9th Nara International Film Festival 2026

About this event

The '9th Nara International Film Festival 2026' will be held across Nara City over 5 days from Saturday, September 19 to Wednesday, September 23 (national holiday), 2026. Held biennially, this film festival began in 2010 to commemorate the 1300th anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo capital relocation, welcoming filmmaker Naomi Kawase as executive director. For this 9th edition, with the theme 'CROSS,' it pursues new discoveries born from the intersection of different perspectives and opinions. A diverse range of film screenings is planned, including the International Competition featuring diverse works from around the world, the NARA-wave Student Film Competition, invited works from the Cannes Film Festival, award-winning works from the Berlin International Film Festival Spotlight Generation section, and award-winning works from the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia. On the opening day, the 'Red Carpet of Prayer' will take place in front of the Great Buddha Hall of the World Heritage site Todai-ji Temple, offering a special moment where cinema and prayer meet. Please come witness the moment when new stories are born in Nara, a place where history and modernity intersect.

Venue

Nara City

Nara, Nara