The Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film has unveiled Japan as the Country of Honour for its 2026 edition next May.
The Marché du Film’s Executive Director Guillaume Esmiol officially announced the choice at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) on Tuesday, alongside Junichi Sakomoto, Chair of the Executive Committee for Japan, Country of Honour 2026.
News of the focus was teased at Tokyo’s opening night, with a promise of more details during the festival.
As Country of Honour, Japan will open the 2026 edition by co-hosting the Marché du Film’s Opening Night and then have a special place in Marché du Film’s programs, including its panels, networking events and project showcases putting the spotlight on Japanese animation and genre cinema.
Other key initiatives include a summit on Japan’s film industry to foster collaboration and innovation, and a special screening day dedicated to Japanese cinema.
Through its participation, Japan aims to build strong professional networks with the international film community and promote its film and content industries for future success in global markets.
With over 120 years of filmmaking history, Japan stands as one of the world’s most influential film nations.
Its legacy spans legendary names such as Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujirō Ozu and 1980 Cannes Palme d’Or winner Akira Kurosawa to contemporary auteurs such as Hirokazu Kore-eda, Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Naomi Kawase and emerging names such as Chie Hayakawa, who continue to fly the flag in Cannes’ Official Selection to this day.
The Marché du Film pointed to the country’s robust film industry which it said produced around 1,200 films annually.
It also highlighted the health of its theatrical sector drawing 150 million cinemagoers each year, representing an overall gross of $1.3, suggesting this demonstrated resilience in an era defined by digitalization and an ever-growing range of entertainment choices.
