On the other side of the door, was time in its entirety… As the skies turn red and the earth trembles, Japan stands on the brink of disaster. But one determined teenager, Suzume, sets out on a mission to save her country. Able to see the supernatural forces that others can’t, it’s up to her to close the mysterious doors spreading chaos across the land. A perilous journey awaits as the fate of the country rests on her shoulders.

Award-winning creator, writer and director Makoto Shinkai has been a visionary in the animation space for decades, with his most recent films being “Your Name.” (2016) and “Weathering With You” (2019), both of which have catapulted him as a leading animation auteur with international viewers.  “Weathering With You” was selected as Japan’s entry for the best international feature film category of the 2020 Academy Awards and nominated in four categories in the 47th annual Annie Awards including Best Animated Independent Feature. “Suzume” will screen in Competition in the 2023 Berlinale.

“At its core, ‘Suzume’ is based on the massive disaster that occurred in Japan twelve years ago,” said Shinkai. “I’m eager to see how this film translates to international audiences: what makes sense, what doesn’t, and what common ground we have across cultures. The film’s imminent international release will hopefully give me the answer to those questions. And, I cannot thank our team members enough for their unprecedented talent and perseverance throughout the film’s production. On behalf of the entire team, I would also like to give thanks to all the fans who have cheered us on, making ‘Suzume’ possible.”

Tickets for the special screening go on general sale at 4pm on February 15th with BFI Champions & Patrons, and Members getting early access from 11:30am and 12:30pm respectively.