Japan-Italy Film Treaty Hailed as Co-Production First Step

The new co-production treaty signed between Japan and Italy is being touted as a significant step towards reintegrating Japan’s film production industry with those overseas countries.

The agreement – signed in June and activated in August – was directly referenced on Monday by Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and has colored the programming of this week’s Tokyo International Film Festival, which includes a Nanni Moretti retrospective, closes with Marcello Mastroianni tribute film “Marcello Mio” and sees his daughter Chiara Mastroianni set as a member of the festival’s main competition jury. The treaty’s ratification also gave rise to a reception Tuesday at the Italian embassy in Tokyo’s Tamachi district.

“Tonight’s reception is more than a celebration — it is a call to action. Our creative industries can come together to build narratives that reset borders,” said Italian ambassador Gianluigi Benedetti at the event.

“Blending Italian and Japanese art creativity and innovation. we can turn the vision of the co-production agreement into dynamic collaborations and groundbreaking projects that will elevate, both Italian and Japanese cinema to new highs,” he added.

“Like Italy, Japan is also a great cinema country and we have produced a lot of wonderful films,” said Tokyo festival chairman Ando Hiroyasu. “So, I think this new cinema co-production agreement will give us a good opportunity to strengthen the cinematic relationship between our two countries.”

“This agreement is a dream that had to wait a long time to come true. It took seven years to realize it, thanks to the commitment of [head of special projects, Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual of the Ministry of Culture] Roberto Stabile,” said Benedetti.

Other attendees included Chiara Mastroianni, and Japanese film director Yukiko Mishima, who will take part in a Moretti-themed talk event on Nov. 3.

“We have always had the goal of showing the similarities between our countries rather than highlighting the differences,” said Sabrina Baracetti, director of the Far East Film Festival in Italy.