Tokyo Jury Defends A-List Status, Vows Compromise on Grand Prix
Dutch-Australian director Rolf de Heer leads a panel that argues the festival’s official tiering matters less than its audience and hospitality.
By Kenji Hassan ·
Rolf de Heer, the Dutch-Australian director, told reporters on Tuesday that the Tokyo International Film Festival’s recent official designation as an A-list event does not fundamentally alter the festival’s standing in the global industry.
De Heer, who heads the 2026 competition jury, joined four other members on stage for a press conference. The panel included French colorist and producer Yov Moor, South Korean producer Oh Jungwan, Japanese actress Makiko Watanabe, and Taiwanese-American producer Alex C. Lo. The group addressed the recent decision by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations to officially classify Tokyo as an A-list festival.
De Heer stated that Tokyo has long functioned as an A-list festival in the eyes of attendees. He argued that while the official categorization may influence the quality of films available, it does not significantly change the festival's core identity. "I don't think it changes the festival so much," he said.
Oh Jungwan offered a contrasting view, noting that general audiences attend festivals to watch films rather than to evaluate industry tiers. "Probably A-list means good! But as an audience, we’re not going to the festival because of their A-list or not," Oh said. She added that the tier system appears redundant to many viewers.
The jury also discussed how they will resolve disagreements over the 15 competition films. De Heer said the process depends on the specific level of division among the panel. He expressed confidence that the group will avoid selecting a lesser compromise film, aiming instead for a strong winner that some members may not personally prefer.
Oh said she is prepared to advocate strongly for her favorite film. She recalled a previous jury experience where she argued for seven hours against other members. "I had an experience where I fought for 7 hours with another jury! Every other jury member hated me," she recalled. She said the current group will find a reasonable compromise.
Moor, who works as a film colorist, said he was surprised to be invited to the jury. He noted that colorists are rarely selected for such roles. "For me, it’s like a little dream," Moor said. He added that the position allows him to highlight the technical work of colorists to a wider audience.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
