Japan to Take Center Stage as 2026 Country of Honor at Cannes Film Market
Japan will be in the spotlight at next year’s Cannes market — the business hub of the Cannes Film Festival — after being named the 2026 Country of Honor. This prestigious recognition will see the nation lead the market’s opening festivities and mount a large-scale showcase of its film, animation, and content industries.
The plans were unveiled at a press conference during the ongoing Tokyo International Film Festival by Junichi Sakamoto, chair of the executive committee for Japan, Country of Honor 2026, alongside Guillaume Esmiol, executive director of the Cannes market. The 2026 edition of the market will run from May 12-20, coinciding with the 79th Cannes Film Festival.
As the Country of Honor, Japan will co-host the market’s opening night — an industry gala that draws more than 1,200 global delegates — and will be prominently featured across the market’s flagship programs. A series of panels, networking sessions, and project showcases will highlight Japanese animation, genre cinema, and co-production opportunities.
The event slate will also include a Japan Industry Summit and a dedicated day of screenings featuring new Japanese films.
“Being named Country of Honor presents a wonderful opportunity to showcase the appeal of Japanese cinema on a global stage,” said Junichi Sakamoto. “We look forward to seeing Japan’s rich film culture, along with its emerging talents and technologies, shine even brighter internationally.”
Sakamoto emphasized that Japan’s participation aims to deepen industry linkages and promote international collaboration. “This provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen ties with film industries worldwide and encourage joint productions,” he noted.
Shiina Yasushi, vice chair of the executive committee and vice president of UniJapan — who also serves as head of the Tokyo film market — highlighted how Cannes will help demystify Japan’s production committee model for overseas producers. “We hope international partners gain a clearer understanding of how Japanese films are financed and developed, paving the way for more meaningful co-productions,” he said.
Guillaume Esmiol added, “Japan holds a unique place in international cinema and is one of the most dynamic countries at the Cannes market, with highly active sales companies and producers. On a personal note, as someone with Japanese roots, it’s a beautiful opportunity to pay tribute to my cultural heritage.”
The initiative will be jointly organized by the executive committee, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), with UniJapan coordinating participation through the Japan Pavilion at the Village International. Detailed program information and participating companies will be announced early next year.
At the Tokyo briefing, METI’s Satoru Hayasaka explained that the selection aligns with Japan’s updated Cool Japan strategy, which aims to achieve JPY 20 trillion (approximately $131.47 billion) in overseas content revenue by 2033.
Japan’s content exports have quadrupled over the past decade to JPY 58 trillion (around $381.26 billion), driven largely by games and animation, while live-action film shows growing potential.
Producing about 1,200 films annually and attracting 150 million admissions each year, Japan’s local film market remains one of the most resilient worldwide, with box office receipts exceeding JPY 200 billion (approximately $1.31 billion).
Officials view Cannes 2026 as a prime opportunity to deepen international collaboration and position Japanese storytelling more prominently on the global stage.
Japan follows Brazil (2025), Switzerland (2024), Spain (2023), and India (2022) as the fifth nation to hold the Country of Honor title since the Cannes market launched this initiative to celebrate standout national industries and foster cross-border partnerships.
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/japan-industry-showcase-2026-cannes-market-country-of-honor-1236563121/
