The 83rd Venice International Film Festival has officially selected the upcoming live-action adaptation of Look Back to compete in its prestigious lineup. This marks another major milestone for the project, which is helmed by acclaimed director Hirokazu Kore-eda, known for his work on Shoplifters and Our Little Sister. The festival is scheduled to run from September 2 to September 12 in Venice, Italy.
Following its Italian debut, the film is set for a North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, which takes place from September 10 to 20. Domestic audiences won't have to wait much longer, as the film is slated for a September 11 theatrical opening in Japan. GKIDS has secured distribution rights for the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Ireland, with a 2026 theatrical rollout planned.
This live-action project follows the 2024 anime film adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s emotional one-shot. While the anime version saw significant success—earning over 227 million yen during its opening weekend in Japan—this new iteration brings a distinct cinematic perspective under Kore-eda’s guidance. The production features a robust technical team, including composer Yūta Bandō and VFX supervisor Rinto Ueda, aiming to capture the poignant story of artistic connection between the two protagonists, Fujino and Kyomoto.
