2026 Nominees

If We Die, Let's Die in Paris

NHK

JAPAN

- Feature Length Film

“Is there any point in being alive?” “Striving is pointless. Life is empty. Everything disappears.” Such pessimistic ideas have become accepted as a given by many young people today. One answer to this generation’s despair lies in the work of philosopher Cioran. Cioran was an antinatalist (the belief people should not be born, and it is better for humanity to stop having children) and had a lifelong suicidal ideation. He held the extreme pessimistic belief that life held no meaning. Yet he also helped people turn away from suicide, and lived to be 84, a life full of contradictions. Our lead idolizes Cioran and bemoans the hopeless present. His own suicidal ideation doesn’t stop him from choosing to live, even in the worst of worlds. We hope this offers a strong, humorous lifeline for those facing a bleak reality today.