Motion Picture Association and The Hollywood Reporter Japan Announce 4th American Film Night 2026
Motion Picture Association and The Hollywood Reporter Japan Announce 4th American Film Night 2026
Hosted during the Tokyo International Film Festival, event to feature 2026 Trailblazer Award and location short film competition winner announcements.
TOKYO, 4 September 2026 —
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) and The Hollywood Reporter Japan today announced the fourth edition of the American Film Night 2026 will be held on Tuesday 27 October at the Tokyo American Club during the Tokyo International Film Festival. The invitation-only event celebrates the close relationship between the Japanese and American screen industries and draws representatives from the U.S. studios, the Japanese film, television and streaming industry, the diplomatic community and American business leaders in Japan. The 2026 edition is presented as part of America250, the program marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Urmila Venugopalan – President & Managing Director, MPA, Asia Pacific, said, “The energy and creative ambition across Japan’s film, television and streaming sector are truly inspiring. Japanese stories and talent are captivating audiences around the world, and MPA member studios are proud to be long-term partners in that success. By investing in local content, creative talent and international distribution, and by collaborating closely with Japanese partners, our members are helping build an even stronger and more globally connected industry. American Film Night is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate that partnership and imagine what we can achieve together next.”
“This evening was envisioned to strengthen the relationship between the American and Japanese film industries,” said Tsukasa Shiga, Chairman of The Hollywood Reporter Japan. “Since we launched it in 2023 it has gone from strength to strength, and that is a testament to the relationship between our two countries. In a year marking 250 years of the United States, it carries particular meaning. We are proud to host it alongside the Motion Picture Association.”
The Trailblazer Award
The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of The Hollywood Reporter Trailblazer Award, co-presented with the Motion Picture Association, recognising an individual whose work has helped to elevate Japanese talent and storytelling on the international stage. Previous honorees include Tadanobu Asano (Shōgun, Ichi the Killer, Thor) and Takehiro Hira (Shōgun, Rental Family, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Tokyo Vice). The 2026 recipient will be announced soon.
MPA Japan Location Short Film Competition
Winners of the MPA’s “Japan Location Short Film Competition” will also be announced during the evening. The competition invited filmmakers across Japan to produce 60 to 90-second films showcasing their own regions as locations for film and television production. The ground-breaking competition is supported by U.S. Embassy, Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), Japan Film Commission (JFC), and Digital Hollywood University (DHU).
Six awards will be presented:
- MPA Grand Prize
- Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency Award
- The United States Embassy Award
- Digital Hollywood University Award
- MPA Japan Board Award
- Japan Film Commission Award
Attendance
American Film Night is by invitation only. A limited number of corporate tables are available to companies wishing to host guests at the evening. Enquiries may be directed to The Hollywood Reporter Japan at afn2026@hollywoodreporter.jp.
About the Motion Picture Association
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) serves as the leading voice and advocate of the motion picture, home video, and television industries. It works in every corner of the globe to advance the creative industry, protect its members’ content across all screens, defend the creative and artistic freedoms of storytellers, and support innovative distribution models that bring an expansion of viewing choices to audiences around the world. Its member studios are: Netflix, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Studios, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery. Charles Rivkin is Chairman and CEO.
About The Hollywood Reporter Japan
The Hollywood Reporter Japan is published by Hersey Shiga Global K.K. under licence from Penske Media Corporation. It covers the international film and entertainment industry for a Japanese readership across digital, social and print, and publishes an annual special print issue distributed during the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Media Contacts
The Hollywood Reporter Japan
— Komugi Yamazaki, Editor in Chief · media@hollywoodreporter.jp
Motion Picture Association
— Stephen Jenner · stephen_jenner@motionpictures.org
— June Tan · June_tan@motionpictures.org
Compliance: The Hollywood Reporter mark must appear in full at first mention of the award, as The award is published under licence from Penske Media Corporation. Heading and remaining wording unchanged.