Former Berlin and Locarno artistic director Carlo Chatrian will serve as president of the competition jury for this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival (October 27-November 5).
Chatrian held the post of artistic director at Locarno Film Festival from 2013 to 2018, followed by the same role at Berlin International Film Festival from 2020 to 2024.
During his time at Berlin film festival, he implemented a major reform by abolishing the traditional Best Actor and Best Actress awards and introducing gender-neutral categories: Best Leading Performance and Best Supporting Performance. The progressive shift had an impact on other festivals, positioning Berlin as a leader in promoting diversity and inclusion.
Also a film critic, academic and programmer, Chatrian has curated programs focused on Japanese animation, including books, retrospectives and exhibitions, and has visited Japan multiple times for Tokyo International Film Festival.
Born in Turin, Italy, he continues to write a column for Italian newspaper La Stampa and is currently the director of Turin’s National Museum of Cinema. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and the Academy of Italian Cinema.
“It is a great privilege to chair the jury of the Tokyo International Film Festival, an event that, especially under the new direction, has become a vital meeting point for the art of cinema at a global level,” said Chatrian.
“I thank the Chairman Ando-san and the Programming Director Ichiyama-san for giving me this opportunity. I’m looking forward to discovering the selection, as I’m sure I will be inspired and touched by the work of the filmmakers. I’m equally excited to know my fellow jurors and start engaging with them in rich and nourishing conversations.”
Tokyo International Film Festival chairman Hiroyasu Ando said: “Mr. Chatrian has extensive experience both as a film critic and as a director of prestigious film festivals like Locarno and Berlin. He most recently participated in the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2021 and 2023, giving us the privilege of witnessing his keen insight and unwavering passion for cinema firsthand. Amid a period of profound global transformation, we are truly looking forward to the insights he will bring through his role as a jury president.”
AloJapan.com