entertainment

Ex-AKB48 singer Maeda appointed ambassador for Tokyo Int'l Film Festival

16 Comments

Former AKB48 singer Atsuko Maeda, who "graduated" from the group last month, has been appointed a special ambassador for this year's Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) which will be held Oct 20-29.

Maeda joined TIFF executives and director Tetsuaki Matsue at a news conference this week to publicize the event.

Fifteen films will be screened in Competition Section. The International Jury will be headed by Roger Corman. A total of 1,332 titles from 91 countries and regions were submitted to TIFF this year. In addition to the films in the Competition Section, a total of around 300 films will be screened during the film festival, organizers said.

Maeda said she was very honored to have been appointed as an ambassador for the film festival. "Actually, I’m quite nervous about it," she said. "The Tokyo International Film Festival has been running since before I was born. But I really love film, so I’m very much looking forward to contributing."

After she left AKB48, Maeda said she would like to concentrate on an acting future. "I’ve been blessed with a truly fantastic starting point here. I want to become an actress with the versatility to play any role, and an actress that directors are eager to work with," she said.

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16 Comments
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And she got this job because...

7 ( +7 / -0 )

A woman who can't sing or act properly has been appointed "Ambassador for Tokyo Int'l Film Festival"???

It's like Wayne Rooney hosting QI.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

special ambassador

special because the meaning of ambassador has been rendered nonsensical. A better term for her role is 'promotional mascot'.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I give her credit for one thing, "graduating" from AKB48. Now hopefully we all will get to see if she has any talent other than her looks. I wish her luck, and hope all the rest of AKB soon follow in her footsteps.

Seriously guys, the AKB bashing is getting really old

Nope not at all, never.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I get so tired of that photo of her crying, plastered all around Tokyo. This ambassador job is "well deserved".

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Is there any end to this woman's talents?

or is it just to milk her "career" for a year or two until she ends up on the shopping channel...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I never realised how short she was until I actually saw her at that press conference. I was very surprised that she could walk in the heels she had on, they were seriously BIG!!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

She's just there to be a pretty face.

She is probably there because her management agency paid money for her to be there and get face time.

Her looks are average at best.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Marketing. Nothing about cultural competencies!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Does she have any talent when it comes to judging movies?

Probably not, which is why she's a "special ambassador" and not a jury member. She's just there to be a (very) pretty face.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A marketing tool for the blind. She's just a mascot and nothing less.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

LOL You people! As soon as you hear/read AKB48 you all get your knickers in a twist.

You "hate" them but you make sure to comment on every AKB related post. It cracks me up.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Finally!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Hiroicci

Wayne Rooney should host TIFF.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Well then, kiss Tokyo's chances goodbye. What might fly as an obvious win here often baffles others elsewhere. Does she have any talent when it comes to judging movies? My guess is she has about as much experience as a judo athlete becoming a politician.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Ah, the keyboard warriors are again out in force today, complaining yet again about anything to do with AKB48. The girl worked hard for more than 7 years and no matter what you think, she has become immensely popular and a role model of many teenagers within Asia. Seriously guys, the AKB bashing is getting really old

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

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