Two Seasons, Two Strangers


Two Seasons, Two Strangers ( is a 2025 Japanese drama film written and directed by Sho Miyake, based on the manga short stories "A View of the Seaside" and "Mr. Ben and His Igloo" by Yoshiharu Tsuge. It follows Lee, a scriptwriter who is processing what is happening in her life.
The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 78th Locarno Film Festival on 15 August 2025, where it won the Golden Leopard.

Cast

The film co-produced by Culture Entertainment, Sedic International, and TheFool was acquired by the Japanese distribution company Bitters End, for international sales and Japanese distribution in May 2025. It was featured in Cannes market lineup.

Release

Two Seasons, Two Strangers had its World Premiere at the 78th Locarno Film Festival on 15 August 2025, and competed for Golden Leopard.
The film was presented in the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera section at the 73rd San Sebastián International Film Festival on 25 September 2025. It also competed in the Competition section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival on September 19, 2025 for 'Busan Awards'.
It was also screened in International Perspective at the São Paulo International Film Festival on 20 October 2025.
On 27 October it was screened at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival in the Wide Angle section.
It was screened in Open Zone section of the 2025 Stockholm International Film Festival on 10 November 2025. It was presented in 'Country Focus: Japan - 2025' section of the 56th [International Film Festival of India] in November 2025. It was presented in the Panorama section of the 20th Jogja-NETPAC [Asian Film Festival] on 30 November 2025.
It was selected to compete in the Asian Feature Film Competition of the 36th Singapore International Film Festival and had its Singapore Premiere on 3 December 2025. It also competed in the Red Sea: Competition strand at the Red Sea International Film Festival and had screening on 8 December 2025.
The film was released on November 7, 2025 in Japanese theatres by. It is also slated to release in South Korea in the winter season. Rights for the film were also acquired for the United States, France, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Israel, Greece, Portugal, and Indonesia.

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipientResult
International Film Festival of Kerala19 December 2025Golden Crow Pheasant for Best FilmTwo Seasons, Two StrangersWon
Locarno Film Festival16 August 2025Golden LeopardTwo Seasons, Two StrangersWon
Locarno Film Festival16 August 2025"The environment is quality of life" Prize offered by the Ticino Department of Internal AffairsTwo Seasons, Two StrangersWon
Busan International Film Festival26 September 2025Vision AwardsTwo Seasons, Two StrangersNomitated
Asia Pacific Screen Awards27 November 2025Best FilmTwo Seasons, Two StrangersNomitated
Asia Pacific Screen Awards27 November 2025Best CinematographerYuta TsukinagaNomitated
Nikkan Sports Film Awards28 December 2025Best ActressShim Eun-kyung
Yokohama Film Festival1 February 2026Best CinematographerYuta TsukinagaWon
Yokohama Film Festival1 February 2026Best Supporting ActressYuumi KawaiWon
Yokohama Film Festival1 February 2026Best NewcomerMansaku TakadaWon
Mainichi Film Awards10 February 2026Best FilmTwo Seasons, Two Strangers
Mainichi Film Awards10 February 2026Best DirectorSho Miyake
Mainichi Film Awards10 February 2026Best Lead PerformanceShim Eun-kyung
Mainichi Film Awards10 February 2026Best Supporting PerformanceShinichi Tsutsumi
Mainichi Film Awards10 February 2026Best CinematographyYuta Tsukinaga
Mainichi Film Awards10 February 2026Best Art DirectionMasato Nunobe
Mainichi Film Awards10 February 2026Best Sound RecordingTakamitsu Kawai
Kinema Junpo Awards19 February 2026Best FilmTwo Seasons, Two StrangersWon
Kinema Junpo Awards19 February 2026Best ActressShim Eun-kyungWon