The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is a very important event in the cinema world for Japan but also for Asia and for the whole world. It was created in 1985 and has been held in October every year ever since.
The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is the only Japanese film festival accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). TIFF started in 1985 as Japan’s first major film festival. Since then, it has grown to become one of the biggest film festivals in Asia. TIFF seeks out excellent films from around the world and brings them to Tokyo, where filmmakers and film fans can enjoy them, meet emerging filmmakers, and be inspired.
For its 2025 edition, the festival will be staged predominantly in Tokyo’s stylish Hibiya–Yurakucho–Marunouchi–Ginza district—continuing the tradition of hosting events in this iconic area. Its industry-focused affiliated audiovisual content market, TIFFCOM 2025, will take place over three days, from Wednesday, October 29 to Friday, October 31, 2025. TIFFCOM connects TV, film, and anime content holders with global buyers.
This year’s festival will also shine a spotlight on two major filmmakers: Chloé Zhao, the Academy Award–winning director of Nomadland, and Lee Sang-il, celebrated in Japan for films such as Hula Girls. Both will be honored with the Kurosawa Akira Award, one of TIFF’s most prestigious recognitions. Their presence signals the festival’s continued balance between celebrating homegrown talent and engaging with world cinema at the highest level.
TIFF doesn’t just screen films and features filmmakers—it also creates a space where cinema comes alive through director Q&A sessions, masterclasses, and public workshops. These events give festival goers the chance to hear directly from filmmakers about their creative process, the challenges behind production, and the themes they explore on screen. For young filmmakers in particular, the workshops have become an invaluable opportunity to learn from both Japanese and international masters. TIFF 2025: Teens Meet Cinema, for one, will serve as a production workshop for teens, led by director Oda Kaori. Selected junior high school students will gather at Tokyo Women’s Plaza to take part in the workshop.
The 2025 edition may be the 38th, but its energy feels anything but routine. For ten days, Tokyo becomes a city of cinema, alive with conversations, discoveries, and the magic of storytelling.
