Look Back Live-Action and You, Fireworks, and Our Promise Anime to Screen at Cannes 2026

Five Japanese films are heading to the 79th Cannes International Film Festival next month. The event will showcase works in progress on May 15 as part of the “Tokyo International Film Festival’s Goes to Cannes” program. Two major titles leading the lineup include the live-action adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto‘s “Look Back” manga and the anime film “You, Fireworks, and Our Promise.”

Look Back Live-Action Film Brings Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Manga to Cannes

The live-action “Look Back” movie comes from Hirokazu Kore-eda, the director who won the Palme d’Or for “Shoplifters.” Kore-eda is not just directing this picture. He also wrote the screenplay and is handling the editing work himself. This marks the first time a live-action adaptation of a Fujimoto work has been made. Fujimoto is famous for creating the hit series “Chainsaw Man.”

The original “Look Back” manga appeared on Shonen Jump+ in 2021. It gained 2.5 million views on its first day and climbed to over 4 million views within two days. The manga has sold more than 900,000 copies in Japan and over 750,000 copies across 37 countries worldwide. It also earned a nomination at the 2023 Eisner Awards.

Kore-eda shared how he first came across the story:

“On a return trip from Kyoto to Tokyo, I was drawn to a figure’s back on the cover of a book in a bookstore at Shinagawa Station. Without thinking, I picked a copy up—that was my first encounter with Look Back. That night, I read it in one sitting.”

The plot follows two elementary school girls named Fujino and Kyomoto living in a snowy rural town. Both share a strong passion for drawing manga. Their friendship develops over 13 years as they chase their dreams of becoming manga artists. The story shows their bond growing from a simple rivalry into something much deeper.

Production Details and International Release Plans

Filming for “Look Back” finished after an extended shoot lasting four seasons. The crew captured winter, spring, summer, and fall in sequence from February to November 2025 in Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture. Local residents even took part as extras. Director Kore-eda chose to shoot on 35mm film, a personal request he made for the project.

The film is currently in post-production. GKIDS has secured distribution rights for the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Ireland. The company plans a theatrical release in those regions after the movie opens in Japan later in 2026. Daiju Koide is producing under his K2 Pictures banner, which will handle the Japanese distribution.

Fujimoto has publicly supported Kore-eda’s adaptation. He expressed full backing for the director’s work on bringing his one-shot manga to the big screen.

You, Fireworks, and Our Promise Anime Joins the Cannes Lineup

The second major Japanese title at Cannes is the anime film “You, Fireworks, and Our Promise.” This film adapts the light novel series written by Kaori Mado. The original novel first appeared online on the Note website from August 4 to October 27, 2025. Shogakukan later printed it under their Gagaga Bunko label on December 18, 2025.

Kei Suzuki directs the anime, with Michihiko Umezawa producing. Shin-Ei Animation and SynergySP are handling the animation work. The screenplay comes from Kōhei Mori, with Yūji Watanabe designing the characters.

The story centers on a high school student who meets a girl carrying a drawing that has his name and a future date written on it. After she disappears, her identical great-grandmother arrives from the past. The young man must discover how all these pieces connect before the fireworks end.

The film is scheduled to premiere in Japan on July 17, 2026. Shochiku and Shin-Ei Animation will distribute the movie domestically.

Other Japanese Films in the Goes to Cannes Showcase

Three additional Japanese works will appear at the Cannes event alongside “Look Back” and “You, Fireworks, and Our Promise.”

“The Gate of Murder” comes from director Ko Kanai and producer Yoshikazu Tsubaki through Kadokawa Corporation. The suspense story follows a man who wants to kill a childhood friend he blames for his many misfortunes.

“All That Exists” (working title) pairs director Takahisa Zeze with producer Naoya Takahashi from Toei Company. This mystery-drama centers on a journalist looking into a decades-old case involving two missing children. After a former law enforcement colleague dies, his investigation points toward a mysterious painter with possible connections to the events.

“Lives at Right Angles” comes from director Syoutarou Kobayashi and producer Gen Sato through Toei Video Company. The family drama focuses on Daiki, a man with autism spectrum disorder working as a janitor. His younger sister Nozomi, a counselor, has taken care of him since their mother passed away. When Nozomi announces her marriage plans, both siblings must face their own futures independently.

The 79th Cannes International Film Festival runs from May 12 to May 23 on the French Riviera. The Tokyo International Film Festival’s Goes to Cannes showcase will take place on May 15 at the event.

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