The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) will run from October 27 to November 5, turning the Hibiya–Yurakucho–Marunouchi–Ginza district into a hub for global cinema. Alongside screenings, the 10-day event will feature workshops, seminars and exhibitions under the theme of “cinema, culture and dialogue.”
Festival chairman Ando Hiroyasu said this year’s edition focuses on international exchange, women’s empowerment and supporting emerging filmmakers. “Even in a divided world, cinema can build bridges of unity,” he remarked.
The festival opens with Junji Sakamoto’s Climbing for Life, based on Everest climber Junko Tabei, and closes with Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet. Yoji Yamada’s Tokyo Taxi serves as the centrepiece screening.
From nearly 2,000 submissions across 108 countries, 15 films have been selected for competition. Notable entries include Tiona Strugar Mitevska’s ‘Mother’, Rithy Panh’s ‘We Are the Fruits of the Forest’, Zhang Lu’s ‘Mothertongue’ and Annemarie Jacir’s ‘Palestine 36’, a depiction of the 1936 Palestinian uprising against British rule.
Programme director Shozo Ichiyama noted, “Our focus is on artistic merit and message; politics naturally follows, because cinema reflects reality.”
The Asian Future section will showcase 10 films from Japan, Korea, Turkey, China, Singapore and Iran, while the Women’s Empowerment and Animation segments return with fresh selections.
The TIFFCOM 2025 film market will coincide with the festival, offering global co-production opportunities. The Kurosawa Akira Award will honour Lee Sang-il and Chloé Zhao, with guests including Juliette Binoche, Rithy Panh and Hirokazu Kore-eda.
Actress Kumi Takeuchi, this year’s Festival Navigator, said she is especially eager to watch Palestine 36. “We need to understand the roots of ongoing conflicts,” she said. “Such films rarely reach Japanese theatres. Festivals give us a chance to confront these stories.”
With its blend of artistry and activism, TIFF 2025 reaffirms cinema’s power to unite, question and inspire.
