The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival will run from October 26 to November 4 in Tokyo's Hibiya-Yurakucho-Marunouchi-Ginza district, showcasing a curated selection of anime titles as part of its programming. The festival's Animation Section includes three original theatrical anime projects: Masanao Kawajiri's Cherry and Virgin, scheduled to open in 2027; Shingo Natsume and Madhouse's ghost – end of night, set for a Japan release on February 11, 2027; and Atsushi Nishigori's Grotesqqque, which will debut on November 6. Additionally, Kōhei Kadowaki's We Are Aliens (Ware Ware wa Uchūjin) will screen at the festival, following its September 25 theatrical debut. The festival also features a 'Women Directors: Diverse Visions' segment, highlighting films such as Detective Conan: Fist of Blue Sapphire, which earned 9.37 billion yen (approximately US$86.2 million) by the end of 2019 after opening in April 2019, and Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom, the adaptation of Nao Iwamoto's manga, which earned 85,896,750 yen (about US$659,000) in its first three days in January 2023. Riyoko Ikeda's The Rose of Versailles film, released in January 2025, grossed 108,158,300 yen (approximately US$704,200) in its opening weekend.

The festival will host TIFFCOM 2026, its industry-focused companion event, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho-Kan from October 26 to November 4. Seminars include 'Japanese Animation's Global Expansion: 2025 Overseas Sales Update and Strategies from Two Studios,' featuring executives from The Association of Japanese Animations, HumanMedia Inc., and Nippon Animation; 'Anime Co-Production Conference, Anime's New Frontier: Structuring & Financing International Co-Productions,' with leaders from Robot Playground Media, Salamander Inc., and Foliascope; and 'Japan's IP Frontier 2026: Beyond Broadcasting,' involving producers and executives from TV TOKYO, YAMI inc., Fuji Television, and other media entities. These sessions will address distribution strategies, co-production frameworks, and the evolving role of intellectual property in international markets.

The festival's programming underscores its role as a platform for both emerging and established anime creators, with a focus on theatrical releases and cross-border collaboration. Attendance and screening details remain subject to the festival's official schedule, which will be finalized in the coming months.