Japanese Film Festival opens at SM City Iloilo

Japanese films are taking center stage at SM City Iloilo as the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) 2026 brings 11 titles to Ilonggo moviegoers from 6 to 15 November.

Organized by the Japan Foundation, Manila, in partnership with SM Supermalls and SM Cinema, the festival offers free screenings under this year’s theme, “Shared Treasure. Shared Stories.”

The Iloilo leg is part of the nationwide festival, which runs from 1 October to 29 November across six cities and eight venues.

The 2026 edition celebrates the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Japan Foundation, Manila.

The local lineup features a selection of acclaimed films, beloved classics and animated features, highlighting the diversity of Japanese cinema and stories that connect audiences across generations.

Among the titles featured in the festival’s nationwide program are “Kokuho,” directed by Lee Sang-il; Akira Kurosawa’s “Throne of Blood”; Studio Ghibli’s “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”; “Under Ninja,” starring Kento Yamazaki; and Yoji Yamada’s “Tokyo Taxi.”

The festival also aims to strengthen cultural exchange and deepen ties between Filipino and Japanese audiences through cinema.

The JFF 2026 is supported by the Embassy of Japan, SM Supermalls and SM Cinema, JTI Philippines, Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Japan Film Commission and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.