Japan Cuts 19th Edition starts in New York today. Sadly, we don't have a Japanese film festival on par with this one in LA anymore. Here's our older interview with the Japan Society, the people who run the festival and the jealousy they have with LA's many theaters.
Centerpiece: Actress Suzu Hirose receives the 2026 CUT ABOVE Award and appears in person for the New York premiere of A Pale View of Hills, director Kei Ishikawa's acclaimed adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's debut novel. She'll also introduce a special screening of Our Little Sister, the Hirokazu Koreeda film that launched her career.
Closing Night: Hirokazu Koreeda in person for the North American premiere of Sheep in the Box, his thought-provoking new science-fiction drama, fresh from its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
Opening Night: Veteran filmmaker Yoji Yamada opens the festival with Tokyo Taxi, his 91st feature film and an East Coast Premiere.
More than 30 films over 11 days,
including world, international, North American, U.S., East Coast, and
New York premieres spanning narrative features, documentaries,
animation, restored classics, and emerging filmmakers.
Animation highlights include The Last Blossom from Odd Taxi director Baku Kinoshita, Cocoon, produced by a studio founded by Studio Ghibli alum Hitomi Tateno, and the wildly inventive stop-motion feature JUNK WORLD.
Baseball & culture collide with the New York premiere of Diamond Diplomacy, featuring Major League Baseball legend Masanori "Mashi" Murakami, the first Japanese player in MLB, appearing in person alongside the filmmaker. All screenings take place at Japan Society (333 E. 47th Street), with filmmaker Q&As, special guest appearances, receptions, and events throughout the festival
