Japan Prime Minister attends Tokyo film fest

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso appeared at the Tokyo International Film Festival on Saturday.

Fifteen films will screen in the competition section for the coveted Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix. A green carpet welcome highlighted an environmental theme for the festival this year.

Sat Oct 18, 11:42 AM ET. US actor Jon Voight, head of the board of judges, and other judges including Japanese actress Fumi Dan (L) attend the opening ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival. The nine-day festival opened with an environmental theme as filmmakers from around the world greeted Japanese movie fans on a ceremonial "green carpet. "(AFP/Toshifumi Kitamura)

Sat Oct 18, 7:35 AM ET
Chinese-born film director John Woo, center, speaks as Hong Kong actor Tony Leung , right, and Japanese-Taiwanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro listen during the opening event of the 21st Tokyo International Film Festival Saturday, Oct. 18. 2008 in Tokyo.

(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

The festival opened with "Red Cliff," a Chinese epic directed by John Woo and will close with Pixar's animated entry "Wall-E."


Reuters

Tokyo film fest looks for spotlight

Report

Woo's "Red Cliff" opens strong in Asia

John Woo's new film "Red Cliff" is playing in theaters across Asia in the first film to recreate the famous Battle of Chibi in 208 A.D. China.

The 140-minute epic will be released in a shortened version in the West.

Costing $80 million, the film spectacular is the most expensive ever for a Chinese language movie.

Tue Jul 8, 3:29 AM ET

From Left to Right, Japanese-Taiwanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro, Hong Kong director John Woo, Taiwanese actor Chang Chen, Taiwanese actress Lin Chi-ling, and Hong Kong actor Tony Leung pose for photographs during a press conference for their new film 'Red Cliff' in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, July 8, 2008.

(AP Photo/Wally Santana)