20th Tanabe Benkei Film Festival 2026

Dates & time: November 13, 2026 (Fri) - November 15, 2026 (Sun) Varies by day (from 1pm on the first day; awards ceremony at 3pm on the final day)
Price & booking: Competition screenings are free. Invited films: ¥1,000 in advance / ¥1,300 on the day per film (¥500 on the day for high school students and younger) Advance tickets are sold until Thursday 12 November via Lawson Ticket (L-code 56216) or at the festival office (cash only). Same-day tickets are sold in front of the Big-U Multipurpose Hall.
Venue & access: Big-U Wakayama Prefectural Information Exchange Center, Multipurpose Hall (Tanabe) Take a local bus from JR Kii-Tanabe or JR Shirahama Station to the Minami Wakayama Iryo Center-mae stop. By car, exit the Hanwa Expressway at Nanki-Tanabe IC; free parking is available on site.

There are 2 public restrooms within a 8-minute walk of Big-U Wakayama Prefectural Information Exchange Center, Multipurpose Hall (Tanabe). The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

Calendar

Add it to your calendar so you can check back on it later.

Google Calendar Apple Calendar (.ics)

We hope it gives you a reason to head out together.

X FB LINE

Why You Should Visit

An annual film festival in Tanabe, Wakayama, built around discovering emerging directors. For its 20th edition, the eight films in the competition section are screened free of charge, with the Benkei Grand Prix and other awards decided at the end. Four invited titles are also shown — Poetry Angel, The Blood of Wolves, Blond and Father of the Milky Way Railroad — with stage greetings by director Kazuya Shiraishi after The Blood of Wolves and actress Maki Sakai after Father of the Milky Way Railroad. Three days for anyone who wants to catch the next generation of Japanese filmmakers early.

Programs

Timetable & Map

NOTE

Jury

Special jury: Yoshio Kakeo, Kazuya Shiraishi, Maki Sakai, Takeo Matsuzaki, Satoshi Sawamura

Tickets

One invited-film ticket admits one adult, or two children aged 3 to high school age
The ¥500 single under-18 ticket is sold only at the venue box office
Tickets are required for ages 3 and over

※Enquiries: Tanabe Benkei Film Festival office (Tanabe City Tourism Promotion Division) 0739-26-9929 (9:00–17:00, closed weekends and holidays)

Culture Art Books Culture Events Festivals Free Cheap Rainy Day

出典: PR TIMES（田辺・弁慶映画祭実行委員会）

Kobe · Gluten-free

Events

Where to go next

View Recommended Events →

11/1

Taijiura Kujira Matsuri (Taiji Whale Festival)

Taiji Fishing Port Fureai Hiroba, Taiji Town

10/24

Shirahama Taiwan Festa

Shirara Hamayu Park, Shirahama

10/17 - 10/18

Wakayama Craftsmanship & Culture Festival 2026

Wakayama Castle Hall, 1F Exhibition Room

10/18

POWER OF Wakayama: Sand Sculptures at Kataonami Beach

Kataonami Beach, Wakayama City

10/18

Tyrannosaurus Race at Tanabe Ogigahama

Tanabe Ogigahama Beach (Tanabe, Wakayama)

Next 11/7 +9 more

Kobe Port Weekend Fireworks 2026–27 | Weekend Fireworks off Meriken Park

Meriken Park

Next 10/18 +10 more

EAT LOCAL KOBE Farmers Market

Suma Beach, south of JR Suma Station, Suma-ku, Kobe

10/10 - 11/30

Moomin × Kobe Port Tower: a part of KOBE

Kobe Port Tower and 20+ locations across Kobe

FAQ

Are the competition screenings free?

Yes. The eight competition films are screened on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November. Only the four invited films require a paid ticket.

When are the stage greetings?

Director Kazuya Shiraishi appears after The Blood of Wolves (Sat 14 Nov, 18:20), and Maki Sakai after Father of the Milky Way Railroad (Sun 15 Nov, 12:20).

Is there parking?

Yes, there is free parking on site.