The 34th Tokyo International Film Festival 2021 is now under way. A letter arrived from Clint Eastwood, director of this year’s opening film Cry Macho, and a special program was screened in his honor: memorable scenes from his past work, behind-the-scenes footage, and tributes from filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg and from Mel Gibson and Hilary Swank, celebrating a true legend and treasure of the film world. In his letter, Eastwood told audiences in Japan that he was deeply honored to have his newest film Cry Macho chosen as the opening work of the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival, that he had truly wished to attend the opening ceremony in person, and that he hoped the film would convey his own idea of what real strength means. He added that Cry Macho was shot during the pandemic, and that he hoped it would be one of the works that brings courage and strength to the film industry, closing with his wish that everyone enjoy it.
This year the festival was able to welcome guests from abroad, including jury president Isabelle Huppert, and at the opening ceremony held on October 30 a red carpet arrival took place in the lobby of Hall C at Tokyo International Forum. Compared with last year, when overseas guests were unable to travel to Japan because of COVID-19, some of the festival’s glamour has returned. A video message was also sent by Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. Chairman Ando Hiroyasu remarked in his address that, as in the previous year, he had worried until the very last moment whether the festival could be held at all, and that he was overwhelmed to be able to open it safely before so many guests. He expressed his gratitude that, even amid such difficulties, the venues could be moved from Roppongi to the Hibiya, Yurakucho and Ginza districts for the first time in seventeen years, thanks to the cooperation of many people in both the public and private sectors, and thanked the new programming director Ichiyama Shozo for his work reorganizing the sections and raising the quality of the lineup. Citing the New Testament saying that new wine should be poured into new wineskins, he said that this year’s festival had renewed both its venues and the works presented in them, and that he hoped the coming ten days would be a place of learning and shared feeling for everyone who loves cinema, across national borders, before declaring the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival open. Serving as festival ambassador this year is Hashimoto Ai, who has appeared in a major role in NHK’s Taiga drama and whose consistently rich performances have drawn offers from a wide range of directors; her presence adds a touch of brilliance to the festival. The festival runs until November 8 under thorough infection control measures, including a bubble system.