12 must-watch films at the 2025 Japan Film Festival
Cinephiles are in for another year of incredible Japanese cinema with the return of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF), also known as “Eigasai.” Running from Sept. 18 to Oct. 26, this year’s theme, “Bridg(e)ing,” celebrates films that foster connection in all its forms.
“We hope that this year’s lineup will inspire people to build bridges rather than walls and connect with each other,” says the Japan Foundation Manila, which has hosted the JFF since 1997, in an official statement.
All 12 films on the 2025 JFF’s diverse lineup will be screened for free at the UP Film Institute and in select theaters across Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Manila, and Angeles city.
1. “Seven Samurai” (1956)
Akira Kurosawa’s feudal era tale of class and warfare returns to the big screen. A three-and-a-half-hour saga about seven mercenaries hired to defend the wary citizens of a village under attack, this epic adventure film is a classic for its dynamic action sequences and complex character development.
2. “Love Letter” (1995)
This highly acclaimed directorial debut by Shunji Iwai follows a woman who impulsively sends a letter to her deceased fiancé’s childhood address, only to receive a reply from a young woman who shares the same name as her late lover. Set against the winter landscapes of Hokkaidō, this timeless story of love and grief will be screened in its restored 4K version.
3. “Ghost in the Shell” (1995)
A cyberpunk anime classic by Mamoru Oshii, this film explores questions of identity and consciousness in a technologically advanced future where the line between human and machine has blurred. Cyborg operative Motoko Kusunagi’s pursuit of the elusive Puppet Master remains as influential today as it was nearly three decades ago, even inspiring sci-fi films such as 1999’s “The Matrix.”
4. “Spirited Away” (2001)
Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning animated film takes viewers on a journey with ten-year-old Chihiro as she navigates a magical spirit world. A visual spectacle of hand-drawn scenery and a fantastical spin on themes of coming-of-age and consumerism, this is a film for audiences both young and old.
5. “Evil Does Not Exist” (2023)
A drama written and directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, this understated film follows the citizens of Mizubiki Village. After years of modest yet peaceful living, a single father living in the village with his young daughter is faced with disruption when representatives from the city arrive with plans to build a glamping site near their home.
6. “A Samurai in Time” (2024)
A fresh take on the time-travel genre, this film by Junichi Yasuda forces a samurai in the midst of a duel into the modern world, where he is mistaken for an Edo-period film actor. Blending contemporary comedy with the jidaigeki (a term for Japanese historical drama), “A Samurai in Time” is a humorous yet heartwarming ode to one of Japan’s enduring film genres.
7. “Cells at Work!” (2024)
The educational anime series, which gained popularity upon its release in 2021, gets the live-action treatment in this unique film that personifies the different cells in the human body. Complex biological processes—like wound healing—are taught through visually entertaining sequences between red blood cells, white blood cells, and other cell-themed characters in this adaptation by Hideki Takeuchi.
8. “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom” (2024)
A treat for mecha fans, this animated film by Mitsuo Fukuda is the latest entry in the prominent Gundam franchise. Set during an ongoing battle against the nihilistic radical group Blue Cosmos, “SEED Freedom” continues to deliver spectacular giant robot action alongside complex depictions of war, peace, and human nature.
9. “18×2 Beyond Youthful Days” (2024)
A Taiwan-Japan co-production directed by Michito Fujii, this romance film follows a young Taiwanese man on his trip to the hometown of his Japanese first love, whom he met in high school and made a promise to before they parted ways. Based on “Youth 18×2”, a 2014 web travelogue by Jimmy Lai, this tenderhearted film is an exploration of the nostalgia of youth and its lost connections.
10. “Teasing Master Takagi-San” (2024)
This lighthearted rom-com film, adapted into live-action from the same manga series, follows the reunion of two could-have-been-lovers 10 years after their middle school graduation. Now coworkers at the same school, the two rekindle their chemistry through shared experiences filled with humorous banter, showing their growth from pre-teens in puppy love to young adults in a blossoming romance.
11. “The Boy and the Dog” (2025)
A heartwarming film based on the novel by Seishu Hase, “The Boy and the Dog” follows the five-year journey of Tamon, a dog who lost his owner in the Tohoku earthquake of 2011. During his quest for his estranged owner, Tamon touches the lives of several, including a woman with a criminal history and a man facing financial struggles.
12. “Showtime 7” (2025)
Rounding out the lineup is this tense thriller about a disgraced primetime news anchor. Desperate to reclaim the spotlight, he pursues an enigmatic caller who warned him of a bomb threat, only to be caught up in a dangerous negotiation. Directed by Kazutaka Watanabe, this film is based on the South Korean box office hit, “The Terror Live.”
A film festival for all
Moviegoers can take their pick from this year’s JFF lineup and see it for free in the following theaters: the Shangri-La Plaza from Sept. 18 to 28; SM City Baguio, from Sept. 26 to Oct. 5; SM City Cebu, from Oct. 3 to 12; the UP Film Institute, from Oct. 10 to 18; SM City Lanang, from Oct. 10 to 19; SM City Manila and SM City Clark, from Oct. 17 to 26.
The JFF will also hold special screenings at select universities across Visayas and Mindanao in November, though details have yet to be released.
