Line Up For Tokyo International Film Festival Lounge Announced
The Japan Foundation and the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) have announced that they will continue to co-present the TIFF Lounge at the 38th TIFF, now in its sixth year as a networking space for film professionals gathering in Tokyo. “We have a stellar and diverse lineup of five talk sessions with a rich variety of guests, programmed by a committee that includes director, Kore-eda Hirokazu, said the organisers. Also, the organisers revealed that this year’s TIFF Lounge begins with a masterclass by Peter Ho-sun Chan, a legendary figure in Hong Kong cinema and continues with a special dialogue between Fujimoto Akio, whose latest film ‘Lost Land’, won the Special Jury Prize in the Orizzonti section at the Venice Film Festival. The dialogue will also be held with Pen-ek Ratanaruang, a towering figure in Thai cinema. Similarly, a highly anticipated conversation will take place between Yamada Yoji, veteran director of the TIFF Centerpiece ‘Tokyo Taxi’ and Lee Sang-il, who will receive this year’s Kurosawa Akira Award for his film Kokuho. Another exciting session will feature Miyake Sho, whose new film Two Seasons, Two Strangers won the Golden Leopard (Grand Prix) at the Locarno Film Festival, in conversation with Rithy Panh, acclaimed filmmaker and president of the Locarno jury. The organizers also announced an invaluable dialogue that will be held between Kore-eda Hirokazu and Chloé Zhao, director of this year’s Closing Film ‘Hamnet’ and fellow recipient with Lee Sang-il of the Kurosawa Akira Award. The dialogue will be held between Tuesday, October 28 – Wednesday, November 5. For detail, visit the festival website at https://2025.tiff-jp.net/en/

Six New Filmmakers Make Cannes Festival Residency
ALICA Bednáriková, Federico Luis, Maksym Nakonechnyi, Laís Santos Araújo, Baran Sarmad, and Dian Weys have joined the 50th Residency of the Festival de Cannes. From October 1, 2025, to February 15, 2026, they are staying in Paris and receiving guidance in writing their first or second feature film. Created in 2000, the Residency of the Festival de Cannes helps filmmakers from around the world develop their projects. This 50th session, like previous ones is designed to support the emergence of new voices in international cinema while promoting a diversity of perspectives. Baran Sarmad, an Iranian filmmaker and producer known for her distinctive cinematic identity, often mixing reality and fantasy and exploring complex emotional landscapes from Iran speaks of her selection: “I grew up in a society where, as a little girl, saying you wanted to take on a leadership role, like becoming a ship captain, an airline pilot, or a judge, was met with disbelief. Filmmaking was one of those daring dreams too, a path full of obstacles and restrictions. Today, being part of the Cannes Residency gives me deep belief and confidence. It’s proof that I’m on the right path and must keep going despite the challenges. This Residency is a creative sanctuary where I can rewrite my script, gain inspiration through mentorship, and share this journey with five other writers from around the world.” Additional information on the residency can be sourced at www.festival-cannes.com.