39th TIFF Co-hosted / Allied Events
*Please note that event information is subject to change.
TIFFCOM 2026
TIFFCOM is Asia’s leading content market, affiliated with Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF). It brings together a wide variety of content holders focusing on film, television and animation, and has achieved success as a major networking platform, attracting professional buyers and producers not only from Asian countries but also from all over the world.
Dates: 10.28 Wed – 10.30 Fri
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center HAMAMATSUCHO-KAN, Tokyo
→ Official Site
Special Collaboration with PFF 2026 PFF AWARD Grand-Prix
PFF started in 1977 under two themes: “Finding and nurturing new filmmaking talents” and “Creating a new environment for film.” The main program, the “PFF Award,” is a unique and unparalleled worldwide competition for self-produced films by filmmakers. Over 200 past selected filmmakers have gone on to become professional film directors, solidifying PFF’s reputation as a gateway for young, emerging talent. This program features the 48th PFF Award Grand Prix winner and other award-winning films announced by the jury at the PFF Award ceremony on September 28.
Date: 11.3 Tue 20:30-
Venue: TOHO Cinemas Chanter Chanter 3
Hosted by: PFF General Incorporated Association / National Film Archive of Japan / Kawakita Memorial Film Institute / UNIJAPAN
→ Official Site
Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award Film Screening and Symposium
Since its founding in 1936, the Directors Guild of Japan has consistently contributed to the development of film and, with nearly 450 members, remains at the center of the Japanese film world today. Its prestigious annual New Directors Award, first granted to Oshima Nagisa in 1960, is now in its 66th year of honoring promising young directors, as a unique prize awarded to film directors by directors. The collaboration between the world famous Tokyo International Film Festival and this prominent, truly artistic New Directors Award is sure to invigorate the film scene in Japan and the world.
President, Directors Guild of Japan
Motoki Katsuhide
Date: 10.27 Tue 15:10-
Venue: Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho
Hosted by: Tokyo International Film Festival Executive Committee /
Directors Guild of Japan
→ Official Site
Screening Film:
The Chatterboxes
Director: Kawai Ken
→ Schedule & Ticket
Aichi International Women’s Film Festival in Tokyo
The Aichi International Women’s Film Festival (AIWFF), launched in 1996, is Japan’s only international women’s film festival. Held each September in Aichi Prefecture, AIWFF showcases films by women directors worldwide and films that explore women’s lives, while hosting talks and symposia that delve deeply into the background and themes of the films. This year’s collaboration with TIFF features two Taiwanese films: Crown Shyness, screened at TIFF in 2025, is part of the AIWFF 2026 program, while A Long Way Home, an AIWFF 2026 selection, is screened at this year’s TIFF.
Exective Producer, AIWFF
Watanabe Etsuko
Date: 10.29 Wed 21:00-
Venue: TOHO Cinemas Chanter Chanter 3
Hosted by: Aichi Gender Equality Foundation
→ Official Site
Screening Film:
A Long Way Home
Director: Wu Nien-hua
→ Schedule & Ticket
TOKYO FILMeX 2026
The TOKYO FILMeX was established in 2000 under the slogan “For the Bright Future of Cinema”. Since then, it has been held as an international film festival that showcases creative and amazing works from around the world, especially from Asia. The festival has introduced many talented filmmakers, including Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Jia Zhang-ke, and Lou Ye. We eagerly create opportunities for interaction by inviting filmmakers from Japan and abroad to attend Q&A sessions with the audience.
Kamiya Naoki (Director of Programming)
Dates: 11.21 Sat～ 11.29 Sun
Venue: Marunouchi Piccadilly / Yurakucho Asahi Hall / Human Trust Cinema Yurakucho
Hosted by: TOKYO FILMeX Organizing Committee (Non-profit Organization)
Sponsored by: Cinema Inutile / SHIMA FILMS
→ Official Site
MPA Seminar
The MPA Seminar will examine how Japan’s production incentive framework is performing in an increasingly competitive global marketplace and explore opportunities to further strengthen the country’s position as a leading destination for film and television production. Bringing together respected Japanese and international experts, the session will provide informed perspectives on a range of incentive models, including national and local -based programs, and share global best practice on attracting investment, fostering local industry growth, and building a sustainable world-class production ecosystem.
Murakami Hiroyuki
Managing Director
Date: 10.27 Tue
Venue: Tokyo Midtown Hibiya HALL
Hosted by: Motion Picture Association (MPA)
Co-organized by: UNIJAPAN
Presented underthe auspices of: Embassy of the United States of America / Federation of Japanese Films Industry, Inc.
→ Official Site
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MPA “Diamond Diplomacy” Special Screening
Two nations–cultural opposites with 150 years of divisiveness–find common ground through baseball. Babe Ruth, Lefty O’Doul, Suzuki Ichiro, and Ohtani Shohei add new meaning to the word diplomacy.
Screening Film: “Diamond Diplomacy”
Director: Yuriko Gamo Romer
Date: 10.28 Wed
Venue: Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills
Hosted by: Motion Picture Association (MPA)
6th minato cinema festa
Feel joy and inspiration through cinema! “minato cinema festa” will be back again this year. There will be films for parents and children to enjoy together, as well as films with barrier-free subtitles and audio guidance.
Dates: 11.21 Sat～12.1 Tue
Venues: Azabu Civic Center / Akasaka Civic Center / Takanawa Civic Center / Daiba Civic Center / Libra Hall (Minato Park Shibaura 1F) / Shinmei Iki-iki Plaza
Hosted by: Minato Sports, Community, Culture and Health Foundation
→ Official Site (Japanese)
Short Sohrts Film Festival & Asia 2026 Screening in Autumn
Celebrating its 28th edition, Asia’s largest Academy Awards®-qualifying international short film festival presents a stellar lineup, including the Grand Prix / George Lucas Award winner and recent award-winning works.
Alongside must-watch Oscar contenders for next year, the festival features unique curation such as female filmmakers, horror & thriller programs, and more.
The event offers director Q&As, talk seminars, an online market, market screenings, and global streaming via the Online Grand Theater.
Tanaka Fuyumi (PR / Producer)
Dates: 11.5 Thu～11.22 Sun
Venues: Tokyo Photographic Art Museum / Kino Cinema shinjuku
Hosted by: Committee for Short Shorts Film Festival Asia
Co-organized by: Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Presented underthe auspices of: J-WAVE
Sponsored by: Nihonchokuhan Inc. / Nihonchokuhan Inc./ TYO Inc./ CapCut/ TOPVIEW JAPAN Co.,Ltd
→ Official Site
23rd Latin Beat Film Festival
Two enormous and very different balls stand out in this year’s lineup. From the ball that led to Maradona’s legendary goal against England after the Falklands War in The Match, to the ball in La Bola Negra that symbolized discrimination in Lorcaesque surrealist Spain. Albert Serra’s new film, Sixteen Moments of My Life, a concert documentary featuring Ingrid Caven—an actress, singer, and ex-wife of German filmmaker R.W. Fassbinder—evokes nostalgia for a life without restraints. A humorous melodrama that reminds me of Chaplin is Flies. Lastly, Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beloved, screening in the Gala Selection section, is a human drama set on a film set, with which we cooperate as a subtitle sponsor.
Alberto Calero Lugo (Film Festival Producer / Programming Director)
Hosted by: Latin Beat Film Festival
→ 39th TIFF World Focus Section Lineup
20th Tanabe-Benkei Film Festival
The Tanabe Benkei Film Festival has been held in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, since 2007 and is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. To mark this important milestone, we plan to launch a crowdfunding campaign, organize filmmaking workshops for high school students, and publish a commemorative booklet. This year also marks the festival’s first-ever venue change, making it a year of new challenges and opportunities. The organizing committee is fully committed to creating an enjoyable and inspiring event for all participants and visitors. The festival’s competition section has gained national recognition, with many award-winning directors going on to make their commercial film debuts and build successful careers in the industry. As a result, the Tanabe Benkei Film Festival is widely regarded as an important gateway for emerging filmmakers in Japan.
Dates: 11.13 Fri～11.15 Sun
Venue: Wakayama Prefectural Infomartion Exchange Center
Hosted by: Tanabe-Benkei Film Festival executive committee
Presented under the auspices of: UNIJAPAN Tokyo International Film Festival etc.
Supported by: KINEMA JUNPOSHA CO.,LTD. / TOKYO THEATRES COMPANY, etc.
→ Official Site (Japanese)
Kyoto Filmmakers Lab
Kyoto Filmmakers Lab is a training camp for younger generations. This program provides an opportunity to meet outstanding filmmakers from Japan and abroad and a Jidaigeki making experience. In its 17-year history, a total of 590 participants from 52 countries, selected from 2,973 applicants from 114 countries, have experienced filmmaking in Kyoto. We are excited to deliver lectures in collaboration with Tokyo International Film Festival. We hope this program will be an invaluable opportunity for young filmmakers in this ever-changing world of visual arts.
Moriwaki Kiyotaka (Kyoto Filmmakers Lab)
Venues: Shochiku Kyoto Studios / Toei Studios Kyoto / The Museum of Kyoto / other venues in Kyoto
Hosted by: Kyoto HISTORICA International Film Festival Committee
(Kyoto Prefectural Government / The Museum of Kyoto / Toei Company, Ltd. / Shochiku Studio Co., Ltd. / Toei Kyoto Studio Co., Ltd. / Iwamoto Metal Co., Ltd. / Directors’ Univ Co., Ltd. / Ritsumeikan University)
Co-hosted by: 38th Tokyo International Film Festival Executive Committee / Istituto Italiano di Cultura Osaka / KYOTO Cross Media Experience Executive Committee
Supported by: Kyoto Cross Media Promotion Agency
→ Official Site
NARA International Film Festival 2026
The vision behind “CROSS”
At times, the world seems filled with stories of division.
Yet in truth, crossings are everywhere.
Nations, histories, cultures, generations, people—each encountering one another, blending, becoming something new.
Where such meetings occur, new stories are always born.
In Nara, a crossroads where winds unchanged for a thousand years quietly intersect with the rhythms of life today, I invite you to stand for a moment.
A story from someone, somewhere far away, might just become your own film today.
Kawase Naomi
Executive Director
Dates: 9.19 Sat～9.23 Wed
Venues: Tōdai-ji Kin-sho Hall/Naramachi Centre/Nara Park Bus Terminal Lecture Hall / Kasuga Taisha Shrine KANSHA KYOSEI INSTITUTE
Hosted by: NARA International Film Festival (NPO)
→ Official Site
MPTE AWARDS 2026
Since its establishment in 1947, the MPTE AWARDS have honored the innovative and diverse achievements of engineers and researchers in advancing media production technology. At its 79th ceremony, we will once again recognize outstanding achievements from the past year, including the Technical Development Award and the Visual Technology Award. We invite you to join us in celebrating the people and innovations shaping the future of visual technology.
Date: 10.27 Tue
Venue: JIJI PRESS HALL
Hosted by: Motion Picture and Television Engineering Society of Japan, Inc
Presented under the auspices of: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry / Federation of Japanese Films Industry, Inc. / Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan, Inc. / UNIJAPAN / Japan Association of Audiovisual Producers, Inc. / Foreign Film Importer – Distributors Association of Japan / Japan Association of Theatre Owners / Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO) / Japan Video Software Association / Japan Ad. Contents Production Companies Association / Japan Post Production Association / NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) /Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association / Association of All Japan TV program Production Companies / Japanese Society of Cinematographers /Japanese Society of Lightning Directors / Association of Production Designers in Japan / Japan Cinema and Television Sound Creator Association / Japan Society of Editors / Japan Association of Video Communications
→ Official Site (Japanese)
JAAP INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2026
Begun in 2007, the JAAP INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL is the only short film festival in Japan for industries and culture. It aims to discover and reward professional quality works, to vitalize the short film industry, and to discover new talent. The concept for this year is “SHOW THE UNKNOWN”. Following the award ceremony, 33 award-winning films including the Grand Prix winner will be screened. Additional screenings include the International Corporate Film Showing 2026, which showcases excellent corporate films from overseas.
Dates: 11.30 Mon～12.3 Thu
Venues: The National Art Center, Tokyo / National Film Archive of Japan
Hosted by: Japan Association of Audiovisual Producers, Inc.
→ Official Site (Japanese)
The 70th Anniversary of Taiwanese-language Cinema
Taiwanese-language cinema (Taiyu Pian), a major film genre produced in Taiwan between 1955 and 1981, was one of the most popular forms of local cinema. Recently, many classics have been digitally restored by Taiwan Film & Audiovisual Institute (TFAI), drawing renewed attention to this important cultural heritage.
In conjunction with the special screening of Good Neighbors (Restoration) in Taiwan Cinema Renaissance 2026 at the Tokyo International Film Festival, this retrospective celebrates the 70th anniversary of Taiwanese-language cinema by showcasing landmark works that reveal an alternative history of Taiwanese cinema and its enduring appeal.
Ishizaka Kenji
Senior Programmer, Tokyo International Film Festival
Dates: 12.2 Wed～12.4 Fri, 12.8 Tue～12.9 Wed
Presented by: Taiwan Cultural Center, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan
Co-presented by: Athénée Français Cultural Center / Asian Cinema Studies Group, Japan Society of Image Arts and Sciences
→ Official Site (Japanese)
ARTE TOKYO Tokyo International Festival of Arts and Culture
ARTE TOKYO is a new arts and culture festival launched by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2026.
The festival brings together diverse programs—including art, theater, music, illuminations, and entertainment—from fall through winter, creating a chain of value and showcasing Tokyo’s appeal.
For its inaugural year, the festival will focus on three core areas: Rinkai, Hibiya/Marunouchi, and Yoyogi/Shibuya. It will feature art and entertainment in urban spaces such as parks and waterfronts, while collaborating with over 100 partner programs to create new cultural experiences unique to Tokyo.
Dates: 10.10 Sat～12.31 Thu
Venues: Various places in Tokyo
Hosted by: Tokyo Metropolitan Government / Executive Committee for the Tokyo International Festival of Arts and Culture
→ Official Site
CoFesta 2026
CoFesta is a project to support the strengthening of overseas communication capabilities in order to effectively promote various events related to the Japananse content industries overseas.
•Dates: May 2026 – March 2027
•Venue: Various Cities in Japan and Overseas
→ Official Site
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