Tokyo Festival Gets A-List Status, Jury President Says It Changes — SkimNews
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- FIAPF designated Tokyo International Film Festival as one of 17 A-list festivals in March, formalizing a status the industry long informally recognized.
- Rolf de Heer stated the A-list label makes little difference to Tokyo’s character, noting it was already seen as a top-tier festival by regular attendees.
- Rolf de Heer acknowledged the official A-list status may help secure higher-quality films due to increased industry weight, though it doesn’t alter the festival itself.
- Oh Jungwan said audiences don’t attend festivals based on A-list status, emphasizing that viewers care more about the films and the festival experience than rankings.
- Rolf de Heer described the A-list system as mattering 'a great deal to some people, and not at all to others,' reflecting a divided relevance within the film community.
- Alex Lo observed that global producers are increasingly pursuing co-productions due to dwindling local government support, a trend extending beyond Japan and Australia.
Why it matters: The A-list designation gives festivals like Tokyo a formal edge in attracting major films and co-productions, but its real-world impact depends on stakeholders who value the label—producers seeking funding or distribution may benefit, while audiences and some filmmakers remain indifferent. The split perception reveals a tension between institutional validation and artistic experience.
Ask SkimNews
