Cetera International

Cetera International (有限会社セテラ・インターナショナル) is a Japanese film distribution company based in Meguro-ku, Tokyo. Founded in 1989 by Yoko Yamanaka, who was then working at a film import company, the firm was established with the specific aim of screening films starring the French actor Gérard Philipe. Over the decades, Cetera International has built a reputation as a niche distributor focused on European cinema, with a strong emphasis on French productions. Its catalogue includes a wide range of art-house films, documentaries, and restored classics, often released under special retrospective programs. The company is known for its dedication to bringing lesser-known European works to Japanese audiences, as well as for its handling of 4K digital remasters of classic films. Notable releases include adaptations of Shakespeare (Much Ado About Nothing, 1994), French comedies (The Best Lover, 1995; Paris Restaurant, 1996), and documentaries (Berlin Philharmonic and the Children, 2004). Cetera International also distributes Blu-ray and DVD editions of its films, sometimes in partnership with other labels such as Happinet. The company remains a small, privately held operation, with a staff of four as of its company profile. It continues to actively acquire and release films, with recent titles including A Night of Knowing Nothing (2021) and Simple Accident (2026).

Cetera International was founded in 1989 by Yoko Yamanaka, who was working at a film import company at the time. The impetus for establishing the company was to screen films featuring the French actor Gérard Philipe in Japan. Starting as a small operation, the company initially focused on importing and distributing European films, particularly French ones. In the early 1990s, Cetera International began building its catalogue with releases such as 'Hope Street' (1992), 'Afternoon Tea in Bed' (1992), and 'Casanova's Last Love' (1993). The company's output grew steadily, and by the mid-1990s it was distributing a mix of contemporary and classic films, including 'Much Ado About Nothing' (1994), 'The Best Lover' (1995), and 'Paris Restaurant' (1996). A significant part of its identity became the periodic retrospectives of Gérard Philipe's films, which it has continued to organize, such as the 'Gérard Philipe Film Festival' in 1996 and the '80th Birth Anniversary: Gérard Philipe Revived' in 2002. Over the years, Cetera International expanded its scope to include documentaries and ballet films, such as 'Berlin Philharmonic and the Children' (2004) and 'Ballerina: The Muses of Mariinsky Ballet' (2007). It also began releasing 4K digital remasters of classic films, like 'The Earrings of Madame de...' (2008) and 'Dangerous Liaisons' (2018). The company has maintained a small staff, with four employees as of its recent company profile, and remains a privately held limited company (yugen-gaisha). In the 2010s and 2020s, it continued to distribute a diverse array of European films, including 'Hannah Arendt' (2013), 'The Parade' (2015), and 'The Best Wedding' (2016). Recent releases include 'A Night of Knowing Nothing' (2021) and 'Simple Accident' (2026).

• 2026

  Scheduled release of 'Simple Accident'.

• 2021

  Distributed 'A Night of Knowing Nothing' and 'Simple Passion'.

• 2018

  Distributed 'Dangerous Liaisons' 4K digital remaster.

• 2013

  Distributed 'Hannah Arendt'.

• 2008

  Distributed 'The Earrings of Madame de...'.

• 2004

  Distributed 'Berlin Philharmonic and the Children'.

• 2002

  Organized '80th Birth Anniversary: Gérard Philipe Revived'.

• 1996

  Organized 'Gérard Philipe Film Festival'.

• 1994

  Distributed 'Much Ado About Nothing'.

• 1992

  First distribution releases, including 'Hope Street' and 'Afternoon Tea in Bed'.

• 1989

  Company founded by Yoko Yamanaka in Meguro-ku, Tokyo.

Niche distributor of European art-house and classic cinema in Japan.

Product categories. European films · French films · Documentaries · Art-house cinema · 4K digital remasters · Blu-ray and DVD releases

1. 1セテラ・インターナショナル 公式サイトcetera.co.jp
2. 2セテラ・インターナショナル｜会社案内cetera.co.jp
3. 3セテラ・インターナショナル - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
4. 4Cetera International - Wikidatawikidata.org