CONNECTING - Cinema Connects Us to the World Beyond

The world today is marked by profound division, with conflicts intensifying across political, economic, cultural, religious, and gender lines, erecting numerous barriers between people. Yet, in these challenging times, cinema possesses the unique capacity to transcend these walls.
While news reports present conflict in distant countries as an objective fact, films invite us to imagine human stories behind the headlines. Through cinematic experience, the pain and joy of others become our own, forging a connection between us and the world beyond our borders.
Driven by this belief in the power of cinema, the Tokyo International Film Festival serves as a vital platform of storytelling, bringing together filmmakers, audiences and advocates and bridging diverse worlds.
To put this belief into practice, this year’s TIFF is launching three new initiatives. The first is the introduction of a competition within the Nippon Cinema Now section. By establishing new awards to discover and recognize emerging and distinctive Japanese talent, TIFF aims to provide a major boost in bringing Japanese cinema to the global stage. The second is the launch of CROSSCUT ASIA+, a new section co-presented with the Japan Foundation. Bringing together dedicated and dynamic film programmers from Japan and Southeast Asia, the section will create a space for meaningful co-creation and exchange with the next generation across Asia. The third is the establishment of the Kashiko Kawakita Award by the Kawakita Memorial Film Institute to honor women in cinema. Carrying forward the legacy of Madame Kawakita, who devoted her life to bridging East and West through cinema, the award celebrates the preservation and continuation of diverse film cultures while honoring the achievements of women driving cinema today.
This year’s TIFF aims to be a place where emerging Japanese talent connects with the world, and where diverse stories and people from Asia and around the globe come together. Never ceasing to evolve, the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival takes another step toward new heights and invites you to look forward to what lies ahead.