AMPAS To Attend Tokyo Film Festival; Program Includes Special Talk Session With Bill Kramer & Toho CEO Hiro Matsuoka

This year’s Tokyo International Film Festival will host ‘Academy in Tokyo’, a special program welcoming top executives from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

Academy CEO Bill Kramer, President Lynette Howell Taylor, and Chief Membership, Impact and Industry Officer Meredith Shea will visit Japan for the program. On October 28, the three will participate in a panel discussion, followed by the presentation of a leadership award to Kramer and a gathering for Academy members.

On October 29, Kramer will take part in a conversation with Hiro Matsuoka, President and CEO of Toho Co, during which they will discuss the global cinematic landscape, the future of theatrical and streaming distribution, and next steps for international collaboration.

Kramer, who is making his first visit to Asia, will receive the Global Cinema Leadership Special Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the development of the global film industry and the advancement of film culture.

Since becoming Academy CEO in 2022, Kramer has worked to further diversify and globalize the Academy’s membership. He oversees all of the Academy’s global operations and programs, including the Oscars, the Academy Foundation, and services for the organization’s 11,000 global members.

The panel on that day will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the Oscars as well as insights into the Academy’s global initiatives and membership programs. The discussion will also explore the Academy’s perspective on the current state and future of international cinema.

On October 28, the festival will host a private reception for Academy members from around the world.