The Cinematheque

“One of the finest, most soulful Japanese filmmakers of his generation.”

Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire

Of those figures leading a new generation of Japanese art cinema—think Hamaguchi Ryusuke, think Hayakawa Chie—Sapporo-born Miyake Sho (b. 1984) appears to be next in line for name recognition following his Golden Leopard win for Two Seasons, Two Strangers (2025). That his latest is also a New Directors/​New Films 2026 selection is something of a misnomer: the director has been active since 2012, and his discovery stateside trails years of critical admiration at home. Indeed, each of Miyake’s last three pictures—Small, Slow But Steady (2022), All the Long Nights (2024), and Two Seasons—topped the prestigious Kinema Junpo poll of the year’s best Japanese films, yet North American distribution has, until recently, eluded him. We are proud to introduce Vancouver audiences to Miyake’s work with a program of those acclaimed films, all rendered in graceful minor keys.