A major milestone for Japanese cinema unfolded at the Tribeca Festival 2026, where first-time feature director Miiku Sakanishi took home the prestigious Best New Narrative Director Award for his debut film MEMORIZU.
The win marks the first time a Japanese filmmaker has received the honor, placing Sakanishi among the festival’s most exciting new voices. The award was decided by a distinguished jury that included acclaimed director Mira Nair, actor and producer Haley Lu Richardson, and New York Magazine editor-in-chief David Haskell.
Fresh from its celebrated world premiere in Tribeca’s International Narrative Competition, MEMORIZU has been praised for its intimate storytelling and deeply emotional visual language. The jury highlighted Sakanishi’s ability to create “extraordinary depth of pure emotion through images,” calling the film modern, cinematic, and free of cliché.
Set in rural Kyushu, MEMORIZU follows a Tokyo man caring for his recovering father-in-law, a traditional portrait photographer. Through a blend of carefully composed photographs and everyday smartphone videos, the film explores memory, family, distance, and the moments that quietly shape our lives.
An emotional Sakanishi dedicated the award to the producers, cast, and crew who supported him on his first feature, adding that hearing international audiences connect with the film—even across language barriers—was one of the most rewarding experiences of his career.
The recognition arrives on the same day MEMORIZU opens in theaters across Japan, making an already memorable debut even more historic.
