Shades of Reality – Between Truth and Fiction

This year’s thematic focus SHADES OF REALITY – BETWEEN TRUTH AND FICTION is dedicated to the relationship between reality and fiction in Japanese cinema and society. It explores how films construct, interpret, and challenge reality, whether through hybrid docudrama formats, or distinctly subjective modes of narration. In light of current debates surrounding disinformation, image manipulation, and artificial intelligence, the tension between fact and fiction has never been more prominent. Japan has a special significance here as a pioneer in technology and with a long tradition of stylized and symbolic art forms. The program invites audiences to reflect on their own perception with curiosity.

After the festival, selected films from this thematic focus will be screened in cinemas across the Rhine-Main region. Screening dates will be announced on the Nippon Specials page.

The thematic focus SHADES OF REALITY – BETWEEN TRUTH AND FICTION is supported by Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain.