The 31st edition of “KINEKO International Film Festival”, an international film festival for children and teens, will be held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5, and this year’s theme is “PLAY&PRAY FOR PEACE”.
This film festival has been held annually since 1992 and attracts many film directors and people from overseas. During the period, the festival will envelop the entire town of Futakotamagawa, including the Futako-Tamagawa Rise Shopping Center and Futakotamagawa Park.
60 films from 23 countries will be screened in competition. Certain international films will be screened in the form of “Live Cinema”, where voice actors perform live dubbing next to the screen. In addition, four feature films, including the World Premiere of “Miss Boots” and Japanese Premiere of “Coco Farm”, and three short films will be shown as a part of “Quebec Focus” in cooperation with FIFEM (Montréal International Children’s Film Festival). Furthermore a 17-year-old Ukrainian filmmaker, Kira Melnychuk, will come to Japan, bringing the film “Lost Childhood” which she co-directed,
“KINEKO International Film Festival, a festival where children and their families can enjoy movies, is held in Futakotamagawa, Setagaya City, and this year marks its 31st edition.” – KINEKO International Film Festival Representative Director, Yasushi Shiina –
Feature films, “Wonka”, “Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window” and “Fidgety Bram” will be screened on November 2, 3 and 4 respectively on the riverbank of Tama River in Futakotamagawa Park in the “MIZBERING THEATER” program. Other festival projects and initiatives include “I LOVE THEATER”, where movies can be enjoyed at cafes and pubs, “Czech Festival” ,where you can discover the cultural charm of the Czech Republic, and “Hospital Project” which brings movies to children struggling with serious diseases who cannot go to cinema.

The theme of the 31st KINEKO International Film Festival in Tokyo, Japan, is “PLAY&PRAY FOR PEACE”, and Chie Morimoto, the artistic director of KINEKO International Film Festival, says “Keep praying for happiness, and aim to be equal in our world, just as movies are equal. KINEKO will also keep praying. And let’s all feel it properly so that we can see the white dove of peace in the tears.” Michiko Tachimoto, a picture book writer who worked on KINEKO International Film Festival key visual alongside her, also says, “KINEKO is crying. Keep an eye on what’s happening. Think about the importance of life. What we can do for peace. I want to think about that with children and all the people who are involved with children.” Tickets for the festival will be on sale on the official website from Oct. 24 at https://kineko.jp and the film information in English can be searched at https://2024kineko.site
Please enjoy the autumn season in Futakotamagawa. With the substantial support of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Children and Families Agency, the KINEKO International Film Festival will take place in Tokyo, Japan, again from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5!