The Japan Foundation, Manila, has announced the return of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) to Philippine theaters this October 2025, featuring a selection of 12 acclaimed films now showing at SM Cinema Manila until 26 October. Admission to all screenings is free of charge.
Since its launch in 1997, the JFF has grown into one of the Philippines’ most anticipated film events, attracting an estimated 40,000 viewers annually. It is now recognized as the largest Japanese film festival in the world, offering audiences a mix of timeless classics and contemporary releases.
This year’s theme, “Bridg(e)ing,” highlights films that symbolize connection — linking the past and future, humans and technology, body and spirit, and individual and community stories. The festival aims to inspire audiences to build bridges through shared experiences in cinema.
Opening the 2025 edition is the 4K remastered version of Love Letter (1995), the directorial debut of Shunji Iwai and a widely celebrated Japanese romantic drama. The film, screened in over 20 countries, is known for its evocative winter landscapes and the iconic line “Ogenki desu ka? (How are you?).” Its influence continues to resonate in newer works such as 18×2 Beyond Youthful Days (2024), a Taiwan-Japan co-production directed by Michihito Fujii.
Among the featured titles are Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (1956), the animated cyberpunk classic Ghost in the Shell (1995), Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away (2001), A Samurai in Time (2024), the live-action adaptation of Cells at Work! (2024) and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (2024).
The JFF 2025 regional screenings began at SM City Baguio, followed by SM City Cebu, SM Lanang (10 to 19 October), and SM City Clark (17 to 26 October). The festival will conclude in Manila, with screenings at both the UP Film Institute and SM City Manila (17 to 26 October).
The event is supported by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, JTI Philippines, Theo & Philo Artisan Chocolates, SM Cinema, and the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.
Visit the official JFF 2025 website at www.japanesefilmfestph.jfmo.org.ph or follow @jfmanila on Facebook and Instagram.