InsideJapan News Network

Film stars and movie directors will be converging on Japan next month for the annual Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff) which takes place from October 18th to 26th.

The theme of this year's festival is the environment and the big names attending the ceremony will notice the traditional red carpet has turned a symbolic shade of green.

Festival chairman Tatsumi Yoda told reporters: "We want to screen many films conveying the message of protecting the environment and to give an award for it.

"We want to do whatever we can do as filmmakers."

Now in its 21st year, the festival has aimed to establish itself as Asia's equivalent of Cannes, Venice or Berlin, although it has faced stiff competition from new, rival festivals in Bangkok and South Korea.

This year's judges will be led by Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight.

Among the films competing for the Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix are the Spanish anti-pollution comedy Ashes from the Sky, the Chinese film Claustrophobia directed by Ivy Ho and the Japanese film Echo of Silence directed by Atsuro Watabe.



Related news stories:
Earthquake hits north-west Japan (11th September 2008)
First woman player to debut in Japanese baseball team (20th November 2008)
See in the spring at Setsubun (8th January 2009)
'Tokyo Transport' exhibition coming to Japanese museum (11th August 2011)