Yoda to continue TIFF stewardship

TOKYO – Tatsumi ‘Tom’ Yoda is to continue his chairmanship of Tokyo International Film Festival for two more years, according to festival organizers, who also announced the finalized film line-up for this year.
 
This month’s TIFF was due to be the last under Yoda, 70, who had agreed to a three-year term. Hideyuki Takai, president of UniJapan (Japan Association for International Promotion of the Moving Image), the government-controlled body that runs the festival, had asked Yoda to continue his stewardship.
 
Although the festival is acknowledged to have made progress on Yoda’s watch, some have expressed concern that the combination of his extensive business interests and heading up TIFF would be too demanding. Last year, Yoda’s company, TY Ltd., along with partner the Kinoshita Group, bought Gaga Communications from cable and Internet outfit Usen.    
 
The 15th and final film, a world premiere of “Buddha Mountain” by Chinese director Li Yu, completes the competition line-up for this year’s TIFF.  
 
Full competition listing: