Tokyo Fest Gets FIAPF's A-List Stamp — But Does It Even Matter?

FIAPF just made it official: Tokyo International Film Festival is now one of 17 festivals carrying A-list status. Sounds huge, right? Not necessarily.

Rolf de Heer, the Australian filmmaker heading Tokyo's competition jury this year, kept it real about what the designation actually changes. According to him, the stamp matters deeply to some people and barely registers for others. Translation: it's a prestige play that'll look good on a resume but won't fundamentally shift how the festival operates or what it means for filmmakers who premiere there.

De Heer knows what he's talking about — the guy directed Bad Boy Bubby and Ten Canoes, so he's not just another talking head. His take suggests that FIAPF's A-list move is more about bureaucratic legitimacy and marketing than seismic change. The festivals that already matter will keep mattering. The ones that don't won't suddenly become career-makers just because of a title.

It's a useful reminder that in the film world, like everywhere else, credibility isn't handed down by committee — it's earned over time. The label's nice to have. But the work still speaks louder.

Read the full story at Variety → https://variety.com/2026/film/festivals/tokyo-jury-chief-rolf-de-heer-fiapf-new-a-list-1236931842/