The Japanese Film Festival, Philippines (JFF), previously known as Eigasai, returns on January 30, 2025 until February 9 at Shangri-La Plaza’s Red Carpet Cinema, Ortigas City. Like in recent years, JFF will also have regional screenings.
For North Luzon, the festival will be at SM City Baguio from February 7 to 16, while for Visayas, it will be at SM City Iloilo and SM Cebu from February 14 to 23, 2025. The final round of screenings is scheduled at SM City Davao in Mindanao and SM North Edsa, Metro Manila from February 21 to March 2, 2025.
This year’s 12- film lineup consists of award-winning titles, fan favorites, crowd pleasers, and those highly anticipated by Japanese cinema enthusiasts.
Among the critically-acclaimed films is Monster, a coming-of age drama directed by Hirokazu Koreeda and written by Yuji Sakamoto. It won Best Screenplay in the 76th Cannes International Film Festival and was the last movie scored by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto. This also marks Kore-eda’s reunion with Sakura Ando, after Shoplifters.
“Perfect Days” and “Under the Open Sky”, two films starring Koji Yakusho, are also part of the festival. The former premiered at Cannes, where Yakusho bagged the Best Actor Award for his portrayal of a toilet cleaner who lives on his own terms. The latter features Yakusho as a former yakuza and ex-convict who struggles to reintegrate himself in society.
JFF 2025 will also serve as the Philippine premiere of Godzilla Minus One, which stars Ryonusuke Kamiki, Sakura Ando, and Minami Hamabe. Set in postwar Japan, it follows a kamikaze pilot who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and survivor guilt after his encounter with Godzilla. It was the Best Visual Effects awardee during the 96th Academy Awards.
Fans of animated films are also in for a treat as they may choose among four titles of different genres. These include “Akira” (sci-fi), “Haikyu: The Dumpster Battle” (sports), “The Imaginary” (fantasy/adventure), and “Sand Land” (action/ fantasy).
Fans of sports drama can also look forward to “Dito”, a story about a professional boxer who reunites with his daughter. Set in the Philippines, the film features both Japanese and Filipino cast members and crew.
Completing the festival are romance, comedy, and thriller movies featuring popular and versatile Japanese actors. “Our Secret Diary”, starring rising young actor Fumi Takahashi, caters to fans of high school romance comedy. The film adaptation of the coming-of -age comedy manga “ Let’s Go Karaoke,” top billed by Go Ayano, features an unlikely bond which develops between a yakuza and a middle schooler when the former asks the latter’s help in improving his singing skills. Tao Tsuchiya ( “Alice in Borderland”) headlines “Matched”, a thriller which centers on a woman who tries online dating and finds herself entangled in its dangers.
All screenings are free, but seats are limited and not guaranteed. A convenience fee applies for a slot reserved online.
For the announcement of the specific schedule of each screening, please visit https://japanesefilmfestph.jfmo.org.ph/ or follow JFM’s official social media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/jfmanila and https://www.instagram.com/jfmanila/.
Created in 1997, the JFF has become one of the most popular and highly anticipated international film festivals in the Philippines. This year’s run is co-presented by Film Development Council of the Philippines, JT International (Philippines) Inc., and the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.
