Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Latest Film “Sheep in the Box” Selected for the 79th Cannes Film Festival Competition! The feature is co-financed and produced by AOI Pro.
April 24, 2026
Daigo(Chidori), Haruka Ayase, Rimu Kuwaki
©2026 FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK, INC./ GAGA CORPORATION/ TOHO CO., LTD./ AOI PRO. INC.
The film “Sheep in the Box” (co-financed and produced by AOI Pro.), directed, written, and edited by Hirokazu Kore-eda, and starring Haruka Ayase and Daigo as double leads, scheduled for nationwide release on Friday, May 29, has been selected for the Competition section of the “79th Cannes International Film Festival,” to be held from Tuesday, May 12 to Saturday, May 23 (France local time), and its official screening has been decided.
This marks the first time in three years since “Monster” (2023, co-financed and produced by AOI Pro.) that a Kore-eda film has been selected for the Competition section at the Cannes International Film Festival, and the 8th time overall (10th time participating in Cannes International Film Festival in total).
In 2004, “Nobody Knows”, starring Yuya Yagira, won the Best Actor Award; in 2013, “Like Father, Like Son” won the Jury Prize; and in 2018, “Shoplifters” (co-financed and produced by AOI Pro.) won the Palme d’Or, the highest prize.
In 2022, “Broker” (distributed in Japan by GAGA, Fuji Television Network, AOI Pro.) won the Ecumenical Jury Prize and Best Actor (Song Kang-ho).
Also, the previous film “Monster” won the Best Screenplay Award (Screenplay: Yuji Sakamoto) and the Queer Palm, the first ever for a Japanese film, and has received numerous awards.
“Sheep in the Box,” for which distribution has already been decided in 184 countries and regions worldwide, has secured distribution by NEON in North America. Furthermore, theatrical releases are planned in various countries and regions around the world, including Asian countries and regions such as Korea, Thailand, and Taiwan; European countries such as France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain; as well as South America and Australia, and expectations and momentum are rising on the international stage.
At this time, the completed poster visual and scene stills have also been unveiled. The poster visual features the family of the couple played by Haruka Ayase and Daigo, and their humanoid son. What is reflected in their eyes as they look up in the forest? It is an impressive poster that suggests their choices and the future that follows. Stay tuned for “Sheep in the Box.”
Director & Cast Comments
◆Director Hirokazu Kore-eda
First of all, I would like to express my happiness at being able to stand again in that place together with the staff and cast with whom I shared both hardships and joys. It is also my first original screenplay in a while, and I still cannot clearly grasp what this work is trying to depict or where it arrives, but since we have been given the best possible place for its unveiling, I would like to firmly see off its departure.
◆Haruka Ayase
I feel deeply honored that this work, which was created together with Director Kore-eda, the staff, and the cast including Daigo, will be seen by people around the world at the special place of the Cannes International Film Festival. And I hope that “Sheep in the Box” will become a work that resonates in everyone’s hearts.
◆Daigo
I am very happy that it has been decided that the film will be exhibited in the Competition section of the Cannes International Film Festival. It is all thanks to Director Kore-eda, the cast, and all the staff. Congratulations to everyone involved in this film! For me personally, it feels extremely lucky! Totally a windfall. I’m looking forward to a trip to France with Haruka Ayase!
Credit
Feature Film “Sheep in the Box”
Two years after losing their son, Otone, an architect, and Kensuke, the second-generation president of a construction company, the Komoto couple decide to welcome into their home a humanoid in the form of their son Sho. On the day he arrives, Otone runs up to him saying “Welcome home,” unable to hide her joy, while Kensuke cannot hide his confusion and has a stiff expression. When asked, “You’re my dad, right?” Kensuke replies, “You can just call me ‘Kensuke.’”
The time of the family begins to move little by little. Ripples quietly begin to spread. Before long, an unexpected situation occurs, and the feelings each of the couple holds toward the death of their son begin to surface.
What is a married couple? What is a family? They are forced to make a major decision. Meanwhile, the humanoid Sho secretly begins to connect with other humanoids──
| Release in Japan | May 29, 2026 (Fri) |
| Director / Screenplay / Editor | Hirokazu Kore-eda |
| Cast | Haruka Ayase, Daigo(Chidori) Rimu Kuwaki, Nana Seino, Kanichiro Yota Hiiragi, Akihiro Kakuta, Kayo Noro, Mari Hoshino, Ayumu Nakajima Kimiko Yo, Min Tanaka |
| Music | Yuta Bandoh |
| Staff | Executive Producers: Hiroki Wakamatsu, Tatsumi Yoda, Minami Ichikawa, Yusaku Tanaka Producers: Kaoru Matsuzaki, Megumi Banse Co-Producer: Satomi Kotake Cinematography: Ryuto Kondo Gaffer: Eiji Oshita Sound Recording: Kazuhiko Tomita Production Design: Takuya Okada Set Decoration: Harumi Hamasaki Costume Design: Sachiko Ito Hair & Makeup: Mutsuki Sakai Humanoid Design Supervisor: Koji Tajima Special Makeup & Character Design: Soichi Umezawa First Assistant Director: Tomohiro Kubo VFX Supervisor: Tetsuya Shiraishi Script Supervisor: Yuka Sayama Production Manager: Ichiro Goto Line Producer: Hiroaki Matsushita Associate Producers: Kiyoshi Taguchi, Hiromasa Tamai |
| Presented by | Fuji Television, GAGA, Toho, AOI Pro. |
| Production | AOI Pro. |
| Distribution in Japan | Toho, GAGA |
| URL | Official website X |
| AOI Pro. Staff | Producer: Megumi Banse Assistant Producers: Rika Arima, Chimaki Hashizume |