Kering to host an exclusive Women In Motion Talk at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival featuring Rinko Kikuchi, Hayato Isomura, and Makiko Okano

From Left: Hayato Isomura, Rinko Kikuchi, Makiko Okano

As part of its fourth partnership with the Tokyo International Film Festival, Kering is pleased to host an exclusive Women In Motion Talk at TOHO Cinemas Nihonbashi on November 1, 2024, with Japanese actors Rinko Kikuchi, Hayato Isomura, and Netflix producer Makiko Okano. These three talented individuals will share their perspectives on the environment, challenges, and future for women in the film and television industry, both in Japan and worldwide. Hirokazu Kore-eda, a filmmaker who has actively engaged in advocacy, talent development, and education within the film industry and a guest speaker at the Women In Motion Talk in 2022, will deliver a special opening speech.

Rinko Kikuchi is one of Japan's leading actors who has been nominated for numerous film awards including the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 79th Academy Awards for her role in Babel (2006). Since then, she has featured as a key cast member in several international productions such as the Pacific Rim series. In recent years, she has gained attention for her performances in drama series including Japan-U.S. co-production Tokyo Vice and The 13 Lords of the Shogun. In 2023, she took on her first solo lead role in a Japanese film, Yoko, which granted her the Best Actress award at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival. She continues to expand her career both nationally and internationally.

Hayato Isomura won the Newcomer of the Year Award at the 45th Japan Academy Film Awards for his performances in A Family (2020) and What Did You Eat Yesterday? (2021). He has showcased his presence across a wide range of genres including the Tokyo Revengers series, Plan 75 (2022), which was selected for the Un Certain Regard section of the 75th Festival de Cannes, Hard Days (2023), and Ripples (2023). For his role in The Moon (2023), he received the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 47th Japan Academy Film Awards. Isomura continues to make strides as a talented young actor, with his upcoming works including starring roles in The Young Strangers (set to release on October 11) and the Netflix series Soul Mate.

Makiko Okano produced numerous acclaimed projects during her years at WOWOW including Why You Were Able to Fight Despair (2010) and And, Live (2019) and received the 2017 Broadcast Woman Prize and the 70th Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists in broadcasting by the Minister of Education, Science and Culture. In 2021, she joined Netflix where she serves as an executive producer on several Japan original contents such as the film In Love and Deep Water (2023). Her latest work, Beyond Goodbye is the first Japanese series to be selected to the On-Screen section of the 29th Busan International Film Festival.
 

In 2015, Kering launched Women In Motion at the Festival de Cannes with the ambition of highlighting women in cinema, both in front of and behind the camera. The program has since expanded in a major way to photography, but also to art, design, choreography, and music, across multiple partnerships and initiatives over the world (in Europe, in the U.S., in Asia).

This year marks the fourth Women In Motion Talk at TIFF, following the 2019 edition with Shinobu Terajima (actor), Mika Ninagawa (photographer/director), and Sputniko! (artist), the 2022 edition with Hirokazu Kore-eda (filmmaker) and Mayu Matsuoka (actor), and the 2023 edition with Bae Doona (actor), Asami Mizukawa (actor), and Kayo Washio (producer).

TIFF Special Talk Session
Women In Motion Talk at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival
Speakers: Rinko Kikuchi (actor), Hayato Isomura (actor), Makiko Okano (producer) 
Opening Speech: Hirokazu Kore-eda (filmmaker)
Facilitator: Atsuko Tatsuta (film journalist)
Date: November 1, 2024
Time: 16:30 - 18:00 (Doors Open at 16:00)
Venue: TOHO Cinemas Nihonbashi, Screen 7
Language: Japanese (simultaneous English interpretation available)
Bookings can be made here: https://2024.tiff-jp.net/news/en/?p=18955 

Rinko Kikuchi (Actor)
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1981. Rinko Kikuchi made her film debut in Will to Live (1999). She has been nominated for many film awards including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Babel (2006). She has starred in many international films including the Pacific Rim series and 47 Ronin (2013). Her recent works include the HBO Max and WOWOW series Tokyo Vice (2022-2024), the historical drama The 13 Lords of the Shogun (NHK), PICU (CX), and the film Yoko for which she won the Best Actress Award at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival. Trespassers (NTV), Boogie Woogie (NHK), Hanasaki Mai Speaks Out (NTV), etc. She continues to expand her activities both in Japan and abroad.

Hayato Isomura (Actor)
Born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1992, Isomura received the Newcomer of the Year Award at the 45th Japan Academy Film Awards in 2022 for his performances in A Family (2021) and What Did You Eat Yesterday? (2021). His notable works include the Tokyo Revengers series, Prior Convictions (2022), Plan 75 (2022), Believers (2022), Hard Days (2023), Ripples (2023), and The Dry Spell (2023). For his performance in The Moon (2023), he won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 47th Japan Academy Film Awards and the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 97th Kinema Junpo Best Ten Awards. He recently appeared in dramas such as Alice in Borderland Season 2 (Netflix) and Extremely Inappropriate! (TBS). His upcoming projects include starring on The Young Strangers (set to release on October 11), Hakkenden (set for release on October 25), The Solitary Gourmet (set to release on January 1, 2025), and the Netflix series Soul Mate.

Makiko Okano (Live Action Content Manager, Netflix)
After years at Telepack and at the Drama Production Department of WOWOW, Okano joined Netflix at its Tokyo office in 2021 where she has produced live-action content originating from Japan. Her past works include His Fight Against Despair (2010), All About My Destiny (2014), Cold Case: The Door of Truth (2016 - 2021), Ishi Tsubute (2017), The House on the Slope (2019), and And, Live (2019). At Netflix, she has worked on projects such as Call Me Chihiro (2023), In Love and Deep Water (2023), and Beyond Goodbye (2024). She is the recipient of the 2017 Broadcast Woman Prize and the 70th MEXT Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists in broadcasting.

About Women In Motion
Kering's commitment to women is at the heart of the Group's priorities and extends, through Women In Motion, to the field of arts and culture, where gender inequalities are still glaring, even though creation is one of the most powerful vectors for change.
In 2015, Kering launched Women In Motion at the Festival de Cannes with the ambition of highlighting women in cinema, both in front of and behind the camera. The program has since expanded in a major way to photography, but also to art, design, choreography, and music. Through its Awards, the program recognizes inspirational figures and emerging female talent, while its Talks and Podcasts provide an opportunity for leading personalities to share their views on the representation of women in their profession.
Since it was created, Women In Motion has become a platform of choice that contributes to changing mindsets and thinking on the place of women – and the recognition they receive – in the arts and culture.

About Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) 
TIFF started in 1985 as Japan’s first major film festival. Since then, TIFF has grown to become one of the leading film festivals in Asia and is the only Japanese film festival accredited by the International Federation of FILM Producers Associations. During the festival period, films from a variety of genres are shown in several sections. One of which is the Competition section, where a selection of premiere films by talented first timers and recognized directors, will be awarded the Tokyo Grand Prix. This Competition section is gathering international attention and acclaim, and in recent years, 1,829 films from 109 countries and regions were received. TIFF has also been dedicated to discovering and cultivating new talent, contributing to the careers of countless international film makers. TIFF also hosts TIFFCOM, an international market that serves as a platform for networking with the world’s film industries, developing international productions and promoting global film businesses. 

About Kering
A global Luxury group, Kering manages the development of a series of renowned Houses in Fashion, Leather Goods and Jewelry: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, DoDo, Qeelin, Ginori 1735 as well as Kering Eyewear and Kering Beauté. By placing creativity at the heart of its strategy, Kering enables its Houses to set new limits in terms of their creative expression while crafting tomorrow’s Luxury in a sustainable and responsible way. We capture these beliefs in our signature: “Empowering Imagination.”

Kering Japan Press Contacts 
Rie Ubukata  rie.ubukata@kering.com 

Kering HQ Press Contacts
Emilie Gargatte +33 (0)1 45 64 61 20 | emilie.gargatte@kering.com 
Emma Roquier  | +33 (0)6 78 04 06 62 | emma.roquier@kering.com