【JAPANESE NIGHT in Cannes 2026】Speakers Announced! Takumi Saitoh, Yuno Nagao, Marika Matsumoto, and Emerging Directors Gather in Cannes
The JAPANESE NIGHT organizing committee has announced the speakers for "JAPANESE NIGHT in Cannes 2026," an international cultural exchange event to be held in Cannes, France, on May 15, 2026. Actors such as Takumi Saitoh, Yuno Nagao, and Marika Matsumoto, along with emerging directors, will present to global film industry professionals. A symposium will also be held the following day.
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The JAPANESE NIGHT organizing committee is pleased to announce the main program and the lineup of performers and directors who will speak at the international cultural exchange event "JAPANESE NIGHT in Cannes 2026," to be held in Cannes, France, on May 15, 2026. Additionally, the "JAPANESE NIGHT Symposium 2026," involving international film industry professionals, has been scheduled for the following day, Saturday, May 16.
From Cannes to the World: Presentations by Performers and Directors
In the first half of the program, in addition to presentations by Japanese companies, performers and directors who will lead the future of Japanese cinema will take the stage to present directly to global film industry professionals gathered in Cannes.
【Key Speakers】
■ Takumi Saitoh (Actor・Filmmaker) / Yuno Nagao (Actor・Film Director)
■ Marika Matsumoto (Actor)
■ LiLy (Novelist・Film Director) / Aki Mizutani (Film Director)
■ YP (Film Director)
■ Taichi Kimura (Film Director)
■ ATMOVIE GLOBAL TRACK
Yuh Moriya (Representative Director and Producer, Atmovie Inc.), and selected creators: Shun Seki ("Her Voice"), Mimi Sadaya ("Almost Goodbye"), Tomomi Furuyama ("My Missing Half"), Soji Arai ("Their Own Sake"), Sachiko Miyase ("Portrait of Absence")
【Key Speakers・Detailed Profiles】
Takumi Saitoh (Actor・Filmmaker)
His debut feature film "blank13" won 8 awards at film festivals both domestically and internationally. He served as planner and producer for the documentary "Okina Ie" (A Big House) about children's care homes, which won the Japan Film Critics Award for Documentary last year. As an actor, his main works include the film "Shin Ultraman," Netflix film "This is I," and TV drama EX "The Day of Abduction."
Yuno Nagao (Actor)
Born in 2016. Debuted as a child actor at 1.5 years old in the TV drama "Cold Case 2 ~True Door~." In 2023, she was cast in numerous works after appearing in the drama "Brush Up Life." She gave an excellent performance as a genius girl in the drama "The Day of Abduction" and has appeared in a wide range of works including the film "Golden Kamuy."
Marika Matsumoto (Actor)
Born September 12, 1984. Debuted in 2000 in "Roku Banme no Sayoko" (NHK). Gained attention in 2018 with "Holiday Love" (TV Asahi). Recent major appearances include the dramas "Dousuru Ieyasu" (NHK), "Miss Target" (TV Asahi), "Otto no Katei wo Kowasu Made" (TV Tokyo), "Saikou no Obahan Nakajima Haruko" (Fuji TV), "Moto Kasouken no Shufu" (TV Tokyo), and films "Yoru, Tori-tachi ga Naku" (22), "Ice Cream Fever" (23), "Mizuumi no Onnatachi" (24), as well as many other popular works including "TOKYO LOVE? STORY."
LiLy (Novelist・Film Director)
Born in 1981. Graduated from Sophia University. Debuted in 2006. Has numerous works including the novel "Onna" and the essay "Memoto Kakushite, Otona no Hanashi." Has also serialized many works in fashion magazines. She co-directed and co-wrote "TOKYO LOVE? STORY," based on her novel of the same name (Gentosha), with director Aki Mizutani.
Aki Mizutani (Film Director)
Born in 1979. Moved to the US after graduating from Aoyama Gakuin University. Built a career as an editor in LA, and the short documentary "Tsunami and Cherry Blossom," which she edited, was nominated for an Academy Award in the US. After returning to Japan, she has directed commercials, documentaries, and films. Her 2024 directorial work "TOKITO" has been officially invited to numerous film festivals.
YP (Film Director)
Born in 1994. Representative of SATELLITE8 Inc. In addition to planning, writing, and directing the Reiwa Tokusatsu "Jubaku Shojo Bagira-chan," he has worked on the short film series "Jun Waidan" and produced numerous music videos and commercials for artists. He creates visual works combining various techniques such as live-action, CG, and animation.
Taichi Kimura (Film Director)
Born in 1987. Moved to the UK alone at age 12 to study filmmaking. Has worked on many music videos and documentary films for domestic and international artists such such as King Gnu and Coldplay, and debuted as a film director with the film "AFTERGLOWS." His second film, "FUJIKO," won both the top prize, the Golden Mulberry Award, and the Critics' Award, the Black Dragon Award, at the Far East Film Festival held in Udine, Italy, becoming the first film in history to win two awards.
ATMOVIE GLOBAL TRACK
Organized by Atmovie Inc.
From Cannes to the World: Presentations by Performers and Directors
In the first half of the program, in addition to presentations by Japanese companies, performers and directors who will lead the future of Japanese cinema will take the stage to present directly to global film industry professionals gathered in Cannes.
【Key Speakers】
■ Takumi Saitoh (Actor・Filmmaker) / Yuno Nagao (Actor・Film Director)
■ Marika Matsumoto (Actor)
■ LiLy (Novelist・Film Director) / Aki Mizutani (Film Director)
■ YP (Film Director)
■ Taichi Kimura (Film Director)
■ ATMOVIE GLOBAL TRACK
Yuh Moriya (Representative Director and Producer, Atmovie Inc.), and selected creators: Shun Seki ("Her Voice"), Mimi Sadaya ("Almost Goodbye"), Tomomi Furuyama ("My Missing Half"), Soji Arai ("Their Own Sake"), Sachiko Miyase ("Portrait of Absence")
【Key Speakers・Detailed Profiles】
Takumi Saitoh (Actor・Filmmaker)
His debut feature film "blank13" won 8 awards at film festivals both domestically and internationally. He served as planner and producer for the documentary "Okina Ie" (A Big House) about children's care homes, which won the Japan Film Critics Award for Documentary last year. As an actor, his main works include the film "Shin Ultraman," Netflix film "This is I," and TV drama EX "The Day of Abduction."
Yuno Nagao (Actor)
Born in 2016. Debuted as a child actor at 1.5 years old in the TV drama "Cold Case 2 ~True Door~." In 2023, she was cast in numerous works after appearing in the drama "Brush Up Life." She gave an excellent performance as a genius girl in the drama "The Day of Abduction" and has appeared in a wide range of works including the film "Golden Kamuy."
Marika Matsumoto (Actor)
Born September 12, 1984. Debuted in 2000 in "Roku Banme no Sayoko" (NHK). Gained attention in 2018 with "Holiday Love" (TV Asahi). Recent major appearances include the dramas "Dousuru Ieyasu" (NHK), "Miss Target" (TV Asahi), "Otto no Katei wo Kowasu Made" (TV Tokyo), "Saikou no Obahan Nakajima Haruko" (Fuji TV), "Moto Kasouken no Shufu" (TV Tokyo), and films "Yoru, Tori-tachi ga Naku" (22), "Ice Cream Fever" (23), "Mizuumi no Onnatachi" (24), as well as many other popular works including "TOKYO LOVE? STORY."
LiLy (Novelist・Film Director)
Born in 1981. Graduated from Sophia University. Debuted in 2006. Has numerous works including the novel "Onna" and the essay "Memoto Kakushite, Otona no Hanashi." Has also serialized many works in fashion magazines. She co-directed and co-wrote "TOKYO LOVE? STORY," based on her novel of the same name (Gentosha), with director Aki Mizutani.
Aki Mizutani (Film Director)
Born in 1979. Moved to the US after graduating from Aoyama Gakuin University. Built a career as an editor in LA, and the short documentary "Tsunami and Cherry Blossom," which she edited, was nominated for an Academy Award in the US. After returning to Japan, she has directed commercials, documentaries, and films. Her 2024 directorial work "TOKITO" has been officially invited to numerous film festivals.
YP (Film Director)
Born in 1994. Representative of SATELLITE8 Inc. In addition to planning, writing, and directing the Reiwa Tokusatsu "Jubaku Shojo Bagira-chan," he has worked on the short film series "Jun Waidan" and produced numerous music videos and commercials for artists. He creates visual works combining various techniques such as live-action, CG, and animation.
Taichi Kimura (Film Director)
Born in 1987. Moved to the UK alone at age 12 to study filmmaking. Has worked on many music videos and documentary films for domestic and international artists such such as King Gnu and Coldplay, and debuted as a film director with the film "AFTERGLOWS." His second film, "FUJIKO," won both the top prize, the Golden Mulberry Award, and the Critics' Award, the Black Dragon Award, at the Far East Film Festival held in Udine, Italy, becoming the first film in history to win two awards.
ATMOVIE GLOBAL TRACK
Organized by Atmovie Inc.