TIFF was held in Kyoto this year to commemorate the 1200th anniversary of the city's founding. Kyoto, in addition to being one of the centers of Japanese tradition, was the birthplace of Japanese films.
The opening ceremonies, produced by Hiroshi Teshigahara, were designed around the theme of extending a heartfelt welcome. The festival venue utilized bamboo decorations in the front and other installations that made use of the distinctive Kyoto location. Opening attractions featured performances by Gion geishas and Japanese drums, which sounded the festival's start.
Many of the festival's programs made use of the Kyoto location, including the collaborative The Cinema Festa 100 - Kyoto exhibition, which was held at Toei's Kyoto Studio Park (a.k.a. Uzumasa Eigamura). The Kanebo International Women's Film Week commemorated the work of Kashiko Kawakita, who made a great contribution to Japanese cinema by introducing many overseas works into Japan.

1. Director Olivier Assayas (left) and actress Virginie Ledoyen from Competition film Cold Water. 2, Aki Kaurismäki, director of Competition film Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana, in a humorous pose. 3. Director John Sayles (left) and producer Maggie Renzi talk about The Secret of Roan Inish, their second entry to Competition following Grand Prix-winning City of Hope in 1991. 4. Susan Sarandon, lead actress of The Client, gives a short speech prior to the closing screening. 5. Director Roger Corman, president of Young Cinema Competition Jury. 6. Tatsumi Kumashiro, director of Competition film Like a Rolling Stone, with stars Eiji Okuda (left) and Eiko Nagashima. 7. Director Manoel de Oliveira presents a film in Competition, for the second consecutive year. 8. International Competition juror Jeanne Moreau and Young Cinema Competition juror Kazuki Omori.