32 short films on two open-air screens, guest talks, live music and cinema food, a few minutes’ walk from Shinagawa Station.
Every November, the office plaza between Shinagawa Intercity and Shinagawa Grand Commons turns into an open-air movie theater. The Shinagawa International Film Festival (品川国際映画祭) runs for six evenings, from Monday, November 9 to Saturday, November 14, 2026, and pairs short films from around the world with guest talks, live music, food stalls and the area’s Christmas illumination.
Below: the schedule by day, the films and guests announced so far, what you can eat and drink, and what to check before you go.
Festival at a glance
| Event | Shinagawa International Film Festival |
|---|---|
| Dates | Monday, November 9 – Saturday, November 14, 2026 (6 days) |
| Venue | Shinagawa Intercity Central Garden and Shinagawa Grand Commons Event Plaza |
| Address | 2-15-2 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
| Access | JR Shinagawa Station: 6 min walk Keikyu Shinagawa Station: 8 min walk Kitashinagawa Station (Keikyu Main Line): 8 min walk |
| Organizer | Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate Co., Ltd. |
| Films | 32 titles on two screens: MAIN Theater and CREATOR’S Theater |
| Admission | Not stated in the announcement. Check the official site. |
What makes this festival different
The festival started in 2018 and is produced by two teams that know outdoor screenings well:
- ShortShorts, the brand behind Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (ショートショート フィルムフェスティバル & アジア), an Academy Award–accredited international short film festival that started in Japan. It picks most of the films.
- CINEMA CARAVAN, a traveling outdoor cinema project started in 2010 around photographer Rai Shizuno. It designs the theater spaces and also runs the Zushi Kaigan Film Festival.
This year’s theme reflects the character of Shinagawa, with an emphasis on human connections and respect for diversity. Short films suit an outdoor evening: you can drop in after work, watch a block of films with a drink, and leave without committing to a two-hour feature.
Day-by-day schedule
End times vary by film, so treat the start times as the reliable part.
| Date | Time | What’s on |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 9 (Mon) | 18:00–18:45 | Opening ceremony, illumination lighting countdown and talk (MAIN Theater) |
| Nov 9 (Mon) | 19:00–19:55 20:00–20:45 | Festival special selection, parts 1 and 2 (MAIN Theater) |
| Nov 10–13 (Tue–Fri) | 18:00–18:45 | Live music before the screenings |
| Nov 10–13 (Tue–Fri) | 19:00– 20:00– | Daily selections, parts 1 and 2 (MAIN Theater) |
| Nov 9–13 (Mon–Fri) | 19:00– | Screening plus guest talk (CREATOR’S Theater) |
| Nov 14 (Sat) | 13:00–17:00 | Local Friendship Stages |
| Nov 14 (Sat) | 17:15–18:00 | Professional dance performance |
| Nov 14 (Sat) | 18:30–19:00 | CINEMA CARAVAN film and music performance |
| Nov 14 (Sat) | 19:00–20:35 | Family special program (MAIN Theater) |
Food area: 17:00–21:00 from Nov 9 to Nov 13, and 12:00–21:00 on Nov 14.
Illumination: lit from 16:30 to 24:00. The start time is different on Nov 9 because of the lighting ceremony.
Films and guest talks
MAIN Theater
The main screen at Shinagawa Intercity shows short films from around the world, plus a festival special selection that gathers recommended titles from the whole week. Two of the titles announced so far:
| Film | Details |
|---|---|
| 死生の峠 (Shisei no Touge) | Japan, 2025 · Drama · 12 min 40 sec Director: Heso A samurai who resigned over a scandal climbs a mountain pass intending to die and meets a mysterious ronin. |
| 妻担ぎレース (a wife-carrying race) | France, 2023 · Comedy · 24 min 40 sec Directors: Mathias Rifkiss & Colas Rifkiss A husband enters a wife-carrying race to win back his pride. |
CREATOR’S Theater
At Shinagawa Grand Commons Event Plaza, the second screen runs from Nov 9 to Nov 13. Each night has its own theme, and the screening is followed by a talk with the people who made the work.
| Date | Theme and program |
|---|---|
| Nov 9 (Mon) 19:00– | Living your own story 海の色は夢のつづき (Japan, 2022, 46 min, dir. Asahi Minami) Guests: actors Naoki Hasegawa and Ayumi Nagakusu |
| Nov 10 (Tue) 19:00– | New worlds through visual expression 退屈の外側 · Guest: Y2 (cinematic videographer) JAPAN’S SEA · Guest: Kyu Furumi (photographer) 走馬灯, festival special edit · Guest: Itaru Matsui (filmmaker) |
| Nov 11–13 | The remaining nights have themes including towns built on human connections, how we will live, and a rich future |
Family special program (Saturday)
The festival closes on Saturday, Nov 14, from 19:00 to 20:35 with Song of the Sea (ソング・オブ・ザ・シー 海のうた), a 93-minute animated film by Tom Moore from Cartoon Saloon, based on Irish mythology. The release lists a Japanese dub cast of Manami Honjo, Lily Franky and Yoshie Nakano.
Opening night with Naoki Matayoshi
Monday, Nov 9 is the night to go if you want the guests. From 18:00 to 18:45, author and comedian Naoki Matayoshi gives the opening talk. He won the Akutagawa Prize in 2015 for Hibana and wrote the original story and screenplay for Shisei no Touge, so expect a writer’s take on short films and tips on enjoying the festival.
The same session includes the countdown to light up the Christmas illumination at Shinagawa Central Garden, led by Matayoshi and actress Hiroe Igeta, who has appeared in Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate’s ads since 2018.
Cinema food and drinks
The food area is a big part of the evening. These are the vendors and items named in the announcement:
| Vendor | What to try |
|---|---|
| AMIGO MARKET | Hayama persimmon pie made with seasonal persimmon and cream cheese |
| Zushi Hayama Jobisai Kenkyujo (逗子葉山常備菜研究所) | Fried chicken made with Japanese chicken and no wheat flour; seasonal vegetable and grain minestrone |
| THE CURRY HOURS | The festival’s long-aged beef tendon curry, in a small size this year, with spicy lamb skewers |
| YAMATOUMI | Drinks from a small distillery by Lake Nojiri in Nagano |
| DAWN BREWS | A twist on its pumpkin and spice ale Kabocha to Rikku, served only at this year’s festival |
Prices for food and drinks are not listed in the announcement.
Saturday stage performances
Saturday, Nov 14 is the longest day. The food area opens at 12:00 and the stage starts at 13:00 with Local Friendship Stages, where local groups from around Shinagawa perform music and dance:
| Group | Japanese name |
|---|---|
| Suganami Gospel Choir | スガナミゴスペルクワイヤ |
| CJC | CJC |
| Guitar Duo | Guitar Duo |
| James Mama Choir | ジェームスママクワイヤ |
| Hoyu Gakuin Brass Band | 朋優学院吹奏楽部 |
| Theme Park Dance | テーマパークダンス |
| Shinagawa Gakuin Entertainment Club | しながわ学院エンタ部 |
| BRIDGES School | BRIDGESスクール |
From 17:15 to 18:00, D.LEAGUE team SEGA SAMMY LUX performs, joined by its youth team LUX CANDELA and students of STUDIO LUX in Shinagawa Intercity. Then from 18:30 to 19:00, CINEMA CARAVAN puts on a live set that combines footage from its travels with music played on the spot, right before the family screening.
Tips before you go
- Check the official site first. The announcement does not mention admission fees, tickets or reservations. The official festival site was scheduled to open at 13:00 on October 20, 2026.
- Pick your night. Go on Monday for the guests and the illumination countdown, Tuesday to Friday for live music at 18:00 and daily film blocks, and Saturday for a full afternoon to evening with kids.
- Eat first. On weekdays the food area opens at 17:00, two hours before the first screening, so you can get food and a drink before the films start.
- Dress for an evening outdoors. All screenings start at 19:00 or later, on outdoor screens in mid-November.
- Want more short films? The autumn edition of Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia runs Nov 5–8, just before this festival, with online screenings until Nov 22. More on the festival at shortshorts.org.
Building a list of autumn outings? Our guides to the Shibaura Canal Festival and its free canal cruises, the Musashino Art University Festival and the Ghibli Park exhibition cover dates and access. For paid attractions, the Asoview campaign with up to ¥3,000 off is worth a look.
The announcement doesn’t say which payment methods the food stalls accept. If you’re new to Japan and still setting up a card, our guide on which credit card to get first as a foreigner may help.
FAQ
- When is the Shinagawa International Film Festival held?
- From Monday, November 9 to Saturday, November 14, 2026. Screenings start at 19:00 each evening, and on Saturday the stage program starts at 13:00.
- Where is it, and how do I get there?
- At Shinagawa Intercity Central Garden and Shinagawa Grand Commons Event Plaza (2-15-2 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo). It is a 6-minute walk from JR Shinagawa Station and an 8-minute walk from Keikyu Shinagawa or Kitashinagawa stations.
- Do I need a ticket?
- The press release does not mention admission fees or reservations. Check the official site, which was scheduled to go live at 13:00 on October 20, 2026.
- Which day suits families with kids?
- Saturday, November 14. The food area opens at 12:00, stage shows run in the afternoon, and the family program screens the animated film Song of the Sea from 19:00 to 20:35.
- When can I see Naoki Matayoshi?
- At the opening on Monday, November 9, from 18:00 to 18:45. He gives a talk and joins Hiroe Igeta for the illumination countdown.
Source: Press release from Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate Co., Ltd. (PR TIMES, October 20, 2026). Details may change; check the official site before you go.