Film News Today — October 26, 2026
‘VelociPastor 2’ Leaves FilmQuest Audience Roaring, Celebrating Human-Made Films in an AI Era and more — today's film signal.
The world of film is abuzz with exciting developments, from the unlikeliest of hits to shifts in the global festival landscape. At the FilmQuest festival, the bizarrely-titled 'VelociPastor 2' has captured the hearts of audiences, sparking a celebration of human creativity in an era increasingly dominated by AI-generated content. This enthusiasm for uniquely human-made films is echoed in the announcement that Epsilon Film has boarded the animated movie 'Apple Cadabra – I Shrunk Myself', a new project that is sure to delight fans of imaginative storytelling.
As the film industry continues to evolve, major festivals are reassessing their roles and lineups. The Tokyo Film Festival, for instance, is gearing up for its 40th edition and is taking a hard look at its global standing. The festival's leadership, including director Hisamatsu Takeo, is navigating a complex landscape marked by slowing investment, star flops, and geopolitical volatility. The Asian lineup at Tokyo features a preponderance of family dramas, highlighting a trend towards more conservative programming in uncertain times. Meanwhile, the anime industry is grappling with its own challenges, including a pay divide that separates studios willing to take risks from those playing it safe. As the film world continues to shift and adapt, one thing is clear: the passion and creativity of human filmmakers will remain a driving force behind the industry's most exciting developments.
Today's signal:
• ‘VelociPastor 2’ Leaves FilmQuest Audience Roaring, Celebrating Human-Made Films in an AI Era (variety.com)
• Animated Movie ‘Apple Cadabra – I Shrunk Myself’ Boarded by Epsilon Film (EXCLUSIVE) (variety.com)
• Tokyo Film Festival to Reassess Its Global Standing Ahead of 40th Edition, Says Director Hisamatsu Takeo (variety.com)
• Star Flops and Slowing Investment Help Explain China’s Thin Festival Presence, Says Tokyo Programming Director (variety.com)
• Anime’s Pay Divide Runs Between Studios That Take Risks and Those That Don’t, Says Tokyo Festival Advisor (variety.com)
• Family Dramas Dominate Tokyo Festival’s Asian Lineup Amid ‘Geopolitical Volatility’ (variety.com)