Cate Blanchett’s Displacement Film Fund Shorts to Premiere at Tokyo International Film Festival

Cate Blanchett will travel to Tokyo to attend the 2026 Tokyo International Film Festival, where organizers will screen five short films backed by her Displacement Film Fund.

The Festival Slate and Corporate Partnerships

The upcoming showcase highlights global displacement through five distinct short works. Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo serves as a founding partner of the Displacement Film Fund, anchoring the commercial backing for these independent international projects.

The curated slate includes Allies in Exile, a 40-minute United Kingdom and Syria co-production directed by Hasan Kattan, which follows two Syrian filmmakers documenting the psychological toll of the asylum process. Maryna Er Gorbach directs Rotation, a 12-minute Ukrainian and Turkish short depicting a therapeutic hypnosis ritual experienced by a young woman transitioning from civilian life to military service. Mohammad Rasoulof directs Sense of Water, a 39-minute Iranian and German project exploring an Iranian writer confronting a foreign language in exile. Shahrbanoo Sadat directs Super Afghan Gym, a 14-minute German short capturing a Kabul gymnasium reserved exclusively for women during a single hour of the day. Mo Harawe directs Whispers of a Burning Scent, a 28-minute Somali, Austrian, and German collaboration focusing on a wedding musician whose private life faces public scrutiny.

High-Profile Panels and Concurrent Honors

Following the screenings, Blanchett will participate in a public Q&A session alongside directors Mohammad Rasoulof and Shahrbanoo Sadat. During the same week in Tokyo, festival organizers will present Blanchett with the prestigious Praemium Imperiale Award, recognizing her international contributions to film and the arts.

Being displaced shouldn’t mean filmmakers abandon their creativity; in fact, their stories may feel even more urgent.”