Tommy Bastow named ambassador for Nara International Film Festival 2026

Actor Tommy Bastow, known for his roles in the series ‘SHOGUN’ and the NHK drama ‘Bakebake’, has been appointed as the ambassador for the Nara International Film Festival 2026. The announcement was made during a press conference held alongside Executive Director and filmmaker Naomi Kawase.

The upcoming festival, scheduled to take place from September 19 to 23 in Nara Prefecture, will center on the theme ‘CROSS’. Kawase explained that the theme reflects Nara’s historical significance as the terminus of the Silk Road and its current role as a cultural crossroads where people from around the world meet.

The festival features an International Competition and the ‘NARA-wave Student Film Competition’, receiving a total of 1,438 entries from 81 countries and regions. A highlight of the event will be the ‘Prayer Red Carpet’ held in front of the Great Buddha Hall at the Todai-ji World Heritage site, a ceremony intended to pray for world peace.

Additionally, the festival will include a special program celebrating the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Italy, showcasing Italian cinema from the silent era to the present day.