JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film returns to Japan Society this week, July 10–20, celebrating its 18th edition as North America’s largest festival dedicated to contemporary Japanese cinema.
We’d love for you to attend and see / cover highlights such as:
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Opening Night: Special screening of ChaO, Yasuhiro Aoki’s stunning new animated feature from Studio 4°C (Mind Game, Tekkonkinkreet), presented in collaboration with GKIDS—before its Japanese theatrical release in August.
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Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa receives the 2025 CUT ABOVE Award, with premieres of Cloud, Serpent’s Path, and a rare 35mm presentation of License to Live.
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Actress Yuumi Kawai, fresh off her Japan Academy Film Prize Best Actress win, appears in-person for the North American premiere of A Girl Named Ann and the U.S. premiere of She Taught Me Serendipity.
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30 films over 11 days, including international, U.S., and NY premieres—spanning narrative, documentary, experimental, and restored works.
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Closing Night + Shochu Reception, following the U.S. premiere of The Spirit of Japan, with director Joseph Overbey and distillers in attendance.