Culture 3 min read By Trevor Kendall
Tokyo jury chief Rolf de Heer says FIAPF A-list status matters to some, not all
Australian filmmaker Rolf de Heer, president of the competition jury at the Tokyo International Film Festival, said FIAPF's official A-list designation is unlikely to change much about the event.
Australian filmmaker Rolf de Heer, who leads the competition jury at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival, said the official A-list status granted by the Fédération Internationale des Associations des Producteurs de Films (FIAPF) is unlikely to change much about the event. Tokyo is among the 17 festivals now formally named on the list.
Speaking at the jury press conference, de Heer put the designation in perspective. «It matters a great deal to some people, and not at all to others», he said, describing a ranking that carries weight for industry insiders while meaning little to many audiences and filmmakers. De Heer, the director of «Bad Boy Bubby» and «Ten Canoes», was asked about the significance of the ratings at the press event, where he was joined by fellow jury members.
Tokyo has recently had its A-list standing reaffirmed by FIAPF, a development that places the festival among the most established events in the international calendar. Industry observers generally view A-list status as a signal to producers, sales agents and distributors about where films are likely to receive attention, though de Heer's remarks suggested its practical effect on the festival itself is limited.
The festival's competition lineup this year includes works from several countries. Among them is «Sister Brother Manhole Cover», the second feature of 2026 from Macedonian filmmaker Milcho Manchevski, who wrote and directed the film. It follows siblings Malina and Viktor, who live on the outskirts of post-Communist Macedonia and make a living in ways that tie them to the country's recent history. The film screens in competition, placing it among the works the jury will consider.
Another competition entry is «Fuxi: Four Tales of Feasting», directed by Chinese artist-filmmaker Qiu Jiongjiong, which is receiving its world premiere in the main competition section. Parallax Films has boarded international sales for the film. Qiu is known internationally for his debut narrative feature «A New Old Play», which won the Special Jury Prize at a previous international festival.
The jury's deliberations will shape the competition's prizes, and the presence of premieres and returning directors underlines the festival's role as a showcase for new work from across Asia, Europe and beyond. De Heer's comments on the A-list suggest that, for the jury itself, the work on screen rather than the official ranking remains the central task.
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