From art exhibits to live music, Tokyo's got you covered when it comes to experiencing all kinds of culture, and that includes film. This year, the annual Tokyo International Film Festival is taking place from October 27 to November 5, and features over 100 Japanese and international films from veteran directors and newcomers alike, plus a number of talks and Q&A sessions to mix things up.
With so many options to choose from, we've narrowed the list down to bring you our picks for this year's festival. Read on to discover incredible films that showcase local and foreign talent, directorial debuts, seasoned Academy Award-winning filmmakers and even animated works.
Tickets are available from October 18 – purchase yours here.
Recommended Japanese films
Akira Kurosawa's Dreams
World-renowned director Akira Kurosawa is known for a myriad of films considered classics, including the critically acclaimed Rashomon (which will be played at the festival, by the way), but his 1990 film Dreams is remarkable in a different way.
The unique film eschews a singular cohesive plot, opting instead for eight independent vignettes, all inspired by the director's dreams. Whether it's a fox wedding in the forest, Van Gogh paintings brought to life, a post-apocalyptic nuclear wasteland or an idyllic village of watermills, the vivid imagery featured in Dreams makes for an unforgettable viewing experience.
Shall We Dance?
In this 1996 film by Masayuki Suo, salaryman Shohei Sugiyama is a successful accountant who appears to have it all on the surface, but is disillusioned with his seemingly charmed life. After seeing a beautiful woman in the window of a dance studio, he takes up ballroom dancing on the low, as the practice was seen as distasteful at the time. What ensues is a heartwarming tale of acceptance and self-discovery.
At the Japanese Academy Awards, Shall We Dance? won a jaw-dropping 14 awards, including Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Actor for Koji Yakusho and Best Actress for Tamiyo Kusakari. The film inspired the less-than-stellar 2004 American remake of the same name starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez, but we'll stick with the original.
Momotaro, Sacred Sailors
Old-school animation aficionados are in for a treat with Momotaro, Sacred Sailors. The 1945 flick is Japan's first feature-length animated film, directed by Mitsuyo Seo and clocking in at 74 minutes. Though admittedly a propaganda piece for the Japanese military during the Second World War, it nonetheless serves as an informative lens into some of the sensibilities and animation techniques of the time.
The main character, commanding officer Momotaro, takes his name from the Japanese folktale of the same name, on which the black-and-white picture remains loosely based. In the largely anthropomorphic world of the film, Momotaro fights alongside a bear, a monkey, a pheasant and a dog in the war. On a lighter note, there's a very catchy musical number in the film for those wanting to learn to read a bit of katakana.
The Last Blossom
Modern animation has its place at the festival as well. The Last Blossom is a 2025 animated film brought to you by director Baku Kinoshita and writer Kazuya Konomoto, the talented duo behind the award-winning anime series Odd Taxi. (If you haven't seen the series, we highly recommend it.)
As dying prisoner Akutsu reaches his final moments, a flower begins speaking to him, guiding the former yakuza member through his memories as he reflects on his life. Akutsu is voiced by the prolific Kyoto-born actor Kaoru Kobayashi, whom you may recognise as Master from the 2016 Netflix series Midnight Diner or as the voice of Jiko-Bo/ Jigo from the 1997 Studio Ghibli film Princess Mononoke.
Long Night
Up-and-coming director Yui Kusakari makes his debut with Long Night. Two years ago, a young man named Kai disappeared into the sea. His girlfriend Mari and best friend Koichi are left to comfort one another as they navigate the heavy grief of his loss, until an unexpected reunion shakes up everything they struggled to build together in Kai's absence.
As winner of the Skip City Award for promising talent in digital feature-length filmmaking, Kusakari's Long Night is a good choice for those eager to see emergent work from young Japanese talent.
Recommended international films
Girls on Wire
Girls on Wire takes place over two decades, in which we follow the relationship between single mother Tian Tian and her estranged cousin, Fang Di. The former is on the run from mobsters after killing a drug dealer, while the latter works as a stunt performer to pay off family debts. Fang Di is initially reluctant to reconcile after five years of no contact with her would-be sister, but dire circumstances bring them closer together.
The gripping tale is the latest film from Beijing-born director, screenwriter and producer Vivian Qu, whose works tend to focus on women-centred narratives and marginalised individuals in society. With its engaging narrative of sisterhood and survival, Girls on Wire is no exception.
Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo)
Teenage Bronx resident Rico lives a fairly carefree life, spending his time on the beach selling nutcrackers, a fruity homemade cocktail that’s a staple of any New York summer. All is well until his girlfriend Destiny moves in with him and his family, leading to an unplanned pregnancy that changes everything.
Raw and intimate, Mad Bills to Pay is Dominican-American writer and director Joel Alfonso Vargas's first feature-length film. As a Bronx native himself, he draws heavily from his own life experiences to bring this poignant, largely improvised slice-of-life story to life.
Kika
Social worker Kika gives her all to improve the lives of her clients, but given her extra-marital affair, she's not without her faults. Tragedy ensues, and Kika soon finds herself single, pregnant and in debt. In a fit of desperation, she turns to an unlikely profession: sex work. We follow her story as she navigates the unfamiliar world of hustling and BDSM.
Directed by Belgium-based French filmmaker Alexe Poukine, Kika explores desire and self-realisation through the eyes of a woman who can't afford to lose. The film was named Best International Film at the Munich International Film Festival earlier this year.
White House
In this moving film by Brazilian director Luciano Vidigal, a Black teenager from the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro named Dé receives the devastating news that his grandmother's Alzheimer's has become terminal. What follows is a delicate portrayal of love, perseverance and found family as Dé and his two best friends team up to make the most of her final days.
White House offers a window into the beauty and diversity within Brazilian culture – the film won four awards at the 2024 Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, including Best Cinematography and Best Director.
Hamnet
TIFF ends on a high note with its closing act: Chloé Zhao's Hamnet. The historical drama is the Academy Award-winning director's latest, in which we experience the bittersweet tale that inspired the timeless Hamlet. Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes Shakespeare alongside Paul Mescal, playing none other than William Shakespeare.
Adapted by the 2020 Maggie O'Farrell novel of the same name, Hamnet premiered earlier this year at the Telluride Film Festival in the US to critical acclaim. Visually stunning with brilliant performances from Buckley and Mescal, Hamnet is not to be missed.
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