The 2nd Japan-Mongolia Film Festival Was Held

The 2nd Japan-Mongolia Film Festival

First held at the Embassy of Mongolia. A one-night reception where the excitement of the film festival resonated.

A reception party was held at the Embassy of Mongolia in Japan from 6:30 PM on March 13, 2026.

Approximately 70 people, including film festival officials, film industry professionals from both Japan and Mongolia, and guests looking forward to the film festival, participated.

Mr. Urgun, a Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle) player, was invited as a guest and performed. Food, as well as sake, shochu, wine, and soba noodles provided by sponsoring companies, were served in the venue, creating a consistently friendly atmosphere where everyone deepened their exchanges.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to Japan, Banzragchin Bayarsaikhan, and Minister of Culture and Arts, Batkhuyag Gotovsuren, announced the decision to hold the 3rd festival during their greetings!

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to Japan, Banzragchin Bayarsaikhan, stated in his greeting, "Joint productions between Japan and Mongolia began in the 1980s, and film is still cherished as one of the cultural exchanges." Batkhuyag Gotovsuren, Mongolian Minister of Culture and Arts, also gave a similar greeting, publicly declaring his support for the 3rd festival and also for a Japanese film festival to be held in Mongolia.

In addition, speeches were given by three guest directors and producers who came from Mongolia.

Byambaa Sakhy, one of Mongolia's talented directors, Ariunaa Tserenpil, his wife and a producer with over 30 years of experience, and Nomuunzul Turmunkh, a producer/screenwriter with over 20 years of experience who has attracted attention worldwide, expressed their thoughts on film along with their gratitude to the film festival's executive committee.

Talk sessions and stage greetings with award-winning films from international film festivals

At Shinjuku K's cinema, stage greetings were held from March 14 to 16 after the screenings of films by director Byambaa, producer Ariunaa, and producer Nomuunzul.

Director Amra Baljinnyam also visited Japan on the 20th and 23rd, and similar stage greetings were held.

Stage Greetings - Featured Films

Director Byambaa Sakhy

'Remote Control'

'Bedridden ~ The Man Who Chose to Be Bedridden'

Producer Ariunaa Tserenpil

'The Wolf Comes at Night'

'Remote Control'

'Bedridden ~ The Man Who Chose to Be Bedridden'

Producer Nomuunzul Turmunkh

'Silent City Driver'

Director Amra Baljinnyam

'MONGOL'

The stage greetings, with questions from Kanako Onishi, the program director of this film festival, and Q&A from the audience, further deepened thoughts on cinema.

In all cases, the unique worldviews depicted were impressive, stemming from social issues facing contemporary Mongolia, the directors' own past experiences, and influences from famous figures and works such as French writers and Japanese director Akira Kurosawa.

Selected questions and scenes from the stage greetings

'Remote Control' Director Byambaa & Producer Ariunaa Stage Greeting Scene 1

'Remote Control' Director Byambaa & Producer Ariunaa

Winner of the Busan International Film Festival New Currents Award and the Rotterdam International Film Festival Prince Claus Award

—What message do you want to convey through this film?

—You cast a non-actor as the protagonist; why is that?

'Remote Control' Director Byambaa & Producer Ariunaa Stage Greeting Scene 2

'Bedridden ~ The Man Who Chose to Be Bedridden' Director Byambaa & Producer Ariunaa Stage Greeting Scene 1

'Bedridden ~ The Man Who Chose to Be Bedridden' Director Byambaa & Producer Ariunaa

—Why did you make the film monochrome?

—What do you, as a director and producer who are also partners in private life, cherish as a loving couple?

'Bedridden ~ The Man Who Chose to Be Bedridden' Director Byambaa & Producer Ariunaa Stage Greeting Scene 2

'The Wolf Comes at Night' Producer Ariunaa Stage Greeting