Japanese cinema is set to light up screens across the country once again.
The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) 2026 returns to the Philippines from October 1 to November 29, 2026, bringing together acclaimed films, timeless classics, animation, Kabuki performances, filmmaker conversations, and special cultural experiences for audiences in several cities.
Presented by The Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM), this year’s festival carries the theme “Shared Treasure. Shared Stories.” It reflects the way films, traditions, memories, and everyday human experiences can create connections that go beyond borders and generations.
Adding even more significance to this year’s celebration, JFF 2026 also marks the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Philippine-Japan Diplomatic Relations and the 30th Anniversary of The Japan Foundation, Manila.
Together, these milestones place friendship, cultural exchange, and shared storytelling at the heart of the festival.
JFF 2026 Heads to Eight Venues Nationwide
Japanese film fans outside Metro Manila will have plenty to look forward to.
In partnership with SM Supermalls and SM Cinema, JFF 2026 will be staged across eight venues in six cities, giving more Filipino audiences the chance to experience the range and richness of Japanese filmmaking.
The festival schedule is as follows:
The festivities officially begin with the JFF 2026 Opening Event on October 1 at the Ground Floor of Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall.
KOKUHO Opens the Festival With a Powerful Kabuki Story
Leading this year’s lineup is KOKUHO, the festival’s opening film.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker LEE Sang-il, KOKUHO is set against the demanding and deeply rooted world of Kabuki. At its center is a sweeping story of ambition, friendship, rivalry, family, and sacrifice.
The film made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival before earning major recognition at the 49th Japan Academy Film Prize. Among its honors were 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.
LEE Sang-il’s celebrated film Hula Girls is also part of the JFF 2026 lineup, giving audiences another opportunity to experience the director’s work on the big screen.
From Kurosawa to Ghibli, the Lineup Has Plenty to Discover
JFF 2026 features a curated selection of 16 films, spanning contemporary cinema, classics, animation, and audience-friendly crowd-pleasers.
Among the standout titles is KUROSAWA Akira’s Throne of Blood, one of the legendary director’s most enduring works.
Anime fans, meanwhile, can revisit Studio Ghibli’s beloved Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, directed by MIYAZAKI Hayao.
The lineup also includes UNDER NINJA, starring YAMAZAKI Kento, and YAMADA Yoji’s TOKYO TAXI, alongside several other titles showcasing different sides of Japanese storytelling.
Whether you are drawn to drama, animation, period films, or contemporary stories, this year’s program is designed to offer something different with every screening.
Cinema Kabuki Takes Center Stage
One of JFF 2026’s most exciting attractions is Cinema Kabuki, a special presentation that brings the beauty, spectacle, and theatrical tradition of Kabuki to the cinema screen.
During the opening weekend, audiences can watch Renjishi (The Father and Son Shishi Lions), directed by YAMADA Yoji.
The experience does not stop with the screening.
Festivalgoers can also take part in special Kabuki activities, including a Kabuki Costume Dressing Demonstration on October 2 and a “Kumadori” Body-Painting Experience on October 3.
These programs are part of the JFF Discover Kabuki Tour, presented with the cooperation of Shochiku Co., Ltd.
For audiences encountering Kabuki for the first time, the activities offer an engaging introduction to one of Japan’s most recognizable theatrical traditions.
Nausicaä Day Is a Treat for Ghibli and Kabuki Fans
Another major highlight arrives on November 28 with Nausicaä Day.
The special presentation begins with Studio Ghibli’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, followed by two Cinema Kabuki screenings inspired by MIYAZAKI Hayao’s original manga.
Audiences can watch KABUKI “KAZE NO TANI NO NAUSICAÄ: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” Part 1 and Part 2, a stage adaptation that expands on the world beyond what was shown in the animated film.
Featuring episodes not depicted in the movie, the production combines elaborate stagecraft, dynamic action, and traditional Kabuki performance to bring Nausicaä’s world to life in a completely different form.
Both parts will be screened in stereo sound.
For longtime Ghibli fans, this is a rare chance to experience one beloved story through two distinctly Japanese art forms.
A Special Program Puts International Collaboration in Focus
JFF 2026 is also teaming up with the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan and the Japan Film Commission for “Journey through Japan on Screen in Manila 2026.”
The special program takes place on November 21 and 22 and highlights cross-cultural exchange through film.
Among its featured titles are Jaime Pacena II’s Kono Basho and HAYAKAWA Chie’s RENOIR.
Younger audiences can also look forward to films such as AYABE Shinya’s School Meals Time: School Excursion Inferno and SUZUKI Kei’s anime feature You, Fireworks, and Our Promise.
The program adds another layer to the festival by showing how Japanese cinema can open conversations about place, identity, youth, and collaboration across cultures.
Filmmaker Talks, Workshops, and Exclusive Festival Freebies
JFF 2026 is not only about sitting down for a movie.
Selected screenings will be followed by talkback sessions featuring directors and producers, giving audiences a closer look at the ideas, challenges, and creative choices behind the films.
There will also be festival activation campaigns throughout the run, where participants can score freebies and have the chance to win exclusive JFF 2026 merchandise.
With screenings, workshops, cultural activities, and filmmaker conversations in the mix, the festival turns a trip to the cinema into a fuller celebration of Japanese culture.
A Celebration of Stories Shared Across Borders
For decades, the Japanese Film Festival has served as a gateway for Filipino audiences to discover stories from Japan.
This year, that role feels especially fitting.
As the Philippines and Japan commemorate 70 years of normalized diplomatic relations, and The Japan Foundation, Manila celebrates three decades in the country, JFF 2026 places shared experiences at the center of its biggest attractions.
From Kurosawa classics and Studio Ghibli animation to Kabuki traditions and contemporary films, the festival brings different generations of Japanese storytelling together in one nationwide celebration.
JFF 2026 is made possible through the support of the Embassy of Japan, SM Supermalls and SM Cinema, JTI Philippines, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, Japan Film Commission, and Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
For the full screening schedule, ticketing guidelines, venue information, workshops, and talkback sessions, visit japanesefilmfestph.jfmo.org.ph.
For more updates, follow @jfmanila on Facebook and Instagram.
