The 39th Tokyo International Film Festival has announced Takahisa Zeze, Godzilla Minus Zero, and Colony as part of its gala screenings.

      Since 2024, I have had the unique opportunity to cover the Tokyo International Film Festival, which features a distinctive lineup that includes world premieres of the finest contemporary Asian films, experimental cinema, and classic repertory titles. I will attend the 39th edition, which starts on October 26, and the three centerpiece screenings have already been announced.

      I am pleased to see a new film from the talented Takahisa Zeze—now that Kiyoshi Kurosawa is widely recognized, it’s time for Western cinephiles to discover him—who will kick off the festival with Sukiyaki. This film “depicts the dramatic tales of three artists who inspired people in postwar Japan, interwoven with a collection of musical masterpieces.” The cast features Junichi Okada (From Up on Poppy Hill), Tori Matsuzaka (Shin Kamen Rider), and Taiga Nakano (Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle). Toho will release the film domestically on Christmas.

      After its world premiere at the New York Film Festival, Yamazaki Takashi’s Godzilla Minus Zero will have its domestic release just in time for a November 3 premiere. Festival director Ichiyama Shozo describes it as “a masterpiece that was truly meant to be created during these challenging times.”

      Lastly, Yeon Sang-ho’s Colony will conclude the 39th TIFF on November 4. We recently conducted an extensive interview with Train to Busan director Yeon and lead actress Jun Ji-hyun, highlighting how the film “played a crucial role in reviving Korean cinema after a lengthy period of decline.”

      Below are descriptions of each film, and stay tuned for our coverage starting in late October.

      **Sukiyaki (Takahisa Zeze)**

      In 1963, as Japan continued its recovery from postwar turmoil, a pop song achieved a significant milestone in Japanese music, reaching the top of the US Billboard charts and remaining at No. 1 for three consecutive weeks. That song is “Sukiyaki.” This musical drama tells the story of the fateful collaboration of the three creative minds behind the iconic song: brilliant composer Nakamura Hachidai (Okada Junichi), lyricist Ei Rokusuke (Matsuzaka Tori), and legendary singer Sakamoto Kyu (Nakano Taiga), bringing to life their passions and conflicts.

      **Godzilla Minus Zero (Yamazaki Takashi)**

      War had brought Japan to its knees, and Godzilla pushed it even further into despair. Two years have passed, and the nation has struggled painfully to recover and return to normalcy. Just as humanity achieves a fragile peace, a new threat emerges, shattering hope in an instant. This film surpasses Godzilla Minus One, a globally acclaimed movie that won Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards®. There will be no third time; this is where everything concludes.

      **Colony (Yeon Sang-ho)**

      A sudden, unidentified bioterror attack targets a skyscraper in downtown Seoul. Professor Se Jeong, in the city for a biotech conference, finds herself trapped inside the lockdown building, witnessing infected individuals rapidly evolving with a collective intelligence. This relentless action-thriller premiered at a Cannes Midnight Screening before dominating box office rankings in Korea and beyond.