It is very significant that the 14th Asian Film Awards (AFA) will take place in Busan for the first time, despite all the hardships as a result of COVID-19, and I pay my heartfelt respect and gratitude to all those who are involved.

The Tokyo International Film Festival is in the midst of preparations to hold our festival physically from the end of October, after our decision to embrace the new normal. We would like to emphasize the importance of film art in enriching people’s lives and giving them courage.

The Tokyo International Film Festival will continue strengthening our activities in collaborations with the Busan International Film Festival and the Hong Kong International Film Festival, as part of our contribution to the development of the Asian film industry through the framework of the AFA.