Japan’s Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission Matsuda Kenichi led the opening night of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) 2025 held at the Shangri-La Plaza Grand Atrium, Mandaluyong City.
Hosted by the Japan Foundation Manila (JFM), the annual film event was also attended by JFM Director Suzuki Ben, Shangri-La Plaza Retail Operations Head Johnny Rios, and Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Acting Executive Director Rachelle Villanueva.
In his welcome remarks, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission Matsuda recognized the power of films to bridge Japanese and Philippine cultures and peoples through the universal language of cinema.
He also invited the audience to fully immerse themselves in the stories of the films, saying “sa tawa man o sa luha, sama-sama nating ipagdiwang ang mahika ng sine (whether through laughter or tears, together let us celebrate the magic of cinema).”
This year’s Japanese Film Festival opened with the screening of the 4K restoration of the 1995 Iwai Shunji classic “Love Letter.” Cinematic classics like “Seven Samurai,” animated features including “Spirited Away” and “Ghost in the Shell,” to critically acclaimed hits such as “Evil Does Not Exist” and “Cells at Work” are also part of the film festival’s lineup.
The JFF (previously known as EIGASAI) is one of the most anticipated film festivals in the country with screenings across the Philippines including Manila, Baguio, Davao, Cebu, and Angeles.
The JFF 2025 is admission free and will be showing at partner cinemas nationwide until October 26. Ticketing details and movie schedules are available at the JFF’s official website.
