The predecessor of the Hiroshima International Film Festival (HIFF), "Damah Film Festival in Hiroshima" started as the Japanese version in 2009 when the "Damah Film Festival" in Seattle had adjourned. It was held annually with the theme, "Connecting our hearts together", until 2013. In 2014, our film festival was reborn as “Hiroshima International Film Festival” with the HIFF Executive Committee, which is supported by Hiroshima Prefectural Government, The City of Hiroshima, the cultural institutions and economic associations in Hiroshima.
"HIFF shows films from all over the world which carry positive messages."
Based on the concept, we try to create a unique film festival only in Hiroshima which had recovered from the damages created by the atomic bomb.

Dec. 2009
The 1st Damah Film Festival in Hiroshima (held in Hiroshima City)

DAMAH is the meaning of a metaphor giving inspiration in Hebrew. We offered works focusing on the way people describe the inner aspects of human conflicts, changes in feelings, etc. 10 films were selected carefully from among about 120 works from Asian countries and those were screened.
The Hiroshima Grand Prix Award, Jury Award, and Audience Award were elected by audience voting and five juries including Director Ryūichi Hiroki and Director Shunichi Nagasaki.

Nov. 2010
The 2nd Damah Film Festival in Hiroshima (held concurrently in Hiroshima City, Fukuyama City and Iwakuni City)

A “Competition division” was implemented. "A Last Note", directed by Kaneto Shindô, was shown as Special Screenings. Eight works were also introduced out of excellent works screened at U. S. Damah Film Festival from 2001 to 2008. Juries and guests gathered on the red carpet laid down in "KINZAGAI" shopping street in Hiroshima.

Nov. 2011
The 3rd Damah Film Festival in Hiroshima (held concurrently in Hiroshima City and Fukuyama City)

Following the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11th that year, "3.11 A Sense of Home Films" was screened. In the film, Director Naomi Kawase called for film directors from all over the world to gather as a theme, "Thinking of feelings for families, home towns and countries with people all over the world". The actor, Etsushi Toyokawa was a guest.

Nov. 2012
The 4th Damah Film Festival in Hiroshima (held in Hiroshima City)

In addition to Hiroshima Grand Prix Award, Jury Award, and Audience Award, the "Chūgoku Region Award", aiming to discover film makers rooted in the community and nurture regional cinematographic culture, was established.
The workshop, "In This Corner of the World" was held while Director Sunao Katabuchi was in production. Juries and guests gathered on the red carpet at The Fureai Hiroba on the ground floor of the venue, Motomachi CREDO Pacela.

Nov. 2013
The 5th Damah Film Festival in Hiroshima (in Hiroshima City)

Director Nobuo Mizuta, who is from Hiroshima and Korean Director Lee Jun-ik first appeared with a special invitation. Their works, "Tsuna hiichatta!" and "Hope" were screened.
As a pre-event, "Damah Film Festival × MireyHIROKI" and "LOVE&PEACE PROJECT in Hiroshima" were held at the former Bank of Japan Hiroshima Branch and they drew the attention.

Nov. 2014
The inaugural Hiroshima International Film Festival 2014 (held at NTT Cred Hall in Hiroshima City)

In addition to the “International Short Film Competition” and “Special Screenings”, the program, "Hiroshima EYE", which draws Hiroshima from various perspectives was newly established with the inaugural HIFF. In the opening, "The Man Who Stole the Sun", directed by Kazuhiko Hasegawa, from Special Screenings, and in the closing, Yuichiro Hirakawa's "Mindset" were screened.

Nov. 2015
Hiroshima International Film Festival 2015 (held at NTT Cred Hall, Hiroshima City Cinematographic and Audio-Visual Library, Yokogawa Cinema, Hatchoza in Hiroshima City)

With the theme of entertainment, "Film + food + music + encounter", in the lobby of the venue, booths of local popular eateries also expanded.
We launched a joint program in partnership with Cinémathèque française (a famous film hall in France) and we held the "Retrospective Henri Langlois", the founder of Cinémathèque.
The Jury President of International Short Film Competition, Yoshishige Yoshida's directorial work, "The Women in the Mirror" was screened, and Mariko Okada, who had appeared in it was a special jury member.
Portuguese Director Miguel Gomes' new production, "Arabian Nights", a three-part feature film, was shown as a Japan Premiere. Actor Masatoshi Nagase and Director Shota Sometani were also invited.

Nov. 2016
Hiroshima International Film Festival 2016 (held at NTT Cred Hall, Hiroshima City Cinematographic and Audio-Visual Library, Yokogawa Cinema, Hatchoza in Hiroshima City)

"The Hiroshima Peace Film Award" was newly established by Shinji Fukuoka Fund for Support Cinematographic Culture, and "In This Corner of the World", directed by Sunao Katabuchi, was the awardee. We invited Director Shunji Iwai. His special showcase and talk show were held.
With the screening of “Nagasaki: Memories of My Son” (Barrier-free version), the leading actress, Sayuri Yoshinaga's talk show was also held. Director Miwa Nishikawa, who is from Hiroshima, screening her work, “Wild Berries” and her talk show were held. In the joint program with Cinémathèque française, we held a program, "Diagonale Feature". In cooperation with Guanajuato International Film Festival, which is held annually in the Guanajuato State of Mexico, a sister city of Hiroshima Prefecture, “Panamerican Machinery”, directed by Joaquín Del Paso, was also screened.

Nov. 2017
Hiroshima International Film Festival 2017(held at NTT Cred Hall, Hiroshima City Cinematographic and Audio-Visual Library, Yokogawa Cinema, Hatchoza in Hiroshima City)

We invited a former chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, Kim Dong Ho as the Jury President.
In the program "Hiroshima EYE", "ERNESTO" was screened. The movie describes a man named Nikkei Freddy Maemura who acted alongside of Che Guevara, a hero of the Cuban revolution. A talk show was also held with Director Jyunji Sakamoto and Joe Odagiri who featured in it. And "ERNESTO" received The Hiroshima Peace Award.
“In This Corner of the World” (Barrier-free version) was also screened and a live talk with Director Sunao Katabuchi and a voice actor/dialectic guidance Yukitomo Tochino was held. The latest work by Catalan Director Albert Serra starring a French Actor Jean-Pierre Léaud, “The Death of Louis XIV” was screened as Japan Premiere.

In November of 2018, Hiroshima International Film Festival 2018 will be the tenth anniversary from Damah Film Festival in Hiroshima.

We hope you'll be looking forward to it!