38th Tokyo International Film Festival

The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival took place from 27 October to 5 November 2025 at Yūrakuchō-Marunouchi-Ginza area. The festival opened with 2025 Japanese biographical film Climbing for Life directed by Junji Sakamoto about the life of Junko Tabei. The opening was attended by the director Sakamoto, Sayuri Yoshinaga, Rena Nōnen, festival navigator Kumi Takiuchi, and other Japanese and international stars, including Takumi Saitoh, Misato Morita, China’s Fan Bingbing and Peter Chan, and French actress Juliette Binoche.

Carlo Chatrian, Italian journalist, author and programmer will serve as the Jury President of international competition. Chloé Zhao, Chinese-born filmmaker, and Lee Sang-il, Japanese-born film director and screenwriter, were honoured with Kurosawa Akira Award for their extraordinary contributions to world cinema. Sayuri Yoshinaga, Japanese actress and activist and Yoji Yamada, Japanese film director, will be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award.

The closing ceremony was held on November 5, 2025, where the various awards were announced. Palestine 36, a 2025 historical drama written and directed by Annemarie Jacir won the Tokyo Grand Prix, while 2025 documentary film We Are the Fruits of the Forest by Rithy Panh won the Special Jury Prize. The festival closed with the screening of an American–British co-produced historical drama Hamnet by Chloé Zhao.