The 33rd French Film Festival 2026, one of Japan's largest French film festivals, opened in Shibuya on March 19th. Moving from its previous location in Yokohama, the festival is making a fresh start this year in Shibuya, a hub of culture.

The opening ceremony, which marked the start of the event, was held at the Cerulean Tower Noh Theater in the basement of the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel in Sakuragaoka-cho. In the traditional stage space, which was filled with tranquility and tension, a total of 14 guests who had come to Japan, including leading actors and directors from the French film industry such as Sophie Marceau and Olivier Assayas, took to the stage, marking a spectacular start to the event.

Emphasizing the "special relationship" between Japan and France, and highlighting the significance of holding the event in Shibuya.

At the beginning of the event, Béatrice Le Frapere du Hérén, the French Ambassador to Japan, took the stage. She stated that "Japan and France have a special partnership," and emphasized this relationship by likening it to the Palme d'Or, the highest award in the film industry.

Furthermore, regarding Shibuya, the venue for the first time, he praised it as "a city where diverse cultures, globality, and modernity intersect, embodying French cinema," demonstrating its high affinity as the setting for this event.

Following this, Shibuya Ward Mayor Ken Hasebe also took the stage. He expressed his welcome in English, saying, "Welcome to Shibuya City!" and added, "I have a feeling that the scent of French culture will spread throughout the city, and that a new culture will be born when it blends with Shibuya's culture." He also expressed his hope for the event to continue in the future and indicated the ward's support for it.

Yumi Kawai gives opening address: "Let's expand the circle of film."

During the ceremony, the actors, directors, and production staff took to the stage one after another as the 12 films being shown in Japan for the first time were introduced. Their presence lined up on the Noh theater stage created a symbolic scene where tradition and modernity, and Eastern and Western cultures intersected, instantly enveloping the venue in a festive atmosphere.

From left to right: Thais Alessandrin, Yumi Kawai, and Sophie Marceau.

Actress Yumi Kawai, who serves as the official ambassador, appeared on stage in an outfit primarily in black. She greeted the audience by saying, "I am delighted that the directors and cast involved in such a rich lineup of works have gathered in Tokyo and can share this moment with us."

He also touched upon his experience visiting France, expressing his respect for the French film industry by saying, "There is much to learn from their pride in tradition and their attitude of protecting film as an art form." Furthermore, he appealed to the attendees, saying, "With the venue moving to Shibuya, it has become an opportunity to reach even more people. I hope you will help spread the word about film."

Finally, Kawai declared with conviction, "I hereby declare the opening of the 33rd French Film Festival 2026." The venue erupted in thunderous applause, marking a spectacular start to the four-day film festival.

A French film set in Shibuya

The film festival will be held at two venues, Bunkamura Le Cinema Shibuya Miyashita and EuroLive, until March 22nd. A diverse lineup will be screened, mainly focusing on the latest French films, including some that are being shown in Japan for the first time.

For four days, French cinema and urban culture intersected in the city of Shibuya. As a new platform for international cultural exchange centered around film, its future development is sure to attract attention.