JAPAN: Jackie Chan graces the Green Carpet at the opening of the Tokyo International Film Festival, promoting his film 1911 and saying his attendance was in remembrance of the March tsunami

Record ID: 465045

  • Title: JAPAN: Jackie Chan graces the Green Carpet at the opening of the Tokyo International Film Festival, promoting his film 1911 and saying his attendance was in remembrance of the March tsunami
  • Date: 22nd October 2011
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 22, 2011) (REUTERS) FANS WAITING ON SIDE OF THE GREEN CARPET BANNER READING 'TIFF TOKYO' FANS WAVING JAPANESE FAN ACTOR JACKIE CHAN WALKING GREEN CARPET JACKIE CHAN SIGNING FOR FANS MORE OF JACKIE CHAN SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS FOR FANS MORE OF JACKIE CHAN SIGNING FOR FANS PRIME MINISTER YOSHIHIKO NODA WAVING HANDS AND WALKING GREEN CARPET MORE OF PRIME MINISTER YOSHIHIKO NODA WALKING GREEN CARPET PRIME MINISTER YOSHIHIKO NODA WALKING AND WAVING FOR THE CAMERAS ACTRESS MILLA JOVOVICH WALKING GREEN CARPET FANS HOLDING BANNERS MORE OF MILLA JOVOVICH WALKING GREEN CARPET JACKIE CHAN TALKING ON-STAGE ABOUT FILM '1911' '1911' PROMOTIONAL POSTER JACKIE CHAN WITH INTERPRETER MORE OF JACKIE CHAN ON-STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) ACTOR JACKIE CHAN SAYING: "The Tokyo International Film Festival was the first film festival for me after the March 11 disaster in Japan, so no matter what happened, I wanted to come." VARIOUS OF JACKIE CHAN ON-STAGE BEING PHOTOGRAPHED AUDIENCE CLAPPING FOR JACKIE CHAN
  • Embargoed: 6th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan, Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: People
  • Reuters ID: LVA3BWWG66CYX0FCAO70S4KA22XJ
  • Story Text: Japanese fans flocked to Tokyo's Roponggi Hills, to watch film stars walk the ecologially-themed Green Carpet at the opening ceremony of the 24th Tokyo International Film Festival on Saturday (October 22).
    Jackie Chan made an appearance to promote his 100th film "1911" - an historical drama made for the 100th anniversary of the Chinese revolutions.
    He said he attended the festival to show his support for Japan as it continues to recover from the March 11 disaster.
    "The Tokyo International Film Festival was the first film festival for me after the March 11 disaster in Japan, so no matter what happened, I wanted to come," the 57-year-old Hong Kong film star said.
    Although famous for the martial arts stunts which made him a Hollywood star, Jackie Chan has taken a turn to more serious and emotional roles in recent years. He is the executive producer, general director and lead actor in "1911."
    Youthful and energetic as ever, Chan raced back and forth between cheering fans at the Green Carpet and signed posters.
    Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda also made a guest appearance at the festival opening.
    Fans also waited in anticipation for the appearance of actress Milla Jovovich, star of the latest Paul W.S. Anderson film "The Three Musketeers". Jovovich came in a simple black gown.
    "The Three Musketeers" and "1911" are joined for a double opening on Saturday.
    The Festival, which has an ecological theme in light of the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, is set to show 127 films and runs through to Sunday (October 30).
    Organisers at one stage wondered whether the festival could go on after the devastating disaster threw the nation into a period of "jishuku," or self-restraint, which resulted in many events being cancelled. In addition, the Fukushima nuclear crisis scared away many foreign tourists.
    But organisers decided to carry on, to send a message about Japanese strength to the world, the festival chairman said.
    The festival will hold a day of screenings in the northeastern city of Sendai, which was battered by the tsunami.
    In the main competition section, 15 films will vie for the $50,000 Sakura prize, before the festival wraps with baseball drama "Moneyball," starring Brad Pitt.
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