Japanese cinema legend celebrates six decades of storytelling as TIFF 2025 bridges tradition and modern artistry.
A Grand Celebration of Japanese and Global Cinema
The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is set to unfold from October 27 to November 5, 2025, across Tokyo’s vibrant Hibiya–Yurakucho–Marunouchi–Ginza district. Recognized as Japan’s premier cinematic showcase and the country’s only FIAPF-accredited international festival, TIFF 2025 promises an immersive blend of legacy, innovation, and global storytelling.
This year’s edition pays a heartfelt tribute to Yoji Yamada, one of Japan’s most revered filmmakers, with the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The honor celebrates a career spanning more than six decades — a remarkable journey that mirrors the postwar evolution of Japanese cinema itself.
Yoji Yamada: A Lifetime in Frames
At 93, Yoji Yamada stands as a living chronicle of Japan’s cinematic soul. Making his directorial debut in 1961 with Nikai no Tanin, Yamada has since helmed an extraordinary 91 films, crafting an oeuvre defined by empathy, humor, and quiet endurance.
His beloved Tora-san series — 50 films released between 1969 and 1995 — became a national institution and earned a Guinness World Record as the longest-running film series starring the same actor. Beyond Tora-san, Yamada’s acclaimed dramas such as The Yellow Handkerchief (1977), Home from the Sea (1972), The Twilight Samurai (2002), and The Hidden Blade (2004) continue to define the understated poetry of Japanese life.
Festival chairman Hiroyasu Ando praised the veteran director’s enduring artistry, saying, “Yoji Yamada has long observed the realities of Japanese society with a discerning yet compassionate eye, crystallizing them into numerous cinematic masterpieces.”
Yamada’s latest feature, Tokyo Taxi — a gentle remake of the French film Driving Madeleine — will serve as TIFF 2025’s Centerpiece screening ahead of its nationwide release on November 21.
A Rich Lineup of Global Voices and Asian Visionaries
TIFF 2025’s competition lineup promises a compelling mix of regional and international storytelling. Malaysian-Chinese filmmaker Chong Keat Aun’s Mother Bhumi, starring Fan Bingbing, explores identity and reinvention, while Thai auteur Pen-Ek Ratanaruang’s Morte Cucina reunites him with acclaimed cinematographer Christopher Doyle and actor Tadanobu Asano.
Chinese filmmaker Zhang Lu brings Mothertongue, fresh off his Busan triumph, while Hungarian iconoclast György Pálfi returns with Hen, an allegorical fable about human absurdity. Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir’s colonial-era epic Palestine 36, and American filmmaker Hailey Gates’ satirical debut Atropia — produced by Luca Guadagnino and starring Alia Shawkat, Callum Turner, and Chloë Sevigny — round out a globally diverse slate.
Opening and Closing Highlights: From Everest to Shakespeare
The festival opens with Junji Sakamoto’s Climbing for Life, a sweeping dramatization of the journey of Junko Tabei, the first woman to conquer Mt. Everest. The emotional resonance of this opening mirrors TIFF’s spirit of perseverance and inspiration.
Closing the festival is Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet — one of the year’s most anticipated films — starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. Zhao, known for her Academy Award-winning Nomadland, reimagines Shakespearean emotion through a deeply personal, introspective lens.
Special Screenings, Restorations, and Retrospectives
Beyond competition, TIFF 2025 offers a treasure trove of cinematic gems. The festival marks the centennial of author Yukio Mishima with a retrospective that includes the long-delayed Japanese screening of Paul Schrader’s cult biopic Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters.
Animation lovers will delight in the 4K restoration of Mamoru Oshii’s Angel’s Egg, celebrating its 40th anniversary, while visionary director Shoji Kawamori unveils his new original anime Labyrinth. Documentary programming remains strong, with The Ozu Diaries offering an intimate archival look at master filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu, and Juliette Binoche making her directorial debut with In-I in Motion, chronicling her collaboration with choreographer Akram Khan.
Spotlight on Japanese Talent and Industry Exchange
Japanese cinema continues to shine across TIFF’s dedicated sections such as “Nippon Cinema Now,” featuring domestic premieres like Yuichiro Sakashita’s Blonde. The festival also supports emerging filmmakers through TIFFCOM (October 29–31), Japan’s largest content market, where project pitches, industry panels, and networking sessions will take place at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center.
Kurosawa Akira Awards: Honoring Visionaries of Today
Complementing Yamada’s recognition, TIFF will present its prestigious Kurosawa Akira Award to two filmmakers who embody cinematic innovation — Chloé Zhao and Lee Sang-il. Yamada, who chaired this year’s jury, will also participate in a masterclass discussion with Lee Sang-il, moderated by Hirokazu Kore-eda as part of the TIFF Lounge talk series on October 30.
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