The Japan Foundation, Manila has announced the return of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) to Philippine theaters, running from September 18 to October 26, 2025.
From Metro Manila and Baguio, to Cebu, Angeles, and Davao, JFF is back with a curated lineup of 12 films that span beloved classics and critically acclaimed new releases. Admission is free for all screenings.
Since its launch in 1997, JFF has become one of the most anticipated annual film festivals in the country, drawing around 40,000 moviegoers each year. It has also grown into the largest Japanese film festival in the world.
This year’s lineup promises something for everyone — timeless romances, laugh-out-loud comedies, and monumental blockbusters!
The 2025 edition takes on the theme “Bridg(e)ing,” highlighting films that act as metaphorical bridges — linking the past and future, humans and technology, body and spirit, and individual stories and shared community experiences. Organizers hope the festival inspires audiences “to build bridges rather than walls and connect with each other.”
Opening this year’s festival is the 4K remaster of Iwai Shunji’s “Love Letter” (1995), a landmark romance remembered for its iconic snowy setting and the unforgettable line “Ogenki desu ka?” (“How are you?”). The film has influenced generations of filmmakers, including Fujii Michihito, whose Taiwan-Japan co-production “18×2 Beyond Youthful Days” (2024) pays homage to Iwai’s debut.
Other highlights in the lineup include Kurosawa Akira’s “Seven Samurai” (1956), the animated cult classic “Ghost in the Shell” (1995), Miyazaki Hayao’s Academy Award-winning “Spirited Away” (2001), the time-traveling period adventure “A Samurai in Time” (2024), the live-action “Cells at Work!” (2024), and “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM” (2024).
The festival opens in Manila at the Shangri-La Red Carpet Cinema on September 18. It then moves to the regions starting September 26 at SM City Baguio, followed by screenings at SM City Cebu, SM City Davao, and SM City Clark. JFF later returns to the capital with screenings at the UP Film Institute, and wraps up at SM City Manila.
For the first time, JFF will also extend its screenings to campuses through “JFF Special Screenings @ Universities,” taking place in November at select institutions across the Visayas and Mindanao.
JFF 2025 is presented with the support of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, JTI Philippines, Theo and Philo Artisan Chocolates, and the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.
For full schedules, ticketing guidelines, and venue details, visit the official JFF 2025 website (https://japanesefilmfestph.jfmo.org.ph) or follow @jfmanila on Facebook and Instagram.
This article was written with the help of AI, based on an announcement from the Japan Foundation, Manila, and was reviewed and edited by the Hallyu Dorama team.