Exit 8, directed by Genki Kawamura and starring Kazunari Ninomiya and Nana Komatsu, held its official screening at the 78th Cannes Film Festival during the Midnight Screening section in the early hours of May 19 (local time).

Although the screening began at 12:30 a.m., the Lumière Theatre was packed with a full house of 2,300 attendees from diverse backgrounds. Tickets were completely sold out—testament to the film’s international anticipation.

As Ninomiya, Komatsu, director Kawamura, and screenwriter Kentaro Hirase entered the theater, the audience welcomed them with a standing ovation even before the screening started. Once the film ended and the end credits began to roll, another round of applause erupted—intensifying the moment the music stopped. The audience remained standing and applauding for a full eight minutes, coincidentally matching the film’s title, Exit 8. It was a deeply emotional and unifying experience shared by all present.

During this moving moment, Ninomiya smiled and waved from one end of the theater to the other. Komatsu appeared teary-eyed, and Kawamura responded to the crowd’s cheers with a heartfelt “Merci beaucoup!” and a beaming smile.

After the screening, the trio exchanged smiles and applause backstage. Ninomiya reflected:

“I’m grateful to have been warmly welcomed by everyone at Cannes. This was my first time watching a film with an international audience, and it’s been a truly precious experience and an unforgettable memory.”

Komatsu added:

“Sharing this film with the audience in the same space, from beginning to end, was incredibly meaningful. It feels like all the effort we put into making this film has been rewarded. I was deeply moved to share that moment with everyone involved.”

Director Kawamura shared his own thoughts:

“That applause after the screening—those are the moments I make films for. It reminded me of why I started creating movies in the first place.”

Exit 8 is based on a suspense-thriller indie game developed solo by KOTAKE CREATE in 2023, which has surpassed 1.7 million downloads. The story centers on a man navigating an endlessly looping underground passage, where he must detect subtle “anomalies” to escape. The film is scheduled for theatrical release in Japan on August 29.

Source : ORICON NEWS