20 Films you shouldn’t miss at the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival (Part 1)

By Asian Film Festival on October 3, 2021 • ( 1 Comment )

These are twenty film you shouldn’t miss at the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival (Japan) which will take place from October 30th – November 8th, 2021.

* Screening Dates will be added soon *

To see the second part of this article please go HERE

– Recommended Films –

**American Girl** by Feng-I Fiona Roan – Taiwan | 2021 – 101 minutes
**Section**: Asian Future | **World Premiere**

During the SARS outbreak of 2003, 13-year-old Fen returns to Taiwan. Depicts the director’s experiences: her mother’s illness, a feud with classmates. Karena Lam plays Fen’s mother (TIFF 2021).

Trailer:

**Arisaka** by Mikhail Red – Philippines | 2021 – 96 minutes
**Section**: In Competition | **World Premiere**

A witness under police escort is attacked. A policewoman, the only one who survives, is sheltered by indigenous people, but assailants hunt her down… An action thriller set in Bataan (TIFF 2021).

**Asu** by Sanjeewa Pushpakumara – Sri Lanka | 2021 – 95 minutes
**Section**: Asian Future | **World Premiere**

Happily pregnant Nelum is diagnosed with cancer. After her baby boy is born safely, she approaches death. Third feature by Tokyo FILMeX 2017 Jury Award winner (Burning Bird).

Trailer:

**Blue** by Yoshiuda Keisuke – Japan | 2021 – 107 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Cinema Now

Yoshida Keisuke is known for realistically depicting the light and shade of human nature. He wrote this screenplay based on his experience of boxing which he has done for over 30 years (TIFF 2021).

Screening Date:
November 5th, 2021 | Friday | TOHO Cinemas Chanter Screen 2 | 14:40 pm (with Q&A)

Trailer:

**Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko** by Watanabe Ayumu – Japan | 2021 – 97 minutes
**Section**: Japanese Animation

Produced by Akashiya Sanma in love with the original novel by Naoki Prize-winning novelist Nishi Kanako, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko is a heartwarming comedy drama of an unconventional mother and daughter (TIFF 2021).

Screening Date:
November 7th, 2021 | Sunday | Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho | 18:45 pm

Trailer:

**Hommage** by Shin Su-won – Korea | 22021 – 108 minutes
**Section**: In Competition | World Premiere

A jobless female filmmaker is offered work restoring a film which ultimately reveals the struggles that have faced female directors in Korea. Starring Lee Jung-eun from Parasite (TIFF 2021).

**Intolerance** by Yoshida Keisuke – Japan | 2021 – 107 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Cinema Now

This film depicts a fatal accident that reflects the “vacuum” of modern society, and the love and hate of the characters that reveal all the victims and perpetrators (TIFF 2021).

Screening Date:
November 6th, 2021 | Saturday | TOHO Cinemas Chanter Screen 2 | 18:40 pm (with Q&A)

Trailer:

**Just Remembering** by Matsui Daigo – Japan | 2021 – 115 minutes
**Section**: In Competition | World Premiere

A former couple remembers their most intimate days, only to part once again. A bittersweet love story inspired by a Jim Jarmusch masterpiece, set in times of the COVID-19 pandemic (TIFF 2021).

**Limbo** by Soi Cheang – Hong Kong | 2021 – 118 minutes
**Section**: Gala Selection | Japanese Premiere

A serial killer is on the loose. The police reinstate veteran detective Cham on active duty and assign him to the case with rookie cop Will, but Cham’s past returns to haunt him (TIFF 2021).

Trailer:

**Memoria** by Apichatpong Weerasethakul – Colombia, Thailand, France, Germany, Mexico, Qatar | 2021 – 136 minutes – **Section**: Gala Selection | **Japanese Premiere**

Apichatpong’s latest film shot entirely in Colombia. Tilda Swinton plays a woman who travels from Bogotá to a small town in the mountains after being disturbed by a loud ‘bang’ during sleep (TIFF 2021).

Screening Date:
November 1st, 2021 | Monday | Yurakucho Yomiuri Hall | 14:15 pm

Trailer: