if we show we can work together as artists, when the politicians are fighting against each other, we’ll show what we can do. We’ll show our dream of a peaceful future for Asia.”

 The 26^th TIFF will open with “Captain Philips” and close with “The Kiyosu Conference.”

 TIFF Official website: http://tiff.yahoo.co.jp/2013/en/

 Hollywood Interview-Chen Kaige: http://thehollywoodinterview.blogspot.jp/2008/03/chen-kaige-hollywood-interview.html