娱乐英语新闻:Tokyo int'l film festival kicks off, eyes promoting cultural industry

TOKYO, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The 27th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) kicked off Thursday in the Japanese capital's downtown Roppongi Hills with an eye to promote the Japanese cultural and related industries.

A total of 15 works are enrolled in the main competition and will run for the Tokyo Grand Prix, the TIFF organizer said, adding that the films cover various types.

Meanwhile, 10 films will compete for the Best Asian Future Film Award in the Asian Future session established at the 26th TIFF.

With the participation of Big Hero 6, a U.S. animation directed by Don Hall and Chris Williams, this year's TIFF will put a focus on this type of films, for which Japan is highly acclaimed worldwide.

Yasushi Shiina, director general of the TIFF, said in a message to the event that the TIFF is also "offering more opportunities to overseas guests to experience Tokyo and Japanese culture" as the TIFF's screening venues also include the Kabukiza Theatre, a hub for Japan's traditional performing arts.

The Japan Content Showcase 2014 (JCS) also kicked off here just two days before the opening of the 27th TIFF, which has included several seminars related to the TIFF event.

The JCS has brought together the Tokyo International Music Market, the TIFFCOM Market Place for Film and TV in Asia and the Tokyo International Animation Festival.

Mika Morishita, director of TIFFCOM, said in a press release earlier that the JCS offered everything participants need to know about the content market and included various themes from films, music, broadcasting to corporate mascots and animation.

The TIFF, which started in 1985 as Japan's first major film festival, will conclude on Oct. 31 and is expected to attract a number of movie fans, students, professionals and buyers in a wide range of events.