AI Film Festival Japan 2025 — Program / Schedule
Dates: Nov 2 (Sun) – Nov 3 (Mon, Holiday), 2025 · Venues: Screening (Ticketed) / Main Stage (Free) / Sub-Screen (Ticketed).
Sessions, guests and times are subject to change.
| Time | Screening Venue (Ticketed) | Main Stage (Free) | Sub‑Screen (Ticketed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:30 | Doors Open & Seating | Doors Open & Seating | TBA |
| 13:00 | Program A (Nominee Screenings) — ~10 films | — | TBA |
| 13:30 | — | Opening Remarks → Opening Film World Premiere “Bones of Yew” — director Toby Hyder on stage |
TBA |
| 13:50 | Break | — | TBA |
| 14:00 | Program B (Nominee Screenings) — ~10 films | Pre‑Talk: “Why an AI Film Festival Now?” — Speaker: Guest: Akihiko SHIRAI, Ph.D. – CEO of AICU Inc., others | TBA |
| 14:50 | Break | Opening Ceremony — MC: Ikeda; Kurimoto | TBA |
| 15:00 | Program C (Nominee Screenings) — ~10 films | Session 1: “How Will AI Change Filmmaking?” — Moderator: Aida; Guests: film director(s), Yves Dalbiez（France）, others | TBA |
| 15:50 | Break | — | TBA |
| 16:00 | Program D (Nominee Screenings) — ~10 films | Awards Ceremony — Finalists intro → Winners announced | TBA |
| 16:50 | Break | — | TBA |
| 17:00 | Special Screening – “Bones of Yew” (Invitations) | Award Recipients on Stage | TBA |
| 18:30 | Screening: Award‑Winning Films | Networking Reception — LED wall shows award‑winning films | TBA |
| 20:00 | Load‑out Staff | — | TBA |
| Time | Screening Venue (Ticketed) | Main Stage (Free) | Sub‑Screen (TBA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:30 | Doors Open & Seating | Doors Open & Seating | TBA |
| 10:00 | Program E (Nominee Screenings) — ~10 films | — | TBA |
| 10:30 | — | Session 2: “Documentary in the AI Era” — Moderator: Jiang; Guests: Hamano（ex‑NHK Producer）, Nakazawa（Entertainment Lawyer）, Randy Schmidt（FCCJ Vice President） | TBA |
| 10:50 | Break | — | TBA |
| 11:00 | Program F (Nominee Screenings) — ~10 films | — | TBA |
| 11:30 | — | Session 3: “How to Make an AI Film (Beginner)” — Moderator: Ikeda & Jiang; Guests: Yamaguchi (Gaumapix), junior high students, others | TBA |
| 11:50 | Break | — | TBA |
| 12:00 | Program G (Nominee Screenings) — ~10 films | — | TBA |
| 12:30 | — | Break | TBA |
| 12:50 | Break | — | TBA |
| 13:00 | Screening: Award‑Winning Films | — | TBA |
| 13:30 | — | Session 4: “AI in Animation Production” — Moderator: Tsuchiya; Guest: Nakayama（Puri Prince） | TBA |
| 13:50 | Break | — | TBA |
| 14:00 | Focus: Japanese Films | — | TBA |
| 15:00 | International Premiere: “MATILDA: The Devil’s Gene” — director Kumiko Endo | Session 5: “The Possibilities of AI” — Moderator: Kurimoto; Guests: Harry Na＋Liu Ruoyi（Trans-N） | TBA |
| 16:00 | Screening: Award‑Winning Films (additional) | Session 6: “AI Filmmaking Masterclass” — Moderator: Kurimoto; with Kumiko Endo, others | TBA |
| 17:30 | Closing Film: “2043”World Premiere (Invitaions) | Closing Speech: “2043” — director, Simone Sighinolfi on stage | TBA |
| 18:00 | Closing Ceremony | — | TBA |
| 19:00 | Load‑out Staff | — | TBA |
*Updates will follow as speakers and sub‑screen items are confirmed.