The Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival (YIDFF) has unveiled its program for the 2025 edition, scheduled to take place from October 9 to 16 in Yamagata City, Japan. Established in 1989, the biennial festival has become a significant platform for documentary filmmaking, attracting approximately 22,000 international visitors and fostering a strong connection between cinema and the Tohoku region through initiatives like the Forum Cinema Network.
This year's festival will feature a diverse range of programs, including the International Competition with 15 films, New Asian Currents showcasing emerging Asian talent, and Perspectives Japan highlighting Japanese documentaries. A special retrospective, "Unscripted: The Art of Direct Cinema," will explore the influential 1960s filmmaking movement, celebrating pioneers like Albert and David Maysles and D.A. Pennebaker.
Additional programs include "Palestine—Memory of the Land," which examines personal histories within contemporary issues, and "Yamagata and Film," celebrating the prefecture's cinematic heritage. "Cinema with Us 2025" will present films addressing the impacts of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the Noto Peninsula disaster, complemented by a film education program aimed at developing critical perspectives in young audiences.
The YIDFF has been a key force in promoting documentary cinema since its inception, earning recognition as one of Asia's most distinguished festivals in the genre. In 2018, it achieved a significant milestone by being included on the Documentary Feature Qualifying Festival List for the Academy Awards, making its grand prize winners eligible for Oscar consideration.