Actor and producer Cate Blanchett will attend the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) to mark the Japan premieres of five short films supported by the Displacement Film Fund (DFF), of which Uniqlo is a founding partner.
The screenings will take place during the same week that Blanchett is due to receive the prestigious Praemium Imperiale Award in Tokyo for her achievements in film and theatre. The 39th edition of TIFF will run from October 26 to November 4, 2026.
Co-founded and led by Blanchett, the Displacement Film Fund supports displaced filmmakers, as well as filmmakers with a proven track record of creating authentic stories centred on the experiences of displaced people.
Blanchett and the International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund announced the pilot short film funding scheme at IFFR 2025.
As previously announced, TIFF will screen the five films that make up the fund’s inaugural selection. The programme reflects the DFF’s aim of bringing greater attention to underrepresented voices through cinema.
Following the screenings, a Q&A will be held with director Mohammad Rasoulof, director of Sense of Water, director Shahrbanoo Sadat, director of Super Afghan Gym, and Blanchett. The discussion will focus on refugee issues and the role of cinema in creating greater understanding of displacement.
Cate Blanchett on the Displacement Film Fund
Blanchett said she was honoured to have the opportunity to present the first short films supported by the Displacement Film Fund to audiences at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
“I am privileged to have the opportunity to share the inaugural short films supported through the Displacement Film Fund with audiences at Tokyo International Film Festival. In a world where conflict and persecution are driving displacement and division, cinematic storytelling has a vital role to play in connecting with the experiences of others. Being displaced shouldn’t mean filmmakers abandon their creativity; in fact their stories may feel even more urgent.”