Tokyo International Film Festival announces new competitions and awards

The Tokyo International Film Festival is expanding its programming with three major initiatives. The festival is introducing the Nippon Cinema Now competition, which aims to support Japanese filmmakers from newcomers to veterans by providing a platform to connect their work with international audiences. This section will feature a Best Film prize and a Special Jury Prize.

Additionally, the festival is launching Crosscut Asia+, a section developed in collaboration with the Japan Foundation. This initiative pairs film programmers from Japan and Southeast Asia to curate lineups around shared themes. The inaugural edition, themed ‘Side by Side’, features six films including works by Rafael Manuel and Kamila Andini.

A third initiative, the Kawakita Kashiko Award, has been established by the Kawakita Memorial Film Institute. This award is designed to honor women who are advancing film culture and making significant contributions to the industry.