Tokyo Film Festival Unveils 2026 Lineup Under New Director

The Tokyo International Film Festival announced its 2026 lineup on October 21, the first under incoming festival director Takeo Hisamatsu, according to deadline.com. The 2026 edition runs from October 26 to November 4 in Tokyo's Hibiya-Ginza district.

Zeze Takahisa's Sukiyaki, a film about the song that topped the Billboard charts, will open the festival. Takashi Yamazaki's Godzilla Minus Zero, the sequel to Godzilla Minus One, is the Centerpiece Film, and Yang Sang-ho's zombie thriller Colony closes the event.

Three Japanese titles are in the main Competition: The Canary's Lullaby by Akira Ikeda, Two Cigarettes, Three Nights by Yukiko Mishima and The Intertwining by Akira Yamamoto. Programming director Shozo Ichiyama oversees the selection.

Academy delegation and awards contenders

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is sending a delegation to the festival that includes CEO Bill Kramer. Awards contenders screening in the Gala, World Focus and Special Screenings sections include Wild Horse Nine, La Bola Negra, Wildwood and Christian Mungiu's Fjord.

Hisamatsu previously headed the Tokyo festival from 2017 to 2021, and returned to the role after Hiroyasu Ando stepped down as festival head following seven years in the post. The festival will mark its 40th edition next year. Japan's box office reached a record last year and surpassed pre-pandemic revenues.