Japanese Film Festival 2025 Marks 21st Year With 13 Films Across Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — The Japanese Film Festival (JFF), organised by the Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur (JFKL), is back this year for its 21st edition, bringing with it a diverse line-up of 13 films that celebrate Japanese storytelling, culture, and cinema. Screenings will take place across selected Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) nationwide from September 10 to October 19, 2025.
More Than Just Movies
Speaking at the launch at GSC Mid Valley, JFKL director Tsukamoto Norihisa highlighted the festival’s significance:
“Over the years, the festival has grown to be more than just a space to watch Japanese films, but also a space for cultural and knowledge exchange between Malaysia and Japan.”
He noted that in a year where Malaysia chairs the ASEAN Summit and Japan hosts Expo 2025, the festival also reflects the strong cultural and diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Festival Schedule
The JFF 2025 will tour five Malaysian cities:
| City | Dates |
|---|---|
| Klang Valley | Sept 10 – 17, 2025 |
| George Town | Sept 18 – 21, 2025 |
| Johor Bahru | Sept 25 – 28, 2025 |
| Kuching | Oct 9 – 12, 2025 |
| Kota Kinabalu | Oct 16 – 19, 2025 |
What to Watch
The line-up features award-winning dramas, culinary-themed films, anime adaptations, comedies, and action thrillers. Highlights include:
- Sunset Sunrise – Opening film by Kishi Yoshiyuki, winner of the Audience Choice Award at Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema 2025.
- Northern Food Story & The Solitary Gourmet – Documentaries celebrating food as a cultural bridge.
- Seven Samurai (1954) – Akira Kurosawa’s remastered masterpiece, a film that continues to inspire filmmakers globally.
- ANGRY SQUAD: The Civil Servant and the Seven Swindlers & Showtime 7 – Action-packed features delivering suspense and social commentary.
- Cells at Work!, Teasing Master Takagi-san, Lying University Students, At The Bench, and 366 DAYS – A mix of romance, youth dramas, and lighthearted comedies.
- Diamonds in the Sand – A Japan–Malaysia–Philippines co-production exploring themes of family, loss, and rediscovery.
JFF 2025 Movie List
| Title | Director | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 366 DAYS (366日) | SHINJYOU Takehiko 新城毅彦 | 2025 |
| 6 Lying University Students (六人の噓つきな大学生) | SATOH Yuichi 佐藤祐市 | 2024 |
| ANGRY SQUAD: The Civil Servant and the Seven Swindlers (アングリースクワッド 公務員と7人の詐欺師) | UEDA Shinichiro 上田慎一郎 | 2024 |
| At The Bench (アット・ザ・ベンチ) | OKUYAMA Yoshiyuki 奥山由之 | 2024 |
| Northern Food Story (北の食景) | UESUGI Tetsuya 上杉哲也 | 2024 |
| PETALS AND MEMORIES (花まんま) | MAEDA Tetsu 前田哲 | 2025 |
| SHOWTIME 7 (ショウタイムセブン) | WATANABE Kazutaka 渡辺一貴 | 2025 |
| Sunset Sunrise (サンセット・サンライズ) | KISHI Yoshiyuki 岸善幸 | 2025 |
| The Solitary Gourmet (孤独のグルメ) | MATSUSHIGE Yutaka 松重 豊 | 2025 |
A Festival for Fans
Now in its 21st year, the JFF has become a staple in Malaysia’s cultural calendar. Last year’s 20th anniversary edition set a new record with 10,130 attendees. With tickets priced at just RM10 (except The Solitary Gourmet, subject to GSC’s standard rates), the festival remains one of the most affordable cultural events in Malaysia.
Read More: Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) August 2025
All films will be screened in Japanese with English subtitles, making the festival accessible to wider audiences.
How to Join JCF
Here is the way to join Japanese Film Festival 2025.
Japanese Film Festival Tickets
Tickets available via GSC box offices and online booking.
Full programme Schedule
Full programme, film synopses, and showtimes are on GSC’s Japanese Film Festival 2025 site.
For updates,
visit JFKL’s Instagram page (@jfkl.org.my).
Ticket Price
Ticket price for Japanese Film Festival 2025 starting from as low as RM10.00.
For the rest of the festival
Tickets are affordably priced at RM10 per movie, except for The Solitary Gourmet, which will follow the regular ticket price
Quick Travel Tip: For Malaysians outside the Klang Valley, JFF is a great excuse to plan a short city getaway — whether it’s a heritage trip to George Town, a weekend escape in Johor Bahru, or a cultural retreat in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
Official Website: https://www.jfklevents.com/jff2025/
Whether you’re a cinephile, foodie, or anime lover, the Japanese Film Festival 2025 offers something for everyone — celebrating 21 years of Japanese cinema in Malaysia.
