We Are Aliens Expands Global Festival Run With Screenings at OIAF, MIFF, and NZIFF Following Cannes Premiere

The internationally acclaimed anime film We Are Aliens (Ware Ware wa Uchūjin) is continuing its successful festival circuit with new screenings confirmed for three of the world’s leading film festivals. Following its debut at the Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight, the original feature will now be showcased at the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), and New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF).

The announcement further strengthens the film’s growing international presence, with audiences across Canada, Australia, and New Zealand set to experience one of this year’s most talked-about original anime productions.

International Festival Tour Continues After Cannes and Annecy

We Are Aliens has been selected for screenings at OIAF, MIFF, and NZIFF in 2026. The film previously premiered in the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival before earning a competition slot at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

Directed by Kōhei Kadowaki, the film follows childhood friends Tsubasa and Gyōtarō, whose close bond is broken by jealousy and misunderstandings. Years later, the pair must confront unresolved emotions and the memories that changed the course of their lives.

Ryōta Bandō and Amane Okayama voice the protagonists as adults, while child actors Yūto Maki and Tasuku Nakagome portray the younger versions of the characters.

Original Production Gains Worldwide Recognition

Kadowaki serves as planner, writer, director, storyboard artist, and editor for the project. He is best known for creating the ending sequence for BEASTARS Season 2 and directing music videos for artists including YOASOBI. The film’s score was composed by Yaffle, whose previous collaborations include musicians Fujii Kaze and Kenshi Yonezu.

A still from We Are Aliens Anime Film.

The project was produced by Japanese studio NOTHING NEW in collaboration with France’s Miyu Productions, the studio behind Ghost Cat Anzu and A New Dawn. Earlier this year, the filmmakers also completed a successful crowdfunding campaign, raising more than 9.6 million yen, surpassing their original 8 million yen goal to support production quality and international distribution.

International sales company CHARADES has licensed the film to distributors in Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand, signaling continued worldwide interest beyond the festival circuit.

Meanwhile, OIAF will also screen Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3: Snake God, while MIFF and NZIFF are scheduled to present Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s live-action adaptation of The Samurai and the Prisoner.