This annual international film festival in Kitakyushu celebrates the city’s decades-long commitment to film culture and its pioneering role in Japan’s film commission projects. The festival draws filmmakers and works returning “home” to Kitakyushu for screenings and exchanges. Highlights include three Kyushu premieres from emerging international directors. The opening day features a kickoff event at Senba Plaza with actors and directors, alongside “Machinaka Cinema,” a free outdoor screening series with culinary events. Over 25 films, including shorts, will be shown across five venues. All screenings are in Japanese, but select films—Sunday,The Midsummer’s Voice, Yanagawa (filmed in Yanagawa, Fukuoka), Ghost Tropic, Just Remembering, 37 Seconds, and another five short films—will have English subtitles. Guest speakers include Kitakyushu native director Daigo Matsui, directors Isshin Inudo and Shokir Kholikov, and actors Ken Mitsuishi (also from Kitakyushu) and Ryoko Hirosue.

Yanagawa
• 11/1 (Fri.) ~ 11/3 (Sun.)
• 10:00~21:00 (time table)
• Adv. ¥1,300 (¥200 for door tickets), ¥500 for students and persons with disabilities (¥1,500 for T-Joy Riverwalk Kitakyushu venue only, ¥1,000 for students and persons with disabilities)
• Venue: J:COM Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center, Kokura Showakan, Cineplex Kokura, T-Joy Riverwalk Kitakyushu, Senba Plaza
• https://2024.kitakyushu-kiff.jp/

Ghost Tropic ©Quetzalcoatl, 10.80 films, Minds Meet production

Sunday ©Yoshlik

Shokir Kholikov ©Yoshlik