Tokyo Film Festival Sets Wim Wenders Pic ‘Perfect Days’ As Opening Film, ‘Godzilla Minus One’ To Close

Wim Wenders’ Tokyo-based Cannes Competition title Perfect Days has been set as the opening film of this year’s Tokyo Film Festival while Godzilla Minus One, written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, will close proceedings.

Starring Koji Yakusho (Babel), who picked up the best actor gong at Cannes for his performance, Perfect Days tells the story of Hirayama, who seems utterly content with his simple life as a cleaner of toilets in Tokyo. Outside of his very structured everyday routine, he enjoys his passion for music and books. He loves trees and takes photos of them. A series of unexpected encounters gradually reveals more of his past.

More from Deadline

• Tokyo Film Festival Unveils Yasujirō Ozu Tribute With Official 2023 Poster 

• Wim Wenders To Be Feted With France's Lumière Award

• Wim Wenders' Cannes Competition Title 'Perfect Days' Sells Out For The Match Factory

Wenders also serves as the President of this year’s competition jury at Tokyo.

“I’m excited to be back at the Tokyo International Film Festival, happening 60 years after the death and therefore 120 years after Ozu’s birth, my declared master, which makes the occasion very special to me,” Wenders’ said in a statement. “I’m more than proud to present Perfect Days as the 36th TIFF’s Opening Film.”

Alongside writing and directing duties on Godzilla Minus One, Yamazaki also supervised the visual effects. The pic is set for a local release on Nov 3 from Toho. Synopsis reads: After the war, Japan has been reduced to zero. Godzilla appears and plunges the country into a negative state. Against the most desperate situation in the history of Japan, how — and with whom —will Japan stand up to it?

“The Tokyo International Film Festival was the place where Godzilla made its debut. The opportunity to have an exclusive screening before its official release at such a prestigious film festival feels like destiny and is truly an honor,” Yamazaki said.

Ichiyama Shozo, TIFF Programming Director, added: “Godzilla Minus One is a remarkable work that carries forward the spirit instilled by the original creators of the first Godzilla, while also showcasing the many challenges that the director took on. I’m elated that this film, ahead of its worldwide release, can be presented as the Closing Film at the Tokyo International Film Festival.”

This year’s Tokyo Film Festival runs from October 23 — November 1.

Best of Deadline

• 2023 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming

• Venice Film Festival 2023 Photos: Premieres, Red Carpets And Parties

• SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreements: Full List Of Movies And TV Series

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.