Entertainment · Film · 2 hrs ago
Tokyo Film Festival jury says FIAPF A-list status may have limited impact
The Tokyo International Film Festival is now officially on FIAPF’s A-list alongside 16 other festivals.
FIAPF, the international federation of film producers’ associations, introduced the single A-list in March, replacing its four-category accreditation system.
Jury president Rolf de Heer said the new label is unlikely to change Tokyo much, because many festivalgoers already regarded it as a top event.
He said the status could help the festival secure films, while producer Oh Jungwan said audiences attend to watch films and enjoy the festival.
The discussion reflects different views on whether festival rankings matter to the industry and the public.
The five-member jury will choose the Tokyo Grand Prix from 15 films in competition.
The festival runs through Nov.
4.
Tokyo International Film Festival jury president Rolf de Heer said FIAPF’s official A-list designation may have little effect on the event.
De Heer said the status could help Tokyo secure films, but he does not expect it to change the festival substantially.
Producer Oh Jungwan said audiences attend to watch films and enjoy the festival, not because of its A-list status.
FIAPF replaced its four-category accreditation system with a single list in March and named 17 festivals to its A-list.
The Tokyo jury will choose the Grand Prix winner from 15 competition films.
- Who
- Tokyo jury president Rolf de Heer and producer Oh Jungwan discussed the designation.
- What
- They discussed whether Tokyo’s FIAPF A-list status matters. De Heer said it may have limited impact.
- When
- At the jury press conference on Tuesday, during the 2026 Tokyo International Film Festival.
- Where
- Tokyo, Japan.
- Why
- FIAPF made A-list status official, prompting questions about what the designation means for the festival and its audiences.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
FIAPF replaced its four-category accreditation system with a single list and designated 17 festivals as A-list.
Tokyo’s competition jury discussed the festival’s A-list status at a press conference.
The Tokyo International Film Festival is scheduled to run through this date.
- FIAPF A-list
- 17 festivals
- Tokyo competition
- 15 films
- Jury president
- Rolf de Heer
- Jury member
- Oh Jungwan
- Festival end date
- November 4
3 sources
Rolf de Heer & Fellow Tokyo Jury Members Talk Festival ‘A-List’ Ratings, Co-Production & How To Judge Films
Tokyo Jury President Rolf de Heer on FIAPF’s New A-List: ‘It Matters a Great Deal to Some People, and Not at All to Others’
Tokyo: Competition Jury Discusses Event’s ‘A-List’ Status, Fighting Over Favorite Films
What people are saying
It matters a great deal to some people, and not at all to others. And that is as it should be.
And so in that sense, it may help that it is officially now again A, but I don’t think it changes the festival so much
Tokyo was effectively an ‘A’ festival. And so in that sense, I don’t think it makes a lot of difference.
So I don’t know what is A-list or not. So maybe probably A-list means good, so but as an audience, we’re not going to the festival because of their A-list or not. We just go to watch film and enjoy the feeling, the festival feeling