TOKYO -- The 37th Tokyo International Film Festival opened on Oct. 28 in the Japanese capital's Hibiya, Marunouchi, Ginza and Yurakucho districts.

At the Tokyo Midtown Hibiya complex, red carpets were rolled out to welcome 228 guests from throughout the world. Actors signed autographs and posed for photos for throngs of fans that had gathered.

At the opening ceremony, the event's navigator Rinko Kikuchi said, "Film is a common language that connects people from various countries. Through films, I would like to share a variety of things with many people."

Hong Kong actor Tony Leung, president of the International Competition Jury, commented with smile, "I hope our judgements will make everyone happy. It's not an easy job to do, but I'm sure we will try our best."

The opening film shown on Oct. 28 was "11 Rebels," a Japanese period drama based on a historic betrayal by the Shibata domain, present-day Niigata Prefecture, during the Boshin War, a fierce, late-19th century civil war. Appearing on stage before the screening, director Kazuya Shiraishi said, "I hope you enjoy the pure entertainment, while witnessing the soulful cries and lives of nameless individuals from the final days of the samurai."

The festival, running until Nov. 6, will show 208 films. Fifteen films will be screened in the competition section, in which the Tokyo Grand Prix and other prizes will be awarded. These include three Japanese films: "Lust in the Rain" directed by Shinzo Katayama, "She Taught Me Serendipity" by Akiko Ohku, and "Teki Cometh" by Daihachi Yoshida.

This year, a Women's Empowerment section has been established to feature films by female directors and those depicting women in active roles. "Doctor-X the Movie," the first film to emerge from a highly popular Japanese medical TV drama series, starring a female surgeon, will have a special screening.

The closing film will be "Marcello Mio," directed by Christophe Honore, featuring a stellar French cast including Chiara Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve.

(By Yuko Murase, The Mainichi Staff Writer)