Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers," the first of two films about the Battle of Iwo Jima, has been chosen to open the 19th Tokyo Film Festival, which begins on October 21st. The film will open stateside on October 20th, but it's a pretty big honor all the same.

From Variety: "Clint Eastwood's WWII pic "Flags of Our Fathers" will open the 19th Tokyo Film Festival on Oct. 21, fest organizers announced Monday. Movie is one of a pair Eastwood is helming about the battle against the Japanese for the island of Iwo Jima -- one told from the American perspective ("Flags"), the other from the Japanese POV ("Red Sun, Black Sand"). DreamWorks and Warner Bros. partner on both; "Flags" opens in the U.S. on Oct. 20, but no release date has yet been set for "Red Sun.""

Written by William Broyles and Paul Haggis, "Flags of Our Fathers" is based on a book by James Bradley and Ron Powers. Cast members include Ryan Phillippe, Adam Beach, Barry Pepper, Paul Walker, and Jamie Bell.