The Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival runs every other year in Yamagata. In the off-years, the festival brings a part of the previous year's screening program to Tokyo. 50 films will be screened during the festival period of Oct. 17–Nov. 12 this year at an art house K's cinema in Shinjuku and Athene Francais Cultural Center in Ochanomizu.
Most films will be screened in English or with English subtitles, including many from Asia and Japan.
For information on Yamagata Rough Cut! in Tokyo & Fukui, please scroll to the bottom of the page!
SHOWAKAN Bldg. 3F, 3-35-13,
Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
http://www.ks-cinema.com/
Phone 03-3352-2471
Athénée Français 4F, 2-11,
Kanda-surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
infor@athenee.net
Phone 03-3291-4339
[American Direct Cinema Special Selection]
USA / 1960 / DCP (Original: 16mm) / 8 min / English
Dir. D.A. Pennebaker
USA / 1964 / DCP (Original: 16mm) / 12 min / English
Dir. D.A. Pennebaker
USA / 1965 / DCP (Original: 16mm) / 9 min / English
Filmmakers: Albert Maysles, David Maysles
USA / 1970 / DCP (Original: 16mm) / 21 min / English
Dir. Ed Pincus, David Neuman
USA / 1960 / Blu-ray (Original: 16mm) / 53 min / English
Producer: Robert Drew
JAPAN / 2024 / DCP / 85 min / English, Japanese with English subtitles
Dir. Kasezawa Atsushi
GERMANY, FRANCE, KOREA / 2024 / DCP / 212 min / French, English, Arabic with English subtitles
Dir. Guillaume Cailleau, Ben Russell
The Robert and Frances Flaherty Prize (The Grand Prize)
THAILAND / 2024 / DCP / 20 min / English, Thai with English subtitles
Dir. Komtouch Napattaloong
KOREA, KAZAKHSTAN / 2024 / DCP / 22 min / English, Korean, Kazakh, Russian with English subtitles
Dir. Cho Hanna, Lee Chanyeol, Samgar Rakym, Ali Tynybekov
TAIWAN / 2024 / DCP / 101 min / Indonesian, Javanese, Mandarin with English subtitles
Dir. So Yo-Hen
Denroku Award (Award of Excellence)
TAIWAN / 2025 / DCP / 98 min / Tayal, Mandarin with English subtitles
Dir. Sayun Simung
CHILE, GERMANY / 2023 / DCP / 74 min / Spanish with English subtitles
Dir. Tana Gilbert
Flex International Award (Award of Excellence)
CONGO (DRC), BELGIUM, GERMANY, BURKINA FASO, QATAR / 2024 / DCP / 96 min / Lingala with English subtitles
Dir. Nelson Makengo
IRAN / 2024 / DCP / 49 min / Azerbaijani with English subtitles
Dir. Narges Judaki, Iman Paknahad
FRANCE, THE NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM / 2025 / DCP / 96 min / Russian with English subtitles
Dir. Anastasiya Miroshnichenko
BELGIUM, FRANCE / 2025 / DCP / 71 min / Ruc, Vietnamese with English subtitles
Dir. Nicolas Graux, Trương Minh Quý
ESTONIA, THAILAND / 2023 / DCP / 16 min / English
Dir. Keawalee Warutkomain
INDONESIA / 2024 / DCP / 30 min / Sika, Indonesian with English subtitles
Dir. Yosef Levi
LATVIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, UKRAINE / 2025 / DCP / 179 min / Ukrainian with English subtitles
Dir. Vitaly Mansky
INDIA / 2024 / DCP / 61 min / Odia, Marathi, Hindi with English subtitles
Dir. Suhel Banerjee
SYRIA, FRANCE / 2023 / DCP / 13 min / Arabic with English subtitles
Dir. Sara Kontar
PALESTINE, UK / 2024 / DCP / 37 min / Arabic, English with English subtitles
Dir. Lamees Almakkawy
PALESTINE, GERMANY, FRANCE, QATAR / 2025 / DCP / 106 min / Arabic with English subtitles
Dir. Kamal Aljafari
The Mayor’s Prize
INDIA / 2025 / DCP / 60 min / Hindi, Marwari, Bengali, English with English subtitles
Dir. Bappadittya Sarkar
PORTUGAL, FRANCE, SPAIN, AUSTRIA / 2025 / DCP / 83 min / Portuguese, German with English subtitles
Dir. Maureen Fazendeiro
TAIWAN / 2024 / DCP / 30 min / Taiwanese, Mandarin with English subtitles
Dir. Song Cheng-ying, Hu Chin-ya
Tohoku Denka Kogyo Award (NAC Award of Excellence)
KOREA / 2025 / DCP / 40 min / Korean with English subtitles
Dir. Lee Jiyoon
The Yamagata Shimbun and YBC Award (NAC Award of Excellence)
IRAN / 2024 / DCP / 49 min / Azerbaijani with English subtitles
Dir. Narges Judaki, Iman Paknahad
CHILE / 2025 / DCP / 106 min / Spanish with English subtitles
Dir. Ignacio Agüero
Special Jury Prize
CHILE, GERMANY / 2023 / DCP / 74 min / Spanish with English subtitles
Dir. Tana Gilbert
Flex International Award (Award of Excellence)
BELGIUM, HONG KONG / 2023 / DCP / 5 min / English
Dir. Max Ferguson
PALESTINE, LEBANON, CANADA / 2024 / DCP / 40 min / Arabic, English with English subtitles
Dir. Razan AlSalah
FRANCE, THE NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM / 2025 / DCP / 96 min / Russian with English subtitles
Dir. Anastasiya Miroshnichenko
CHINA / 2024 / DCP / 69 min / Chinese (Sichuan Dialect) with English subtitles
Dir. Luo Luo
BELGIUM, FRANCE / 2025 / DCP / 71 min / Ruc, Vietnamese with English subtitles
Dir. Nicolas Graux, Trương Minh Quý
ESTONIA, THAILAND / 2023 / DCP / 16 min / English
Dir. Keawalee Warutkomain
INDONESIA / 2024 / DCP / 30 min / Sika, Indonesian with English subtitles
Dir. Yosef Levi
LATVIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, UKRAINE / 2025 / DCP / 179 min / Ukrainian with English subtitles
Dir. Vitaly Mansky
INDIA / 2025 / DCP / 60 min / Hindi, Marwari, Bengali, English with English subtitles
Dir. Bappadittya Sarkar
INDONESIA / 2024 / DCP / 77 min / Indonesian, Dutch with English subtitles
Dir. Yonri Revolt
JAPAN / 1999 / Blu-ray (Original: 16mm) / 89min / Japanese with English subtitles
Dir. Oki Hiroyuki
THAILAND / 2024 / DCP / 20 min / English, Thai with English subtitles
Dir. Komtouch Napattaloong
KOREA, KAZAKHSTAN / 2024 / DCP / 22 min / English, Korean, Kazakh, Russian with English subtitles
Dir. Cho Hanna, Lee Chanyeol, Samgar Rakym, Ali Tynybekov
PORTUGAL, FRANCE, SPAIN, AUSTRIA / 2025 / DCP / 83 min / Portuguese, German with English subtitles
Dir. Maureen Fazendeiro
JAPAN / 2025 / DCP / 64 min / Japanese with English subtitles
Dir. Komori Haruka
CHILE / 2025 / DCP / 106 min / Spanish with English subtitles
Dir. Ignacio Agüero
Special Jury Prize
FRANCE, GUADELOUPE / 2024 / DCP / 93 min / Creole, French with English subtitles
Dir. Malaury Eloi Paisley
Special Mention
JAPAN / 2025 / DCP / 100 min / Japanese with English subtitles
Dir. Itakura Yoshiyuki
TAIWAN / 2024 / DCP / 101 min / Indonesian, Javanese, Mandarin with English subtitles
Dir. So Yo-Hen
Denroku Award (Award of Excellence)
GERMANY / 2024 / DCP / 81 min / Farsi with English subtitles
Dir. Faraz Fesharaki
Ogawa Shinsuke Prize
JAPAN / 2025 / DCP / 107 min / Japanese with English subtitles
Dir. Fujikawa Keizo
CONGO (DRC), BELGIUM, GERMANY, BURKINA FASO, QATAR / 2024 / DCP / 96 min / Lingala with English subtitles
Dir. Nelson Makengo
SYRIA, FRANCE / 2023 / DCP / 13 min / Arabic with English subtitles
Dir. Sara Kontar
PALESTINE, UK / 2024 / DCP / 37 min / Arabic, English with English subtitles
Dir. Lamees Almakkawy
FRANCE / 1985 / Blu-ray (Original: 16mm, 8mm) / 57 min / French with English subtitles
Dir. Marie-Claude Treilhou
AFGHANISTAN / 2006 / Blu-ray / 27 min / Persian (Dari) with English subtitles
Dir. Sediqa Rezaei
PALESTINE, GERMANY, FRANCE, QATAR / 2025 / DCP / 106 min / Arabic with English subtitles
Dir. Kamal Aljafari
The Mayor’s Prize
PALESTINE, GERMANY, QATAR, BRAZIL, FRANCE / 2024 / Blu-ray / 78 min / Arabic, Hebrew, English with English subtitles
Dir. Kamal Aljafari
BELGIUM, HONG KONG / 2023 / DCP / 5 min / English
Dir. Max Ferguson
PALESTINE, LEBANON, CANADA / 2024 / DCP / 40 min / Arabic, English with English subtitles
Dir. Razan AlSalah
INDIA / 2024 / DCP / 61 min / Odia, Marathi, Hindi with English subtitles
Dir. Suhel Banerjee
TAIWAN / 2025 / DCP / 98 min / Tayal, Mandarin with English subtitles
Dir. Sayun Simung
INDONESIA / 2024 / DCP / 77 min / Indonesian, Dutch with English subtitles
Dir. Yonri Revolt
GERMANY / 1983 / DCP (Original: 35mm) / 61min / German with English subtitles
Dir. Hartmut Bitomsky, Heiner Mühlenbrock
TAIWAN / 2024 / DCP / 30 min / Taiwanese, Mandarin with English subtitles
Dir. Song Cheng-ying, Hu Chin-ya
Tohoku Denka Kogyo Award (NAC Award of Excellence)
KOREA / 2025 / DCP / 40 min / Korean with English subtitles
Dir. Lee Jiyoon
The Yamagata Shimbun and YBC Award (NAC Award of Excellence)
FRANCE, GUADELOUPE / 2024 / DCP / 93 min / Creole, French with English subtitles
Dir. Malaury Eloi Paisley
Special Mention
SYRIA, FRANCE, GERMANY / 2025 / DCP / 222 min / Arabic, German, French, Dari, Filipino, Czech with English subtitles
Dir. Ammar al-Beik
GERMANY / 1983 / DCP (Original: 35mm) / 61min / German with English subtitles
Dir. Hartmut Bitomsky, Heiner Mühlenbrock
GERMANY / 1985-1986 / 16mm / 92 min / German
Dir. Hartmut Bitomsky
GERMANY, USA / 2001 / DCP (Original: 35mm) / 112 min / English
Dir. Hartmut Bitomsky
GERMANY, SWITZERLAND / 2007 / 35mm / 94 min / German with English subtitles
Dir. Hartmut Bitomsky
GERMANY / 1985-1986 / 16mm / 92 min / German
Dir. Hartmut Bitomsky
GERMANY, USA / 2001 / DCP (Original: 35mm) / 112 min / English
Dir. Hartmut Bitomsky
GERMANY / 1983 / DCP (Original: 35mm) / 61min / German with English subtitles
Dir. Hartmut Bitomsky, Heiner Mühlenbrock
GERMANY, FRANCE, KOREA / 2024 / DCP / 212 min / French, English, Arabic with English subtitles
Dir. Guillaume Cailleau, Ben Russell
The Robert and Frances Flaherty Prize (The Grand Prize)
[American Direct Cinema Special Selection]
USA / 1960 / DCP (Original: 16mm) / 8 min / English
Dir. D.A. Pennebaker
USA / 1964 / DCP (Original: 16mm) / 12 min / English
Dir. D.A. Pennebaker
USA / 1965 / DCP (Original: 16mm) / 9 min / English
Filmmakers: Albert Maysles, David Maysles
USA / 1970 / DCP (Original: 16mm) / 21 min / English
Dir. Ed Pincus, David Neuman
PALESTINE, GERMANY, THE NETHERLANDS, BELGUIM / 1980 / 16mm / 99 min / Arabic
JAPAN / 2025 / DCP / 100 min / Japanese with English subtitles
Dir. Itakura Yoshiyuki
SYRIA, FRANCE, GERMANY / 2025 / DCP / 222 min / Arabic, German, French, Dari, Filipino, Czech with English subtitles
Dir. Ammar al-Beik
CHINA / 2024 / DCP / 69 min / Chinese (Sichuan Dialect) with English subtitles
Dir. Luo Luo
USA / 1960 / Blu-ray (Original: 16mm) / 53 min / English
Producer: Robert Drew
JAPAN / 2025 / DCP / 28 min / Japanese with English subtitles
Structure, Editing: Oe Yuta
JAPAN / 1991 / Color / DCP (Original: 16mm) / 98 min / Japanese with English subtitles
Dir. Iizuka Toshio
JAPAN / 2025 / Digital File / 120 min / Japanese
Dir. Iizuka Toshio
—— Watching unfinished footage and slowly weaving words.
“Yamagata Roughcut!” is a program of the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, running since 2013. Each day, we screen two 15-minute roughcuts from Asia, four in total. We watch them together with the filmmakers and participants, then take our time to put what we felt into words.
*Roughcut: footage that is unfinished — fragments sometimes cut out roughly from a deeply personal, urgent point of view.
*All roughcuts are screened with Japanese and English subtitles.
Interpretation between English and Japanese will be provided.
Awai Dokushoshitsu (Awai Reading Room)
2-1920 Emori-no-sato, Fukui City, Fukui 918-8035
Tokyo Polytechnic University, Nakano Campus
Multimedia Lecture Room (Theater), Building 2, B1F
Indonesia / Indonesian, Javanese
In three regions, survivors of Indonesia's 1965–66 Genocide fight to transform long-denied mass graves into memorials. From humble wooden markers to permanent monuments, their acts of remembrance challenge decades of state silence and restore dignity to lives erased from history.
Director: Indra Porhas Siagian
Graphic designer and documentary filmmaker. In his short film Mamapolitan, he explores racism through the lens of a Papuan woman. He is currently producing the feature-length film The Unburied.
Philippines, Germany, Austria / Tagalog
In Bologna, Filipino caregivers Mercedita and Gene advocate for their community while enduring unbearable grief. State agents disappeared their activist son in the Philippines. Through tender poetry and aching silence, Mercedita fights to survive an unresolved loss.
Director: Jarell Serencio
A film director and producer from Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines.
He creates works centered on social realism, regional migration, and the innocence of children. His major works include Victor, Stars in the City, and City of Gold.
Japan / Burmese
In the heart of war, Kyee Kan, a soldier with a prosthetic leg, turns his camera on the battlefield and the spirit of Myanmar’s resistance. Honey, a young woman soldier, pilots drones, where seeing can become an act of killing.
Director: Kubota Toru
Born in 1996. He began making films after documenting life in a Rohingya detention camp; following his detention and release by the military, he founded Docu Athan, an organization that supports creators who have fled abroad.
Japan / Japanese, Portuguese
At 59, Japanese nurse Chiaki travels to Brazil to care for aging Japanese immigrants. Encountering their lives and fading memories, she confronts her mother’s dementia and her own past. Two years later, she returns to Japan, contemplating what remains beyond memory.
Director: Shimada Ryuichi
Film director and producer. Won the New Director Award from the Japan Directors Guild for Nowhere to Go. Directed Hirono and A Son. Associate Professor at the Japan Academy of Moving Images.
- 13:30 Doors open
- 14:00–14:10 Introduction
- 14:10–16:10 BEYOND MEMORY — screening → dialogue → screening
- 16:10–16:40 Break
- 16:40–18:40 Missing Bazoo — screening → dialogue → screening
- 13:30 Doors open
- 14:00–14:10 Introduction
- 14:10–16:10 My Camera, My Gun — screening → dialogue → screening
- 16:10–16:40 Break
- 16:40–18:40 The Unburied — screening → dialogue → screening
Sign up: https://x.gd/IreYU
Deadline: Tue, Oct 20, 2026, 23:59 (JST)
- 12:30 Doors open
- 13:00–13:10 Introduction
- 13:10–15:10 My Camera, My Gun — screening → dialogue → screening
- 15:10–15:40 Break
- 15:40–17:40 The Unburied — screening → dialogue → screening
- 10:00 Doors open
- 10:30–10:40 Introduction
- 10:40–12:40 BEYOND MEMORY — screening → dialogue → screening
- 12:40–13:40 Break
- 13:40–15:40 Missing Bazoo — screening → dialogue → screening
- 15:40–16:10 Break
- 16:10–17:10 Discussion: What Is Yamagata Roughcut!?
Sign up: https://x.gd/e7w3e
Deadline: Thu, Oct 22, 2026, 23:59 (JST)
Guests: The filmmakers of each roughcuts, Adjani Arumpac (Mentor / Philippines; director of War is a Tender Thing at YIDFF 2013 New Asian Currents; faculty member, University of the Philippines) , Azalia Syahputri (Observer, Indonesia; In-Docs / Docs by the Sea program officer)
- Tokyo: Cinematrix — +81-3-5362-0671 | On the day: +81-80-9438-1584
- Fukui: Fukui Prefectural Organization for Cultural Promotion, Fukui Cultural Creation Center (contact: Watanabe) — geibun@hhf-cf.or.jp | +81-776-38-8280 (main)
Presented by: Cinematrix
Co-presented by: Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival; Fukui Prefecture; Fukui Prefectural Organization for Cultural Promotion
Supported by: The Japan Foundation
In cooperation with: Tokyo Polytechnic University, Department of Imaging Art, Faculty of Art, Kazuyuki Baba Laboratory
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