Kiyoshi Kurosawa, one of Japan’s most influential living directors, is set to be honored at the 18th edition of Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film. The festival, North America’s largest showcase of contemporary Japanese cinema, will present Kurosawa with the 2025 Cut Above Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film. The event runs from July 10 to 20 in New York City.
Kurosawa is celebrated globally for his distinctive style, particularly in psychological thrillers and horror films. His influential works include Tokyo Sonata, Cure, and Pulse. His presence at Japan Cuts underscores the festival’s commitment to highlighting significant figures in Japanese cinema.
As part of the tribute, Kurosawa will attend the festival for the premieres of his latest films. These include the psychological thriller Cloud and a reimagined version of his own 1998 classic, Serpent’s Path. In addition, cinephiles will have the rare opportunity to experience a 35mm screening of his 1998 film License to Live. The festival will also host the international premiere of a new 4K restoration of the original Serpent’s Path.
Japan Cuts, presented by Japan Society, is set to feature a comprehensive lineup of 30 films. This includes two world premieres, nine North American premieres, and ten New York premieres, spanning various genres and showcasing both established and emerging talent.
Festival Highlights and Diverse Programming
The festival opens with the New York premiere of Ravens, a biopic directed by Mark Gill and starring Tadanobu Asano, which explores the life of radical postwar photographer Masahisa Fukase. Acclaimed actress Yuumi Kawai, a recipient of this year’s Best Actress award at the Japan Academy Film Prize, will also be in attendance for the North American premiere of her film A Girl Named Ann.
Peter Tatara, Director of Film at Japan Society, commented on the festival’s scope: “We’re deeply proud to celebrate Japanese film in the heart of New York City. Each year, Japan Cuts presents a look into the contemporary Japanese cinema scene, spotlighting both major award-winners as well as rising stars.”
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The programming is divided into four sections: Feature Slate, Next Generation, Classics, and Short Films. The Next Generation competition aims to spotlight emerging directors vying for the Obayashi Prize. The Classics section offers restored masterpieces, including the international premiere of a new 4K restoration of Shunji Iwai’s Love Letter for its 30th anniversary. The festival will also showcase anime features, comedies, historical dramas, and documentaries.
Japan Cuts 2025 concludes with The Spirit of Japan, a documentary exploring traditional shochu distillers, followed by a reception. Tickets for the festival are currently available for Japan Society members, with general public sales commencing on June 10.
