The Japanese Film Festival (JFF), presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney, is set to captivate audiences in 2025 with its extraordinary 29th edition.
Showcasing the finest in contemporary and classic Japanese cinema, this year’s program spans major new releases, literary adaptations, thrillers, anime features, and more. Touring Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Perth from 27 October to 19 December, the festival promises a film experience like no other.
“We’re excited to bring a program that speaks to the breadth of Japanese cinema today,” said Manisay Oudomvilay, Festival Programmer. “From historical sagas to intimate family portraits, contemporary thrillers to beloved manga brought to life, these films capture both the richness of tradition and the restless innovation of Japanese filmmakers.”
Opening the festival is Kokuh??, Japan’s official submission for the 2026 Academy Awards. Directed by Lee Sang-il (Villain, Rage) and featuring iconic actors Ry?? Yoshizawa, Ry?sei Yokohama, and Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, Memoirs of a Geisha), this record-breaking live-action film explores fifty years of friendship, rivalry, and ambition within the kabuki theatre tradition of western Japan. Based on Sh?ichi Yoshida’s novel, the story masterfully weaves themes of loyalty and the pursuit of artistic mastery.
Fans of Kiyoshi Kurosawa have much to celebrate with three new works from the acclaimed auteur hitting the program. Chime, an already celebrated horror masterpiece, explores a mysterious phenomenon where sound alters human behavior. Cloud is a gripping thriller about digital dangers, while Serpent’s Path is a French-language remake of Kurosawa’s own 1998 film, further exemplifying his bold artistic range.
Literary adaptations take center stage with films like 6 Lying University Students, transformed from Akimari Asakura’s popular book into a psychological thriller, and Petals and Memories, based on Minato Shukawa’s prize-winning short stories, which sensitively unpack familial bonds and hidden truths. Meanwhile, 366 Days, inspired by a hit Okinawan song, beautifully portrays young lovers navigating Tokyo’s highs and lows as they chase their dreams.
Adventurous narratives of integrity and conflict also shine this year. Highlights include Showtime 7, a gripping tale of a disgraced news anchor caught in a live terrorist negotiation, and Bushido, Kazuya Shiraishi’s debut samurai drama, which unravels a r?nin’s fight for justice and survival. For those drawn to crime capers, Angry Squad promises edge-of-your-seat action as an unlikely duo of a tax officer and a con artist targets cunning swindlers.
The festival doesn’t shy away from spotlighting the enduring impact of manga and anime. Cells at Work!, a live-action adaptation, creatively imagines the human body as a battleground for cells fighting illness, while The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store brings an enchanting world of animals, both real and extinct, to life through animated storytelling. For a more grounded tale, Sunset Sunrise reflects the resilience of regional Japan by following a Tokyo man who rediscovers life on the Sanriku Coast during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s JFF Special Series dives into Japan’s cinematic golden era, offering a retrospective of masterpieces from the 1930s by legendary filmmakers such as Yasujir? Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, and Sadao Yamanaka. Audiences can catch these historic gems at premier cultural institutions, accompanied by a rare mini-program of restored kami eiga (“paper films”) and a breathtaking live koto and cello performance by Duo YUMENO.
The full program is now live at www.japanesefilmfestival.net, so start planning your festival experience today—tickets sell out fast! From beloved classics to bold new visions, the 2025 Japanese Film Festival is not to be missed. Grab your tickets, and we’ll see you at the movies!