Seats are on a first-come first-served basis, so make sure to mark your calendars.
Guess what’s making a comeback? Uh-huh, the Japanese Film Festival is hitting theaters in the Philippines once again! Starting February 1 to March 3, you can get a chance to watch a fantastic array of Japanese films—with all those gripping stories and cinematic brilliance—for free!
Catch all 14 films lined up for the Japanese Film Festival at Shangri-la Red Carpet Cinema, SM City Baguio, SM City Iloilo, SM Seaside City Cebu, SM City Davao, and UPFI Film Center. The lineup features must-see titles like the all-time favorite sports anime Slam Dunk, mystery-thriller Detective Conan, and the recently released local live adaptation of Voltes V.
Here’s the Complete List of Movies to Watch at the Japanese Film Festival 2024
Since 1997, the Japanese Film Festival has been a cinematic delight for audiences in the Philippines, serving as a cultural gateway to the diverse and captivating world of Japanese cinema. Since its inception, this annual event has been all about bringing the best of Japan’s film industry to our big screens. It’s like a cultural exchange through movies, showcasing the storytelling and creativity that Japanese films are known for.
This year, the event is returning to its traditional format after transitioning online during the pandemic. This means you can head to the cinema, tag along with your family and friends, and enjoy these Japanese movies for free!
Released in 2022, this film brings together the Filipino-favorite characters of Takehiko Inoue’s iconic manga and anime on the big screen. The First Slam Dunk takes fans on a nostalgic trip to their fun memories of the Shohoku High School basketball team and the challenges that came along the way.
What will the two rival kingdoms do to come to diplomatic terms? Wed the kingdom’s most beautiful woman and cleverest man. While the idea seems simple to achieve peace, the two are too stubborn to even honor such a deal. So, what do you think will happen?
Masaki Suda and Arimura Kasumi are brought together to tell a heartwarming tale of love that delves into the complexities of life, the compromises inherent in relationships, and the societal challenges that shape our journeys.
After a thrilling series of action-packed events, the film climaxes as the Voltes Team confronts Prince Zardoz and his formidable weapon. This showdown puts their skills and machines to the test, delivering an intense and satisfying conclusion to the series.
This meet-cute high school romantic comedy follows the story of Kisaragi Maaya, who swore to never confess her feelings to someone and reluctantly agrees to fake a crush as proposed by the school heartthrob Chigira Sui. But as their one-sided love game unfolds, the boundary between pretense and genuine affection slowly blurs, leading to unexpected twists and turns in this teenage romance.
How well do you know the person you love? What if, all this time, that person has been posing under someone else’s identity? This thought-provoking film is an intriguing genre that interrogates the morals permeating today’s society.
In this quirky film, college student Nanase Nobata’s life takes a surreal turn when her nagging father, Hakaru, accidentally takes a drug, causing a temporary death. Now a ghost, Hakaru teams up with Nanase and an unremarkable employee nicknamed “Ghost” Matsuoka to thwart corporate espionage and prevent Hakaru’s premature cremation, all while navigating the complexities of family and the afterlife. Not Quite Dead Yet is definitely a hilarious and heartwarming tale of second chances and unexpected alliances.
This biopic, directed by Narushima Izuru, narrates the life of the legendary poet and novelist, Miyazawa Kenji, who has been known for his beloved children’s books. Despite his wealthy background, he forges an unconventional path and explores agricultural studies, synthetic gemstones, and other eccentric ventures. This powerful film, based on the best-selling novel, beautifully conveys the power of family and the unconditional love that endures through life’s challenges.
In this 10th-anniversary feature film, Detective Conan’s identity has been figured out by someone—and he’s taken Conan’s friend as hostage. With 12 hours to solve the case, can the beloved detective stop the bomb from ticking, save his friends, and keep his identity?
Based on the graphic novel by Gosho Aoyama, this film reveals how it all started—how a high school detective was turned into a little boy by a dark organization. With how things are, how did Shinichi actually save his girlfriend when all he has is his phone?
In this coming-of-age drama, 18-year-old Jungo, a high school student from Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, navigates the complexities of his identity as the son of a Filipina mother working in a hostess bar. When his mother announces plans to remarry, Jungo, who is homosexual, embarks on a journey to discover his biological father, exploring themes of family, love, and self-discovery in the process.
In this poignant drama, elderly couple Shukichi and Tomi embark on a trip to Tokyo, hoping for a memorable visit with their grown-up children. However, as they discover their children’s priorities, the couple feels a lack of genuine warmth, leading to a bittersweet journey that takes an unexpected turn when news of their mother’s critical illness reaches the family.
Bringing a new meaning to the ‘Manic Monday’ catchphrase, this quirky workplace comedy follows the life of Yoshikawa’s already disastrous week. In a surreal turn of events, she discovers that her office is stuck in a time loop. Teaming up with her coworkers, they navigate the chaos, enlighten their oblivious colleagues, and find a way to break free from the endless Monday madness.
Starring Miguel Tanfelix, this action-packed Filipino-adapted film brings the popular 70s Japanese anime to life, following the adventures of three brothers—Steve, Big Bert, and Little Jon Armstrong. Alongside their friends Jamie Robinson and Mark Gordon, they unite to pilot the Ultra Electromagnetic Voltes V Super Robot, defending Earth against the invading forces of the Boazanian Empire and their formidable Beast Fighters.
Perfect for the “men and women of culture,” these films will allow you to explore diverse genres and learn lessons from all these gripping stories—such brilliance that the “Land of the Rising Sun” has to offer.
