Event confirmed 5 films and key visuals announced for “Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in Tokyo 2025” from December 12th to 25th

[Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in Tokyo 2025 to be held from December 12th to December 25th] Five films in the lineup and key visuals announced ​
Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO) Press Release: October 24, 2025 [Confirmed] “Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in Tokyo 2025” to be held from December 12th to 25th: Five films and key visuals announced Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in Tokyo 2025 will bring you the latest world-class masterpieces recognized by Cannes, including the ever-growing hit “National Treasure,” and the artwork by film director Harmony Korine will be featured as the key visual! The Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO), a non-profit organization (President: Takayuki Matsutani, Chuo-ku, Tokyo), is pleased to announce the holding of “Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in Tokyo” at Human Trust Cinema Shibuya. “Cannes Directors’ Fortnight 2025” will be held for 14 days from Friday, December 12th to Thursday, December 25th. We are pleased to announce the key visual, which uses artwork created by film director Harmony Korine for the poster of the 57th Directors’ Fortnight (78th Cannes Film Festival), as well as the lineup of five titles to be screened. (Other screening titles will be announced at a later date.) A one-of-a-kind selection recognized by Cannes is coming to Japan! “Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in Tokyo,” which was held for the first time in Asia in 2023 and received rave reviews, has been confirmed to be held for the third time. This special feature offers a rare opportunity to be among the first in Japan to see the latest lineup of Director’s Fortnight, the one-of-a-kind selection at the Cannes Film Festival that has discovered renowned directors such as Sofia Coppola, Spike Lee, Jim Jarmusch, Xavier Dolan, Nagisa Oshima, Takeshi Kitano, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Takashi Miike, and Miwa Nishikawa. Five films have been announced for Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in Tokyo 2025. The opening screening will be “The President’s Cake,” the feature-length debut by Iraqi-born, New York-based director Hassan Hadi, winner of both the Audience Award and the Camera d’Or (Best New Director Award) at this year’s Directors’ Fortnight. The film captures the absurdity of the Saddam Hussein regime from the perspective of a nine-year-old girl. Other works in the lineup include National Treasure, directed by Lee Sang-il, which continues to make rapid progress in Japan; The Girl in the Snow, the feature-length debut by Louise Emon, which depicts a progressive teacher who comes to a small, snowy village and finds her sensuality stimulated by the harsh natural environment; Mirrors No. 3, the new film by Christian Petzold, winner of the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and garnering attention for films such as The Girl from East Berlin (2012) and The Woman Who Embraces Water (2020); and Jesus, directed by Nadav Lapid, which depicts a jazz musician and dancer couple who are entrusted with the mission of writing music for a new nation in the aftermath of a terrorist attack on Israel. All of these works exude a radical brilliance that is not easily interpreted and carry a strong message.
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The newly released key visual features artwork created by cult filmmaker Harmony Korine for this year’s Directors’ Fortnight poster. It features two red and yellow faces, which Korine has named “Twitchys.” “The characters in this painting are called ‘Twitchys.’ They’re always sneaking around and playing, and they’re so happy to be in Cannes,” Korine commented on his official social media accounts. Directors’ Fortnight was established at the Cannes Film Festival in 1968 to honor works of high artistic merit and creativity. However, its selections are by no means heartwarming or romantic comedies; instead, it’s filled with radical, unrestrained works with powerful messages that strike a chord with viewers. VIPO will present cutting-edge films from around the world, selected by the world’s leading filmmakers, for Japanese film fans, those involved in the film and video industry, and young people looking to enter that world. Julien Regé, Artistic Director of Directors’ Fortnight from 2023, expressed his delight that two Japanese films were selected for this year’s Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival, a category that has “always supported highly artistic works with a strong sense of auteurism,” and commented, “I sincerely hope that they will be a great success internationally.” During the festival, Regé will be visiting Japan, and talk events with a number of distinguished guests are also planned. (Event details will be announced at a later date.) ★Comment from Julien Rejl (Artistic Director of Directors’ Fortnight) Directors’ Fortnight, an independent section of the Cannes Film Festival, will be held in Tokyo for the third consecutive year. I feel it is a great honor and a special opportunity to be able to introduce the films screened in 2025 to Japanese audiences. We are especially pleased with this collaboration with VIPO, as this year’s selection includes two Japanese films, including director Lee Sang-il’s masterpiece “National Treasure,” which enjoyed great theatrical success. Directors’ Fortnight has always supported highly artistic and auteur-driven works, and we are extremely pleased with the box office success of this film. We sincerely hope for further international success. Other must-see films include Nadav Lapid’s “Yes” (one of the most anticipated films at this year’s Cannes Film Festival), “Mirrors No. 3” by talented German director Christian Petzold, and “The Girl in the Snow,” the debut feature from young French director Louise Hemon. We hope you enjoy “Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in Tokyo”! — Julien Regé (Artistic Director) ◆5 films in the lineup for “Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in Tokyo 2025” (as of October 24, 2025) ★Opening Screening “The President’s Cake” (Winner of the Audience Award and Camera d’Or)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/103029/170/103029-170-70e920006f3a5d4efa4113782517a65e-266×178.png Director: Hassan Hadi Starring: Wahid Thabet Khuraibet, Sajjad Mohammad Kazm, Rahim Al-Hajj, Benin Ahmad Nayef [2025 | 102 minutes | Iraq, USA, Qatar] In Iraq, people live in daily fear of sanctions imposed by Saddam Hussein. Nine-year-old Lamia is chosen by her class to prepare a cake to celebrate President Hussein’s birthday. If she fails to prepare the cake, she will face severe punishment from the authorities for disrespecting the president. Lamia and her
grandmother, armed with their few precious possessions, head out into the city to gather ingredients for the cake, but…
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー “National Treasure” (English title: Kokuho)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/103029/170/103029-170-d6f69a65e8a85858ea190ccd484bdc84-506×350.png (C) Shuichi Yoshida / Asahi Shimbun Publications (C)2025 “National Treasure” Film Production Committee Director: Lee Sang-il Starring: Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, Mitsuki Takahata, Shinobu Terajima Ken Watanabe and others [2025 | 175 minutes | Japan | PG12] A man who would later become a national treasure was born into a family of yakuza. After losing his father in a feud, Kikuo, a man of
otherworldly beauty, was taken in by Hanjiro Hanai, the head of a prestigious Kamigata Kabuki family, and plunged into the world of Kabuki. There, he met Shunsuke, Hanjiro’s biological son and heir to a wealthy family, born with a promising future. The two descend from completely opposite bloodlines, with different upbringings and talents. As rivals, they push each other to improve and devote their youth to the art, but many encounters and partings will severely disrupt their fate… Enter the forbidden world of Kabuki, never before seen. Bloodline and talent, joy and despair, trust and betrayal. Tears of joy and enthusiasm await at the end of a life of struggle and hardship. Why does he cling to the world of art, and why does he rise to become the only “national treasure” in the world while living through turbulent times? The stunning climax will shake the souls of all who watch. ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー “Mirrors No.3” (English title: Mirrors No.3)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/103029/170/103029-170-4db88d6c78e77ec7bc2401b1b9fc6356-273×178.png (C)Schramm Film Director: Christian Petzold Starring: Paula Beer [2025 | 86 minutes | Germany] During a weekend drive in the countryside, Laura miraculously survives a sudden death in a car accident. Though unharmed, she is deeply traumatized and ends up staying with Betty, a middle-aged woman who witnessed the accident, for a time, where she is lovingly cared for. Betty’s husband and son also grow to love Laura, and the four of them gradually spend time together like family. However, Betty’s family’s unforgettable and painful past begins to emerge. — The Girl in the Snow
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/103029/170/103029-170-b14ffa00a010ab4e7ab9828c3aeac6f1-282×178.png (C)TakeShelter – Arte France Cinema Director: Louise Emon Starring: Galatea Bellugi, Mathieu Lucci, Samuel Kircher, Oscar Pons [2025 | 98 minutes | France] One stormy night at the end of the 19th century, Aimée, a Republican, arrives in a small, snowy village at the foot of the Alps to teach children. Despite the suspicions of the villagers, she is determined to shed light on their archaic customs. But as she begins to adapt to the village, her sensuality is gradually aroused. ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー “Yes” (English title: Yes) Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/103029/170/103029-170-06931ec8ddf0ccdeef2c873cfec8ffbd-308×178.png (C)Les Films du Bal, Chi-Fou-Mi Director: Nadav Lapid Starring: Ariel Brons, Efrat Dor, Naama Place [2025 | 150 minutes | France, Israel, Cyprus, Germany] Still reeling from the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants including Hamas, jazz musician Y (Yu) finds himself struggling with a life of despair. Together with his dancer wife, Yasmin, he sells his art, soul, and body to the highest bidder to bring joy and solace to his blood-soaked homeland. Soon, Y is entrusted with the most important task of all: composing a new national anthem. ◆Overview of “Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in Tokyo 2025” 【Dates】 December 12th (Fri) – 25th (Thu), 2025 (14 days) 【Venue】 Human Trust Cinema Shibuya (7th & 8th Floors, Cocochi Building, 1-23-16 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) 【Organizer】 Directors’ Fortnight (Quinzaine des Cineastes / Directors’ Fortnight) / NPO Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO) 【Co-organizer】 Tokyo Theatre Co., Ltd. 【Promotion】 SUNDAE (Powered by Filmarks) 【Special Cooperation】Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group / T.Y. Limited 【Cooperation】AKIRA H / IMS Group / Heisei Project Co., Ltd. / Ceremony Co., Ltd. / Embassy of France in Japan / Institut Français (C) Cannes Directors Fortnight in Tokio 2023-2025 ▼Official Website: https://www.cannes-df-in-tokio.com/ ▼Official X:
https://x.com/cannes_tokio ▼Official Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cannes_tokio/ 【Contact Information】 Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO) e-mail: cannes_tokio@vipo.or.jp Contact: Kamiyama For more information about this release automatically, so please do not reply.