Japan’s Film Frontier Names Five Global Program Cohort Filmmakers

The 5 individuals for the second cohort of the Film Frontier Global Networking Program, who will obtain 18 months of tailor-made help to advance their worldwide careers, have been unveiled.

Directors Kaneko Yurina, Kusano Natsuka, Takahashi Sota and Fujimoto Akio, together with producer Yoshihara Hiroyuki, had been revealed at an announcement event held during the thirty eighth Tokyo International Film Festival.

The Creator Development Program operates under the Japan Creator Support Fund, established in 2023 within the Japan Arts Council by way of a subsidy from the Agency for Cultural Affairs. The initiative goals to nurture artistic professionals able to working globally by offering steerage for worldwide development, supporting participation in abroad movie festivals and facilitating networking with worldwide trade companions.

The Global Networking Program is considered one of three Film Frontier initiatives, alongside the Feature Anime Creators in Progress and the Residency Program.

At the announcement event, administrators Nakanishi Mai (first cohort) and Yamashita Tsubomi (Residency Program) reported on their current actions. This was adopted by a panel dialogue that includes choice committee member director Ishikawa Kei, TIFF programming director Ichiyama Shozo and visitor Christian Jeune, deputy delegate and director of the movie division at the Cannes Film Festival.

“Once again, the applicants were of an extremely high standard, and the selection process was truly challenging,” Ichiyama said. “We chose projects that we believe are highly feasible, and I hope the participants will start working on them as soon as next year.”

Ishikawa supplied phrases of encouragement: “As a director, I focused not on feasibility but purely on the excellence of the proposals. All of the selected projects are highly original and can only be created by these participants. I believe they will even become my competitors for my next work.”

The chosen filmmakers expressed their gratitude and enthusiasm. Kaneko famous the worth of help throughout the whole filmmaking course of, notably fundraising. Takahashi revealed he has wished to make a movie in Serbia for 12 years, calling the choice “a significant step forward.” Fujimoto expressed pleasure at receiving help while his movie “Lost Land” screens at TIFF. Yoshihara said he was grateful his project was chosen despite being troublesome to heart. Kusano, by way of video message, emphasised her happiness at dedicating time to research for her next project.

Since October, the program has expanded to incorporate training in English-language pitching and development initiatives aimed toward taking part in worldwide markets.

Kaneko made her business feature debut in 2023 with “People Who Talk to Plushies Are Kind,” which was chosen for the Asian New Talent part at the twenty fifth Shanghai International Film Festival. Kusano’s second feature “The Kingdom (or About That House)” (2018) screened at International Film Festival Rotterdam and was chosen by the BFI as considered one of the best movies of the yr.

Takahashi’s commencement movie “Memory Devices” received the Audience Award at PFF Award 2023. He directed “Addressee Unknown” in 2025 as a part of NDJC: New Directions in Japanese Cinema. Fujimoto’s latest movie “Lost Land,” about Rohingya refugees, received the particular jury prize in the Horizons part at the 82nd Venice Film Festival and shall be launched across Japan in spring 2026.

Yoshihara is presently producing worldwide co-productions including the Japan-Korea feature “3mm Love” and the Japan-Taiwan-Poland co-production “Good Death.”