Japanese Films at the London Film Festival 2026

Date: 2026 September 02 20:12

Posted by Joe

The good folks from the BFI have sent us detail of the up coming London Film Festival 2026. It's set to run from Wednesday 7th to Friday 18th October 2026 at various venues across London.

The 70th BFI London Film Festival has a movie for everyone, including fans of Japan! They'll be screening the live action version of Look Back, which is based on Tatsuki Fujimoto's fantastic one shot manga, it's been previously adapted as anime too. We think a it'll make a superb live action version too and hope to catch it at the festival.

They've also got the tender All of a a Sudden and Sumo: Spirit Weighs Nothing both of which look very promising.

Full Story

Details as follows:

LOOK BACK, dir. Hirokazu Koreeda (Japan)


Listing Details

Spanning more than a decade, Hirokazu Koreeda's tender coming-of-age story follows two girls who bond over their passion for and dream of becoming manga artists. Aspiring manga artist Fujino meets Kymoto, a shy admirer of her work. Seemingly opposites, they create the perfect team with their shared love of the form. But as their work draws praise and attention, they find themselves confronted with decisions that threaten their artistic collaboration. Koreeda's striking love letter to friendship and the creative process offers keen insight into the craft.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, dir. Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (France-Japan)


Listing Details

Ryusuke Hamaguchi's delivers an audiaciously tender, transcendent study of humanity through the subtle account of the life-changing encounter between two women battling impossible odds. French nursing home director Marie-Lou faces resistance from staff and shareholders after introducing a care method based on dignity. When she meets Mari, a Japanese theatre director fighting cancer, the two share a bond that will prove transformative. Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto's luminous, bilingual performances ground a revelatory film from the LFF 2023 Official Competition winner Evil Does Not Exist, which works like a healing balm for our world's weary soul.

SUMO: SPIRIT WEIGHS NOTHING, dir. Erik Shirai (Japan)


Listing Details

Erik Shirai's beautifully shot and fascinating film grants rare access inside the disciplined inner domain of Japan's Sumo wrestling world. In pop culture, sumo wrestling isn't always treated with the seriousness it deserves. But in this gripping film, Shirai repositions it as an ancient sport whose competitors are forced to submit to gruelling training. Unfolding over the course of a year, Sumo follows a number of fighters, highlighting their dedication and the sacrifices they make in order to be the very best.