The 22nd edition of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) is set to begin on September 8, 2026, in the Klang Valley before traveling to Penang, Johor, Sabah, and Sarawak, concluding on October 18. This annual event, organised by The Japan Foundation in Kuala Lumpur, continues its long-standing tradition of showcasing Japanese cinema to Malaysian audiences, offering a diverse selection of films that explore themes of humanity, culture, and resilience.
Norihisa Tsukamoto, director of The Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur, highlighted the festival's significance in his opening remarks. He emphasised that the festival extends beyond mere entertainment, stating that it fosters deeper cultural understanding and reflection between Japan and Malaysia. Tsukamoto noted the festival’s enduring popularity, with local audiences expressing early interest in this year's event as far back as March. He also stressed the importance of these cultural exchanges in light of present-day global uncertainties.
This year’s festival opens with “Tokyo Taxi,” the latest film by esteemed director Yoji Yamada, who is renowned for his humanistic storytelling and portrayals of everyday life. Yamada, who will turn 96 during the festival, has directed more than 92 films over his six-decade career. The opening film is a remake of the 2022 French movie “Driving Madeleine” and tells the story of a life-changing day-long journey through Tokyo shared by a taxi driver and an elderly woman recounting her past.
The festival pays tribute to Yamada with a special retrospective, featuring classics such as “A Distant Cry From Spring” (1980) and “Toro-San’s Many Splintered Love” (1981). Tsukamoto remarked on Yamada’s widespread influence, including on the late Malaysian filmmaker Yasmin Ahmad, and the relevance of his focus on humanity amid a world increasingly marked by division and conflict.
In addition to the retrospective, the festival spotlights a “Girl Power” theme, presenting films like “Fujiko,” “Purehearted,” and the 4K remastered “Hula Girls.” These selections centre on strong female protagonists exploring themes of resilience, self-discovery, and determination.
The full programme comprises 14 films across multiple genres, including anime, kabuki, suspense, comedy, and drama. Other notable titles include “Suzuki=Bakudan,” a suspense thriller involving a series of bombings in Tokyo connected to a mysterious figure; “One Last Love Letter,” a drama inspired by true events about a woman’s letter reaching the family of a boy who died in a subway disaster; “Chimney Town: Frozen In Time,” an animated fantasy about a malfunctioning clock tower and a quest to restore time; and “You Are The Film,” a sci-fi comedy about two artists trapped inside each other’s movie.
The festival will be held at various Golden Screen Cinemas locations: in Klang Valley (GSC Mid Valley, GSC 1 Utama, GSC MyTown) from September 10 to 16; Penang (GSC Gurney Plaza) from September 17 to 20; Johor Baru (GSC Paradigm JB) from September 24 to 27; Kuching (GSC CityOne Megamall) from October 8 to 11; and Kota Kinabalu (GSC Suria Sabah) from October 15 to 18. Tickets are priced at RM10 and are available through GSC channels. All films will be presented in Japanese with English subtitles. Further details on screening times and film summaries can be found on The Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur’s social media pages and the Golden Screen Cinemas website.