Set in modern-day Tokyo, RENTAL FAMILY follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection. The Montclair Film Festival is delighted to present HIKARI’s RENTAL FAMILY as our 2025 Fiction Centerpiece Film.

In English and Japanese with English subtitles

Q&A with 2025 Performer Award winner Brendan Fraser follows, moderated by Stephen Colbert