On the final day of the TIFF, only two screenings were held: one for the closing film, Silk, and the other for the winner of the Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix, which was announced during the closing ceremony. After the closing ceremony, a press conference was held, where the award winners delayed their celebrations to speak briefly about their films for one last time.

The Western Trunk Line director Li Jixian revealed how he first got the idea for the story back when he was studying to be a production designer, but it took two failed attempts and thirteen years, during which he married Li Wei, the screenwriter of the film, for the film to come into fruition.

Peter Howitt, whose ebullience and Brit humor had the media chuckling throughout his conference, name-checked Terry Gilliam, and credited the experimental imagery of Dangerous Parking to his works.

Tricks director Andrzej Jakimowski, in response to this writer’s question why the film’s poster does not feature protagonist Stefek (Best Actor winner Damian Ul), but instead, his sister and her boyfriend on a motorcycle, explained that he did not want Polish audiences to construe the Tricks as a film for kids by putting Ul on the poster.

Leroy director Armin Voelckers and lead actor Alain Morel commented on the significance of using comedy to approach discrimination, noting that the relaxed perspective allows people to talk about their prejudices without shame.

Gandhi My Father director Feroz Abbas Khan spoke of how excited he was for lead actress Shefali Shah’s award (she did not participate in the festival), saying that she had long been underappreciated.

The Waltz director Salvatore Maira created a stir when he announced that he would once again employ the one-take method for his next film. He also plans to raise the stakes: two hours instead of 85 minutes, and instead of taking place indoors, the film will take place in a small village, involving all the villagers! Hope to see your film at a future TIFF, Mr. Maira.

Since this was my first time attending a film festival, I can’t compare the TIFF to any others, but I felt right at home in the low-key, inclusive atmosphere. There did not seem to be much distance between the filmmakers and the film viewers. This could be seen in the Q&A sessions, especially after an involving film.

Not only were both parties united in their interest in the film, there seemed to be an air of mutual inspiration: the audience from the film, and the filmmakers from the audience’s response.

Considering the state of moviegoing today, it was no small pleasure to see the theatres filled up every day for films from all over the word, regardless of how famous the actors are, or how effective the advertisements were. For nine days, at the Tokyo International Film Festival, the magic of the movies was in full effect.