BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Japanese cinema will return to screens across the Philippines as the Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) stages the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) 2026 from Oct. 1 to Nov. 29, with screenings scheduled in six cities and eight venues.
The festival, presented in partnership with SM Supermalls and SM Cinema, carries the theme “Shared Treasure. Shared Stories.” and coincides with the 70th anniversary of the normalization of Philippine-Japan diplomatic relations and the 30th anniversary of the Japan Foundation, Manila.
This year’s festival features a curated selection of 16 films spanning contemporary cinema, classics, animation and Cinema Kabuki, a film format that presents recorded Kabuki theatre performances on the big screen, SM Supermalls said in a news release.
The festival opened at SM Megamall on Oct. 1 with KOKUHO, directed by Lee Sang-il.
SM said the film, set in the traditional world of Kabuki, centers on ambition, friendship, rivalry, family and sacrifice.
KOKUHO had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and later received multiple awards at the 49th Japan Academy Film Prize, including Picture of the Year, Director of the Year for Lee Sang-il and Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Yoshizawa Ryo.
The lineup also includes 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.
A Cinema Kabuki program will feature Renjishi (The Father and Son Shishi Lions), directed by Yamada Yoji.
The opening weekend program also included a Kabuki Costume Dressing Demonstration on Oct. 2 and a “Kumadori” body-painting activity on Oct. 3.
Another featured program is Nausicaä Day on Nov. 28, which will pair Miyazaki Hayao’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind with two parts of the Kabuki adaptation, KABUKI「KAZE NO TANI NO NAUSICAĂ„ – Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind」Part 1 and Part 2.
The two Kabuki screenings will be presented in stereo sound.
The Cinema Kabuki screenings and related workshops are being presented as part of the JFF Discover Kabuki Tour, with the cooperation of Shochiku Co., Ltd.
The festival will also host “Journey through Japan on Screen in Manila 2026” on Nov. 21-22, a program organized in collaboration with the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Government of Japan and Japan Film Commission.
The Manila program will include international co-production films such as Jaime Pacena II’s Kono Basho and Chie Hayakawa’s RENOIR, as well as films aimed at younger audiences, including Shinya Ayabe’s School Meals Time: School Excursion Inferno and Kei Suzuki’s anime film You, Fireworks, and Our Promise.
Selected screenings will be accompanied by talkback sessions with directors and producers.
The festival will also run audience activation campaigns offering freebies and JFF 2026 merchandise.
JFF 2026 Screening Schedule
- METRO MANILA:
- SM MEGAMALL – OCTOBER 1 – 4
- SM MANILA – OCTOBER 16 – 25
- SM NORTH EDSA – NOVEMBER 20 – 29
- SM BAGUIO – OCTOBER 9 – 18
- SM CEBU – OCTOBER 16 – 25
- SM ILOILO – NOVEMBER 6 – 15
- SM LANANG – NOVEMBER 13 – 22
- SM CDO DOWNTOWN – NOVEMBER 20 – 29
JFF 2026 is supported by the Embassy of Japan, SM Supermalls and SM Cinema, JTI Philippines, the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Government of Japan, Japan Film Commission and Film Development Council of the Philippines.
The festival forms part of broader cultural exchanges between Japan and the Philippines, with its 2026 edition using film and performing-arts programming to highlight shared cultural experiences and ties between the two countries.
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