Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing Heads to BFI London Film Festival
The ESPN Films documentary, directed by Erik Shirai, begins screenings at the 70th BFI London Film Festival on October 13, with THR debuting an exclusive clip.
"Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing" is set to screen at the 70th BFI London Film Festival beginning October 13. The documentary, directed by Erik Shirai, follows wrestlers at different career stages over the course of a year.
The film is presented by ESPN Films and is a Rise Films production in association with Real Lava and Generation11. Hiroshi Hara and Shirai handled cinematography, with Frederick Shanahan serving as editor.
The Hollywood Reporter premiered an exclusive clip from the documentary. According to THR, the film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in October 2025, before its London screening.
Shirai previously directed "The Birth of Sake," a documentary about a Japanese institution. He said it took three to four years to get access from the Sumo Association for the new project.
Quick answers
When does Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing screen at the BFI London Film Festival?
The documentary begins screening at the 70th BFI London Film Festival on October 13.
Who directed Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing?
Erik Shirai directed the documentary. He previously made The Birth of Sake.
What is Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing about?
The film was shot over a year following sumo wrestlers at different career stages.