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.
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.
TIFF will run from October 26 to November 4, 2026, with screenings and events taking place predominantly in Tokyo’s Hibiya–Yurakucho–Marunouchi–Ginza district. This year’s festival, themed “Connecting — Cinema Connects Us to the World Beyond,” will feature 204 films representing 112 countries and regions, celebrating cinema’s ability to bring people and cultures together.
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.
For ten days, Tokyo becomes a city of cinema, alive with conversations, discoveries, and the magic of storytelling.
