Three Participants Selected for Cannes Film Festival's Cinéma de Demain Workshop: "Film Nexus-SEED" Advanced Program for Young Creators (May 16-20)
The Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO), commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan Arts Council, has selected three young film creators—Henry Ehara, Haruka Ono, and Takuma Tsugawa—to participate in the "Cinéma de Demain" workshop held concurrently with the Cannes International Film Festival. This advanced program, "Film Nexus-SEED," aims to provide consistent and strong support to students and emerging creators, offering them direct learning opportunities from international professionals and fostering network building.
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The Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO, located in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, under the chairmanship of Takanobu Matsutani), commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan Arts Council, announced today that the participants for the advanced program for students aspiring to become future creators, especially those studying film, have been confirmed. This program aims to provide consistent and strong support to young creators. Participants were recruited for the training within the Cannes International Film Festival's "Cinéma de Demain" section.
Participants of the Cannes International Film Festival's Cinéma de Demain Workshop (titles omitted):
Henry Ehara (born 1996) is a film director and screenwriter with Japanese and American roots. He produces video works based in Japan, France, and the Netherlands. His short film 'August in Blue' was officially screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival. He studied filmmaking under Atsuhiko Suwa at the Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School. In recent years, he has also been involved in works by Koichiro Fukada and Jun Funahashi.
Haruka Ono, while majoring in film studies at Waseda University, began producing independent films. After graduation, she worked as a production manager on international advertising projects at a production company in Tokyo. She creates works that traverse fiction and documentary, centered on questions surrounding the female body. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in directing at ENSAV, a national film school in France, and continues her creative work.
Takuma Tsugawa is a film director from Japan, currently based in Austin, Texas. He gained experience on film and television sets during university, accumulating practical experience not only in Japanese productions but also participating in international co-productions. He is currently enrolled in the MFA (Master of Fine Arts) program in filmmaking at the University of Texas at Austin. In 2025, he directed a short documentary in Austin. In March 2026, he completed filming a new short film and is currently in post-production, while also developing plans for his next short film and a feature film.
Program and Training Content
◆Program Details
Training workshops for students (including graduates within 3 years) to learn directly from professionals active on the world stage, through film submission to the Short Film Corner (SFC) operated by "Cinéma de Demain," the young talent support section of the Cannes International Film Festival, and a partnership with Rendez-vous Industry.
Public relations activities, such as receiving inquiries from various countries, will be conducted at a dedicated booth serving as a base for trainees.
Booth Name: "Film Nexus-SEED / Japan Creator Support Fund"
Booth Number: Palais 14.01
◆Examples of Training Content
Participants will receive practical feedback from experts active on the international stage and participate in practical workshops to build strong networks with industry professionals.
Some examples of training:
• How to make the most of participation in markets & industry events? ([Strategies for Maximizing Experience at Film Markets and Industry Events] Private Session)
• First feature project development ([Development of First Feature Film] Private Keynote)
• Meet the Experts – Distribution Strategy (Individual meeting with experts: Building a concrete [Distribution and Release Strategy] with market in mind)
• Truth or Dare – Feedbacks ([Truth or Dare] Criticism and Verification of Works by Top Professionals – Film Feedback)
• Would You Buy This? – live feedback with Sales Agents & Buyers ([Buyer's Perspective: Would you acquire this work?] 3-minute teaser diagnosis of the film's beginning – Showcase Session) etc.
About "Film Nexus-SEED"
The "Japan Creator Support Fund," established within the Japan Arts Council with subsidies from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, operates the "Creator Support Project" to foster globally active talent. From this fiscal year, the program particularly emphasizes training that includes practical experience in international settings where universities, vocational schools, and industries (companies, related organizations, etc.) collaborate to acquire skills necessary for international careers and professionals.
Participants of the Cannes International Film Festival's Cinéma de Demain Workshop (titles omitted):
Henry Ehara (born 1996) is a film director and screenwriter with Japanese and American roots. He produces video works based in Japan, France, and the Netherlands. His short film 'August in Blue' was officially screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival. He studied filmmaking under Atsuhiko Suwa at the Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School. In recent years, he has also been involved in works by Koichiro Fukada and Jun Funahashi.
Haruka Ono, while majoring in film studies at Waseda University, began producing independent films. After graduation, she worked as a production manager on international advertising projects at a production company in Tokyo. She creates works that traverse fiction and documentary, centered on questions surrounding the female body. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in directing at ENSAV, a national film school in France, and continues her creative work.
Takuma Tsugawa is a film director from Japan, currently based in Austin, Texas. He gained experience on film and television sets during university, accumulating practical experience not only in Japanese productions but also participating in international co-productions. He is currently enrolled in the MFA (Master of Fine Arts) program in filmmaking at the University of Texas at Austin. In 2025, he directed a short documentary in Austin. In March 2026, he completed filming a new short film and is currently in post-production, while also developing plans for his next short film and a feature film.
Program and Training Content
◆Program Details
Training workshops for students (including graduates within 3 years) to learn directly from professionals active on the world stage, through film submission to the Short Film Corner (SFC) operated by "Cinéma de Demain," the young talent support section of the Cannes International Film Festival, and a partnership with Rendez-vous Industry.
Public relations activities, such as receiving inquiries from various countries, will be conducted at a dedicated booth serving as a base for trainees.
Booth Name: "Film Nexus-SEED / Japan Creator Support Fund"
Booth Number: Palais 14.01
◆Examples of Training Content
Participants will receive practical feedback from experts active on the international stage and participate in practical workshops to build strong networks with industry professionals.
Some examples of training:
• How to make the most of participation in markets & industry events? ([Strategies for Maximizing Experience at Film Markets and Industry Events] Private Session)
• First feature project development ([Development of First Feature Film] Private Keynote)
• Meet the Experts – Distribution Strategy (Individual meeting with experts: Building a concrete [Distribution and Release Strategy] with market in mind)
• Truth or Dare – Feedbacks ([Truth or Dare] Criticism and Verification of Works by Top Professionals – Film Feedback)
• Would You Buy This? – live feedback with Sales Agents & Buyers ([Buyer's Perspective: Would you acquire this work?] 3-minute teaser diagnosis of the film's beginning – Showcase Session) etc.
About "Film Nexus-SEED"
The "Japan Creator Support Fund," established within the Japan Arts Council with subsidies from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, operates the "Creator Support Project" to foster globally active talent. From this fiscal year, the program particularly emphasizes training that includes practical experience in international settings where universities, vocational schools, and industries (companies, related organizations, etc.) collaborate to acquire skills necessary for international careers and professionals.