Milcho Manchevski, the filmmaker who won the Venice Golden Lion, will unveil his latest feature, «Sister Brother Manhole Cover», in the main competition of the Tokyo International Film Festival. The film is set for a world premiere at the Japanese festival, placing it among the most anticipated titles of the event's competitive slate.
The Tokyo International Film Festival announced its full lineup, including 15 features selected for the Competition section. Seven of those titles are world premieres, with Manchevski's film among them. The section also includes Indonesian filmmaker Garin Nugroho's historical drama «Red Before Dawn» and new work from Chinese director Qiu Jiongjiong, signaling a broad international reach for this year's competition.
International sales for «Sister Brother Manhole Cover» are being handled by Francesca Breccia's Coccinelle Film Sales. The company will begin selling the film to international buyers during Busan's Asian Contents & Film Market, a key industry event that runs alongside the Busan International Film Festival. The market serves as a major hub for distributors and buyers from across Asia and beyond, making it a strategic launch point for the film's global rollout.
A trailer for the film has been unveiled ahead of its Tokyo premiere, offering a first look at Manchevski's new work. The director's pedigree — anchored by his Golden Lion win at Venice — gives the project a high profile on the fall festival circuit, where competition slots often shape the trajectory of a film's international release.
Manchevski's return to the festival stage with a new feature places him alongside a generation of filmmakers whose work moves between European and Asian festival circuits. The Tokyo competition, with its mix of established auteurs and emerging voices, provides a prominent platform for the film's debut. The inclusion of seven world premieres in the section reflects the festival's push to present fresh material rather than relying solely on titles already launched elsewhere.
For Coccinelle Film Sales, the Busan market launch represents the first opportunity to secure distribution deals across multiple territories. The Asian Contents & Film Market typically draws sales agents, producers, and buyers looking for finished films and projects in development, and a Golden Lion winner's new feature is likely to attract attention from arthouse distributors.
Further details about the film's cast, plot, and release dates beyond the festival premiere have not been announced. The Tokyo International Film Festival's competition lineup will be closely watched as a bellwether for the awards season and for the international art-house market, with Manchevski's film positioned as one of its headline entries.