The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival has announced its opening, centerpiece, and closing films. Director Yamazaki Takashi’s “Godzilla Minus Zero” will occupy the centerpiece slot. The film serves as a sequel to “Godzilla Minus One,” which won the Academy Award for best visual effects at the 96th Academy Awards. Yamazaki directed, wrote, and oversaw visual effects for the new film, which stars Kamiki Ryunosuke and Hamabe Minami. The production marks the first Japanese feature shot for Imax screens. Taking place two years after the prior film, the narrative depicts Japan continuing its recovery when a new threat emerges. Festival programming director Ichiyama Shozo described the film as “a true sequel to ‘Godzilla Minus One,’ one of the standouts in the Godzilla series,” noting its “powerful new interpretation of Godzilla.” Toho Co., Ltd. will distribute the film domestically on November 3.
“Sukiyaki,” directed by Zeze Takahisa, will open the festival. The film recounts the creation of the 1963 song of the same name, which achieved three consecutive weeks at number one on the U.S. Billboard chart. The narrative centers on composer Nakamura Hachidai, lyricist Ei Rokusuke, and singer Sakamoto Kyu, portrayed by Okada Junichi, Matsuzaka Tori, and Nakano Taiga respectively. Ichiyama characterized the film as telling “the dramatic stories of three artists who inspired people in postwar Japan, interwoven with a collection of musical masterpieces.” Toho will release this film domestically on December 25.
“Colony,” directed by Yeon Sang-ho, will close the festival. The Korean zombie thriller features a protagonist trapped in a Seoul skyscraper during a bioterror attack, observing infected individuals developing collective intelligence. The ensemble cast includes Gianna Jun, Koo Kyo-hwan, and Ji Chang-wook. The film premiered at Cannes before becoming a box office success in Korea and other Asian markets. Ichiyama stated the film “delivered the greatest excitement and emotional impact among the films at this year’s Cannes” and suggested it demonstrates the zombie genre retains “untapped potential.”
The festival runs from October 26 to November 4 in Tokyo, overlapping with TIFFCOM 2026, an industry market scheduled for October 28-30.
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