IMAGICA GROUP Original Film Production Project: Second film, with Kei Ishikawa, Shozo Ichiyama, and Yuka Banno as judges, to be announced globally at Cannes!
IMAGICA GROUP launched its original film production project in 2025 to discover new talent and explore the possibilities of Japanese visual expression on a global stage. Following the first film, 'Maria,' the content of the second selected work will be announced to the world during the 79th Cannes International Film Festival. The project aims to produce one film annually for five years, selected from within the group companies, with the goal of being screened and winning awards at international film festivals.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 4, 2026 at 02:27
- 🔍 Collected: April 4, 2026 at 05:30 (3h 3m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 18, 2026 at 04:17 (334h 46m after Collected)
IMAGICA GROUP Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and Executive Officer, Group CEO: Shunjiro Nagase) launched the "IMAGICA GROUP Original Film Production Project" in 2025, with the aim of discovering new talent and pursuing the potential of Japanese visual expression on a global stage. Following the first film, "Maria," the content of the second work selected in this project will be announced to the world during the 79th Cannes International Film Festival.
This announcement will be made under the accreditation of the Cannes 2026 – Marché du Film Country of Honour Executive Committee as a "collaborative project."
Overview of the "IMAGICA GROUP Original Film Production Project"
This project, launched in 2025, solicits film proposals from within our group companies with the aim of being screened and winning awards at international film festivals, and selects and produces one work each year. By continuing this for five years, we aim to discover and nurture talented creators, and to broadcast IMAGICA GROUP's creativity and expressive power to the world.
The second film was chosen after a rigorous final selection process from 44 proposals submitted within our group companies. Production and execution will be handled by one of the following companies: OLM, Inc., P.I.C.S., Inc., or ROBOT COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Kei Ishikawa, an internationally acclaimed film director who won the Best Picture and Best Director awards at the 46th Japan Academy Film Prize for "A Man" and whose latest work "A Distant Shore" was selected for the Cannes International Film Festival, has joined as a judge for the second round, in agreement with the project's objectives. Kei Ishikawa supports the development of next-generation creators from a director's perspective, while being involved in various initiatives in the film industry.
Furthermore, Shozo Ichiyama, who has contributed to the development of film culture both domestically and internationally for many years as a film festival programmer, and Yuka Banno, who has promoted Japanese films for overseas film festivals at the Kawakita Memorial Film Culture Foundation, have also joined as judges, following their participation in the first round.
The second film was decided after selection by these three individuals.
Application Requirements
1. Applicants must be producers belonging to one of IMAGICA GROUP's group companies: OLM, Inc., P.I.C.S., Inc., or ROBOT COMMUNICATIONS INC. (External producers, directors, and other creators can apply by teaming up with a producer belonging to an IMAGICA GROUP company).
2. The submitted proposal must not be based on or utilize existing copyrighted works (including those planned for release separately from this project).
Selection Criteria
-
It must be a feature-length live-action film project (60 minutes or longer) aiming for selection and awards at the three major European film festivals (Cannes International Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival).
-
It must be a project aiming for completion within the 2027 fiscal year.
Selection Process
-
First Round: Proposals were solicited within our group until the end of November 2025. Subsequently, 16 proposals were selected from 44 applications through an internal group review.
-
Second Round (Final): Review began in February 2026, and the second film was decided in early April of the same year.
-
Announcement of Results: The film will be announced in May 2026 during the Cannes International Film Festival.
The production cost for the second film will be funded by IMAGICA GROUP Inc. with a maximum investment of 70 million yen, and the final decision will be made after the establishment and formation of a production committee or similar joint venture.
At the press conference at the Cannes International Film Festival, Shunjiro Nagase, Representative Director, President and Executive Officer, Group CEO of IMAGICA GROUP, will announce the producer, director, and outline of the second film. Additionally, judges Kei Ishikawa, Shozo Ichiyama, and Yuka Banno will provide their reviews of the selected work. The efforts of this project will be communicated from Cannes, touching upon the changes observed in the submissions after the first round of initiatives.
*Details such as the date and venue of the press conference will be announced again at a later date.
IMAGICA GROUP Inc.
Representative Director, President and Executive Officer, Group CEO
Shunjiro Nagase
Comment
"This project was launched in 2025 with the desire to create opportunities for next-generation creators to challenge themselves on the global stage. After the announcement of the first film, we received a great response from many people, including clients in the film and video industry, which reaffirmed that this project is a meaningful initiative for many creators and those involved in film production.
For the second film, we have welcomed Kei Ishikawa as a new judge, and Shozo Ichiyama and Yuka Banno have also joined again, following their participation in the first round. We are greatly encouraged to have such active professionals from both Japan and abroad involved.
For the second round, following the first, we received numerous promising works that have the potential to succeed on the global stage. I feel this is proof that our commitment to discovering and nurturing creators is gradually being understood.
IMAGICA GROUP has walked alongside the production sites of various works, including films. We will continue to promote this project as an initiative to create an environment where creators can freely challenge and express themselves, and to provide opportunities for new talent to spread their wings to the world."
Film Director
Kei Ishikawa
Comment
"I believe the philosophy of sending original works to the world is something every filmmaker aspires to. It is an honor to be involved in such a wonderful initiative, but honestly, I almost wanted to apply myself. While I felt a little burdened by the weight of responsibility, once I started reading, all the proposals were truly fascinating, and I was completely engrossed. There were moments of jealousy, and moments that made me feel I couldn't be outdone, and I'm very excited about what kind of films will emerge from this."
<Profile> Studied directing at the National Film School in Poland. In 2017, he made his feature film directorial debut with "Gukoroku - Traces of Sin," which was selected for the Orizzonti section of the Venice International Film Festival. Since then, he has directed works such as "Listen to the Universe," "Arc," and "A Man." "A Man" was selected for the Orizzonti section of the Venice International Film Festival and as the closing film of the Busan International Film Festival, and won the Best Picture Award at the Japan Academy Film Prize. His latest work, "A Distant Shore," was selected for the "Un Certain Regard" section of the 2025 Cannes International Film Festival.
Programming Director, Tokyo International Film Festival
Shozo Ichiyama
Comment
"I served as a judge again this year, and the candidate projects were even more appealing than last year, requiring more time and discussion to narrow it down to one work. Ultimately, the project that reached the highest level of completion at this stage was selected, but even among the unselected projects, there were several challenging proposals that, though rough, overturned the image of conventional Japanese cinema. I look forward to observing the future activities of the directors whose scripts and plots I read this time."
<Profile> Born in 1963. Based at Shochiku and Office Kitano, he mainly produces films by overseas filmmakers. His major works include Hou Hsiao-Hsien's "Flowers of Shanghai" (1998), Samira Makhmalbaf's "Blackboards" (2000), which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and Jia Zhangke's "A Touch of Sin" (2013), which won Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival. He was also responsible for film selection at the Tokyo International Film Festival from 1992 to 1999. In 2000, he launched and directed the "Tokyo Filmex" film festival. In 2019, he received the Kawakita Award. In 2021, he was appointed Programming Director of the Tokyo International Film Festival. Since 2024, he has been a professor at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts.
Executive Director, Kawakita Memorial Film Culture Foundation
Yuka Banno
Comment
"After the first IMAGICA GROUP Original Film Production Project concluded last year, I received many questions from directors and producers who were involved in the judging, and I truly felt the high level of interest.
This time, the 16 projects that passed the first round were all attractive, with a wide variety of genres and directorial characteristics. It was extremely difficult to choose just one, as they were all equally strong. I hope that the selected work will leave its mark on international film festivals."
<Profile> Graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Letters. In 1998, she joined the Kawakita Memorial Film Culture Foundation, where as head of the international department, she primarily worked to promote Japanese films for overseas film festivals, coordinating between various international film festivals and Japanese stakeholders. She has served as a judge for international film festivals such as the Hawaii International Film Festival, Singapore International Film Festival, Hong Kong International Film Festival, and Taipei Film Festival, as well as for domestic film festivals like the SKIP City International D-Cinema Festival and as an advisor for film-related public institutions. In June 2020, she was appointed Executive Director of the Kawakita Memorial Film Culture Foundation.
ROBOT COMMUNICATIONS INC.
ROBOT COMMUNICATIONS INC. holds the vision of providing courage and hope to society through entertainment, and plans and produces a wide range of storytelling experiences, from films, dramas, anime, and TV commercials to corporate brand movies and interactive attractions. For theatrical films, we handle a wide variety of genres, from blockbusters like "Godzilla Minus One" to independent films like "Egoist."
P.I.C.S., Inc.
P.I.C.S., Inc. was founded in 2000 as a spin-off from the creative department of the music channel "MTV." We handle the production of various video and graphic works regardless of genre, including music videos, live footage, commercials, films, dramas, and animation. We also manage a diverse range of creators, including directors, screenwriters, and animation artists.
Furthermore, we are engaged in interactive content and spatial direction for commercial facilities and exhibitions, as well as experience design, and are challenging new areas such as proprietary IP development.
OLM, Inc.
The OLM Group handles a wide range of video works regardless of genre, including animation, full CG, live-action, and VFX. We are expanding our field of activity by producing TV series and films for overseas markets, both domestically and internationally. We want to entertain more with our powerfully passionate videos and enrich the hearts of many people. We deliver smiles and感動 (deep emotion) to all who love video.
IMAGICA GROUP Inc.
Company Name: IMAGICA GROUP Inc.
Headquarters: 1-14-2 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0022
Representative: Shunjiro Nagase, Representative Director, President and Executive Officer, Group CEO
Established: June 10, 1974 (Founded: February 18, 1935)
URL: https://www.imagicagroup.co.jp/
Business Activities: Overseeing the operations of group companies engaged in video content business, video production technology services business, video system business, etc.
IMAGICA GROUP provides global, one-stop services from video planning to production, video editing, and services for distribution and circulation. We also offer high-quality products and services utilizing video technology in a wide range of fields beyond entertainment, including industry, medicine, and academic research.