Japanese Film, Anymart, Wins Critics’ Award at International Film Festival in Berlin, Director’s Debut Feature Film Shocks Audiences

By Eri Ishitsuka / Yomiuri Shimbun staff writer

16:10 JST, February 22, 2026

BERLIN — Director Yusuke Iwasaki’s debut feature film “AnyMart” won the FIPRESCI Prize, the international film critics’ award, in the Forum section at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday.

The horror film is set in a convenience store in Japan. Iwasaki wrote the screenplay, and Shota Sometani stars in the film.

Iwasaki said, “It feels a little strange that a story I made as something very personal has resonated with and even shocked so many people.”