Canoe Film has boarded multigenerational love story “Akashi” for international sales, excluding Canada and Japan, and is revving up buyer conversations at the Cannes Film Market.
“Akashi” is the feature debut of Vancouver-based director, actor, and writer Mayumi Yoshida, who is attending the market as part of Film Network Access’ 2026 cohort. Her film won the Audience Award at the Vancouver International Film Festival, where it premiered last October, and picked up several accolades during its festival run.
Inspired by a real-life family secret- the filmmaker’s grandfather carried on an affair throughout his marriage – the story follows a struggling Vancouver artist (Yoshida) who returns to Tokyo for her grandmother’s funeral, begins confronting hidden family truths, and unexpectedly crosses paths with a former love.
“Having ‘Akashi’ at the Cannes Marché this year feels especially meaningful with Japan being the country of honor,” Yoshida told Variety earlier this week. “Cannes has always been a place where international cinema finds momentum, and it’s exciting to present a Japanese Canadian story like ‘Akashi’ on a prestigious global stage.”
“We’ve deeply felt the care and hustle that Canoe Film brings to their incredibly curated slate of projects, and we’re truly honored to be part of it,” added Yoshida, who also announced that Echo Lake Entertainment is now part of her US management.
