Brief
May Calamawy headlines opening short at Tokyo’s new Yami horror festival
The Yami International Film Festival launches Nov 20‑26 in Shibuya, with a short by Rana Roy and a feature by Alex Goyette closing the event.
By Felo News Desk · Published
May Calamawy, known for “Moon Knight,” fronts the psychological‑horror short “Night Feeds,” which opens the first edition of the Yami International Film Festival in Tokyo. The festival runs Nov. 20–26 at Human Trust Cinema Shibuya, according to Variety.
What happened
Yami Inc., the company behind the new horror showcase, selected “Night Feeds” to open the six‑day program and Alex Goyette’s feature “Breeder” to close it. An open call from late May to the end of August attracted 182 entries from 40 countries, yielding six feature‑competition titles and eight shorts. The short competition includes a world premiere, Rick Kawanaka’s Japanese entry “The Pot.”
What the reports add
Variety notes that “Night Feeds” was produced at the American Film Institute and follows a new mother whose isolation blurs reality and nightmare. The feature competition will showcase two Asian premieres – Zoe Berriatúa’s “Buffet Libre” and Abner Pastoll’s co‑production “Nervous.” Four other features will have their Japan premieres. The jury comprises Calamawy, director Rana Roy, director Alex Goyette and Japanese actress Sukezane Kiki.
What was said
Festival director and programming head Wada Arihiro said the lineup explores “physical terror, psychological horror, the unease lurking beneath the everyday, and dark humor.” He added that the festival seeks films that “unsettle the senses, challenge expectations, and reveal new forms of fear.”
How it came about
Yami Inc., known for horror exhibitions, created the festival to bring international horror creators to Japanese audiences. The open call’s broad response and the inclusion of both short and feature formats reflect the company’s aim to shape the genre’s future, as described in the Variety article.
Key facts
- May Calamawy stars in the opening short “Night Feeds” at the Yami International Film Festival. (variety.com)
- The festival runs Nov. 20–26 at Human Trust Cinema Shibuya, Tokyo. (variety.com)
- 182 entries from 40 countries were received for the festival’s open call. (variety.com)
- The closing film is Alex Goyette’s feature “Breeder.” (variety.com)
- Festival director Wada Arihiro said the lineup explores physical terror, psychological horror, everyday unease and dark humor. (variety.com)
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “‘Moon Knight’ Star May Calamawy Fronts ‘Night Feeds,’ Opener of New Tokyo Horror Festival Yami (EXCLUSIVE)”
