The Italian Embassy in Tokyo celebrated the new film co-production agreement between Italy and Japan. The evening, held in conjunction with a special Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) event, was opened with speeches by Italian Ambassador Gianluigi Benedetti and Hiroyasu Ando, chairman of the festival, and dedicated to two legendary figures of Italian cinema: Marcello Mastroianni and Nanni Moretti. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Italian Ministry of Culture to illustrate the funding opportunities for co-productions, as well as delegates from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), confirming the bilateral commitment to support cultural initiatives, and TIFF representatives, eager to discover new projects that could enrich the next editions of the Festival.
Among the guests were composer Shigeru Umebayashi, singer Yasko Fujii already known to Italian audiences, producer Yasushi Shiina, directors Hirokazu Koreeda and Daishi Matsunaga, and other film professionals.
The initiative focused on the new film co-production agreement between Italy and Japan, which was signed on 28 June 2023 and came into force on 9 August 2024.
Among the Italian guests particularly active in the Land of the Rising Sun were Cristina Massari, founder and artistic director of the Asia Lovers Film & Music Festival, pianist and composer Alberto Pizzo and Edoardo Sferrella, a young actor originally from Abruzzo who is currently working on a project with Yasko Fujii and a Netflix production with director Keishi Otomo.
The success of the meeting at the Italian Embassy in Tokyo testifies to the mutual interest of Italy and Japan in an increasingly close cinematographic collaboration. The presence of an actor from Abruzzo among the guests of honour underlines how the region can play a significant role in the dissemination and cultural promotion of our country abroad, opening up new opportunities for professional and creative growth.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
