Carlo Chatrian will be the ju-juku international convention at this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival.
The Italian film executive previously ran two of Europe’s most prominent festivals, directing Locarno from 2013 to 2018 and Berlin from 2020 to 2024.
Chatrian’s Berlin tenure was characterized by significant policy changes, particularly by exclusion of gender acting categories in favor of performance-based awards. The move has influenced similar reforms at other international festivals, establishing Berlin’s reputation for progressive industrial practices.
He maintains strong ties with Japanese films through multiple visits to Tokyo for various programming initiatives and festivals. His background includes extensive work as a film critic and academic, including documentary filmmakers and publications on Italian films.
“It is a great privilege to chair the ju apprentice at the Tokyo International Film Festival. This is an event that has become an important encounter point for the art of cinema at a global level, especially under a new direction,” Chatrian said. “I would like to thank Ando-San Chair and Programming Director Ichiyama-San for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to discovering this choice. I am sure I will be inspired and moved by the work of the filmmakers. I am equally excited to get to know my fellow ju-describers and start participating in a rich and nutritious conversation.”
TIFF chair Ando Hiroyasu added: “Mr. Chatrian has extensive experience both as a film critical and as a director of prestigious film festivals like Locarno and Berlin. He most recently participated in the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2021 and 2023, giving us the privilege of witnessing his keen insight and unwavering passion for cinema firsthand. Amid a period of profound global transformation, we are truly looking forward to the insights he brings through his role as a ju umpire.”
Currently, Chatlian, who directs the National Film Museum in Turin, maintains membership in both the Film Academy and the Film Academy in Italy. His journalism career includes work in La Stampa and various film publications.
The festival will be held from October 27th to November 27th. 5 across Tokyo’s Central Entertainment District, where TIFFCOM is scheduled for May 29th to 31st.
