K. F. Watanabe is a Tokyo-based film professional with over a decade of experience working within various roles involving distribution, programming, operations, and management. As of January 2022, he is the Director of Theatrical & Home Video Distribution at Grasshopper Film where he manages the release of international narrative and documentary films in North America. He previously served as the Deputy Director of Film at Japan Society in New York where he oversaw year-round film programming, including the annual film festival JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film. As a writer, he has contributed to print and online publications including Film Comment, The Current (The Criterion Collection), Notebook (MUBI), The Baffler, The Brooklyn Rail, and Screen Slate, among others.