India, Aug. 16 -- Festival director Hisamatsu Takeo outlines a bold vision to turn Tokyo into a global networking hub.

At a time when Japanese cinema is enjoying renewed global visibility and the country's creative industries are receiving unprecedented institutional support, the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) finds itself at an important juncture. Returning as Festival Director after previously leading the festival from 2017 to 2021, Hisamatsu Takeo brings with him not only experience, but also a renewed ambition to position Tokyo as a dynamic meeting point for filmmakers, producers, critics and audiences from across the world.

In this exclusive interview with The Sunday Guardian, Hisamatsu Takeo discusses his return to TIFF,...