For the twenty fifth year running, the Tokyo International Film Festival opened Saturday in Tokyo. Though not considered a first-league world festival, the Tokyo affair still played host to familiar names like Cirque de Soleil, Federico Fellini and Wim Wenders and served as an opportunity for viewers to see little known films from across Asia.

The 25th edition of the Tokyo International Film Festival opened this past Saturday with the world premiere of Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away, produced by James Cameron and directed by Adam Adamson. It is not the first time TIFF has honored Western filmmakers. In its 25 years, the festival has seen such invitees as Elia Kazan, Federico Fellini, Wim Wenders, Michael Gondry, Carlos Reygadas, John Sayles, and Mel Gibson. This year, in a nod to the importance of American cinema, heading the jury this year was famed American producer-director Robert Corman, aged 86. "I am honored to be here for the second time," quipped Corman, referring to his previous jury duty at the festival in 1994. "I like the green ecological theme." Instead of a red carpet, the festival has a green carpet.

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