Organizers of the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) and the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) have issued a memorandum of cooperation on June 10, Wednesday, providing the plans to link up on selections, screenings and guests, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Under the agreement, the two festivals will have the power to recommend films, new talent and international jury members to each other, as well as hold reciprocal screenings and exchanges of staff.
Variety.com reported that the signing of the memorandum will be held during the start of SIFF, which will run from June 13-21.
As part of the agreement, 27 Japanese films will be screened at the SIFF this year, including Daihachi Yoshida's "Pale Moon," which won the best actress and audience award in Tokyo's competition section last year; Kiki Sugino's "Kyoto Elegy"; Masaharu Take's "100 Yen Love"; and Shuichi Okita's "Ecotherapy Getaway Holiday."
"Shanghai and Tokyo are both Asian big cities, we both have the responsibilities to support Asian filmmakers," SIFF said in a statement.
"We all know European film festivals have attracted most of the filmmakers' attention, but if we give Asian films full recognition and encouragement, at least we can win the trust of Asian filmmakers. Hope the collaboration can work out, and Japanese films select SIFF to do their promotion, attend competition, likewise Chinese films choose TIFF."
The report also announced the recent release in China of "Doraemon Stand by Me," the first for a Japanese film in nearly three years. The animation film has already taken more than $70 million in China, overtaking its total earning at the Japanese box office.
Analysts see the agreement as a sign of improving relations between the two countries, the report added.
The TIFF will take place on Oct. 22-31.