Overview
- Japan arrives at Cannes with three films in the main competition by Hirokazu Kore-eda, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, and Koji Fukada.
- The Marché du Film is hosting a 'Japan Goes to Cannes' event that will unveil five in-production titles, including Kore-eda’s Look Back, now in postproduction.
- The slate spans animation, mystery drama, social drama, and a mainstream thriller, with projects like You, Fireworks, and Our Promise and The Gate of Murder highlighting that range.
- The push follows a strong 2025 at home, where box-office revenue jumped 32% to $1.79 billion and production hit a record 694 releases led by anime and other domestic hits.
- Fukada praised the festival attention but warned that limited public funding leaves independent filmmakers in Japan struggling.