The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the Japanese embassy in Washington D.C have honored Tom Yoda, outgoing chairman of the Tokyo International Film Festival, for his outstanding contributions to the Japanese filmmaking industry, the MPAA announced on Tuesday.
Yoda, left, was appointed chairman of the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) in March 2008 and oversaw his final festival last month.
MPAA Chairman Chris Dodd, and the Japanese Ambassador to the United States, Ichiro Fujisaki, presented Yoda with the special award for promoting and protecting the screen community in Japan on Tuesday in Washington.
The MPAA also hosted a screening of the Japanese film “Ichimai No Hagaki” (“Postcard”) to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF).
“The United States and Japan have a growing and shared stake in the global marketplace for film and other creative works. Both of our countries appreciate not only the cultural contributions of movies, but also the extraordinary and growing economic opportunities they generate. And it is through events like TIFF that bring our communities and film lovers together to celebrate the joy of filmmaking”, said Dodd, a former U.S. senator from Connecticut.
A report, released last month during TIFF, on the economic contribution of the film and television industries in Japan, found that the industries contributed $145.9 billion to the country’s GDP and supported 264,707 jobs in 2011.
“I’d like to thank MPAA for conferring upon me this special award. It has always been my endeavor to project the best of the Japanese film industry to the rest of the world, and our collaboration with MPAA further strengthens ties between both our film communities, as well as enhances the creative synergies between Japan and the U.S. toward promoting world cinema,” said Yoda.
