LIST: Movies screening at the 2025 Japanese Film Festival this September
Lights, Camera, Japan!
The Japanese Film Festival is set to return to the Philippines, bringing a curated selection of films to major cities across the country.
Presented by The Japan Foundation, Manila, the festival will begin on Sept. 18 and will feature 12 films, ranging from timeless classics to critically acclaimed new releases.
The JFF 2025 official film lineup includes the 4K restoration of the 1995 film Love Letter, Seven Samurai (1954), Spirited Away (2001), Ghost In The Shell (1995), Evil Does Not Exist (2023), A Samurai In Time (2024), Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom (2024), Cells at Work! (2024), Showtime 7 (2025), 18x2 Beyond Youthful Days (2024), Teasing Master Takagi-san (2024), and The Boy and the Dog (2025).
Film enthusiasts and alike can watch these movies starting Sept. 18 to Oct. 26 from the following screening venues.
- Shangri-la Plaza, Manila (Sept. 18 to 28)
- SM City Baguio (Sept. 26 to Oct. 5)
- SM City Cebu (Oct. 3 to Oct. 12)
- UP Film Institute (Oct. 10 to Oct. 18)
- SM City Lanang (Oct. 10 to Oct. 19)
- SM City Manila (Oct. 17 to Oct. 26)
- SM City Clark (Oct. 17 to Oct. 26)
Admission is free for all screenings.
The Japanese Film Festival was first launched in 1997, bringing drama, anime, and mystery films from Japan to the Philippines.
In 2023, the annual festival marked its return to on-site screenings after holding its previous editions online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last 2024, JFF showcased 14 films including The First Slam Dunk (2022), Detective Conan The Movie: The Time-Bombed Skyscraper (1997), Detective Conan The Movie: The Private Eyes’ Requiem (2004), The Father of the Milky Way Railroad (2022), Voltes V: Legacy - The Cinematic Experience (2023), and Voltes V: The Liberation (1977-1978), among others.
