The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) is a film festival held in Singapore and dedicated to Japanese cinema.
History
Japanese Film Festival was first held in 1983 and then held annually from 1999 to 2016, and curated with Singapore audiences in mind, led by local programmers with a wide-ranging programme of film classics, Japanese independents and commercial releases.
The JFF was established in Singapore in 1983. The festival was organised by the Singapore Film Society and the Japanese Embassy and the films were shown at the Cultural Theatre and Victoria Theatre.
The next JFF was shown in 1986. In 1987, Japanese ambassador to Singapore, Wasuke Miyake, brought JFF to Singapore which was held in October.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, the festival turned to hybrid screenings for 2020 and 2021. Since then they have continued to deliver the hybrid model each year using a platform provided by Shift72.
There was no festival in 2017. Under new direction from 2018 from the Japan Foundation in Tokyo, it has shifted its focus to screening mainly commercial releases from Japan.
2014 (26 June to 12 July)
The Japanese Film Festival was held from 26 June to 12 July at the National Museum of Singapore.
Film programme
Currents
- Leaving on the 15th Spring / æÂÂ
ç«Âã¡ã®島åÂÂï½ÂÃ¥ÂÂäºÂã®æÂ¥ï½ (2012) by Yoshida Yasuhiro / Ã¥ÂÂç°康张(PG)
- Homeland / å®¶è·¯ (2014) by Kubota Nao / ä¹Â
ä¿Âç°ç´ (M18)
- Homesick / ãÂÂã¼ã ã·ãÂÂ㯠(2012) by Hirohara Satoru / 廣åÂÂæÂ (PG)
- Maruyama, The Middle Schooler / ä¸Âå¦çÂÂÃ¥ÂÂå±± (2012) by Kudo Kankuro / å®®è¤å®Âä¹Âé (NC16)
- Survive Style 5+ (2004) by Sekiguchi Gen / é¢å£ç¾ (NC16)
- The Tale of Iya / ç¥Âè°·(ãÂÂãÂÂ)ç©èªÂãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂã®ã²ã¨ (2013) by Tsuta Tetsuichiro / è¦å²ä¸ÂæÂ (PG)
- / Ã¥ÂÂç«Âã®å (2013) by Miike Takashi / ä¸Âæ± å´Âå² (M18)
Retrospective (Ichikawa Kon)
2013 (26 June to 8 July)
The Japanese Film Festival was held from 26 June to 8 July at the Alliance Francaise and the National Museum of Singapore. There will be a focus on films from the 80s as well as a retrospective on Shindo Kaneto and Yoshimura Kozaburo, in addition to a showcase of the best in Japanese current films.
Festival highlights (Inspire)
Film programme
Around the 80s
Retrospective (Shindo Kaneto and Yoshimura Kozaburo)
Currents
- GFP Bunny / ã¿ãªã¦ã å°Â女ã®ãÂÂãÂÂã°ã©ã (2012) by Tsuchiya Yutaka / Ã¥ÂÂå±Âè± (R21)
- Japan Lies / ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂã³ã®åÂÂãÂÂå ±éÂÂÃ¥ÂÂçÂÂå®¶ç¦Âå³¶èÂÂ次éÂÂ90æÂ³ (2012) by Hasegawa Saburo / é·谷å·Âä¸Âé (M18)
- Japan's Tragedy / æÂ¥æÂ‹Â®æÂ²å (2012) by Masahiro Kobayashi / å°ÂæÂÂæÂ¿åº (PG13)
- Rent a Cat / ㋳ã¿ãÂÂã³ (2012) by Ogigami Naoko / è»ä¸Âç´å (PG)
- Shady / ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂçÂÂã¯ãÂÂå ãÂÂãÂÂã«ç¬Âã (2012) by Watanabe Ryohei / 渡é¨亮平 (NC16)
- See You Tomorrow Everyone / ã¿ãªãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂãªã (2013) by Nakamura Yoshihiro / ä¸ÂæÂÂ義洠(NC16)
- Our Homeland / ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂã®ãÂÂã« (2012) by Yang Yong-hi / ã¤ã³ãÂȋ¨ã³ã (NC16)
Undercurrents
- Canary / ã«ãÂÂãªã¢ (2005) by Shiota Akihiko / å¡©ç°æÂÂ彦 (M18)
- Villain / æÂªäºº (2010) by Lee Sang-il / ì´ìÂÂì¼ (R21)
2012 (1 to 8 July)
The Japanese Film Festival was held from 2 to 8 July at the National Museum of Singapore. Besides showcasing the best of current Japanese films, one segment of the festival focused on documentaries examining the undercurrents and post-trauma effects of the tsunami in Japan in March 2011, while another segment focused on the celebration of the Nikkatsu Centennial.
Festival highlights (Action)
Film programme
Tsunami Documentaries
- Fukushima Memories of a Landscape / ç¸馬çÂÂè± 第ä¸Âé¨ 奪ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂÃ¥ÂÂå°ã®è¨ÂæÂ¶ (2011) by Matsubayashi Yojyu / æÂ¾æÂ è¦Â樹 (PG)
- No Man's Zone / ç¡人å°帯 (2012) by Fujiwara Toshi / è¤å æÂÂå² (PG)
Nikkatsu Centennial - Celebrating 100 Years of Nikkatsu Studio
Japanese Currents
- Life Back Then / ã¢ã³ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂã¤ãÂÂã (2011) by Zeze Takahisa / ç‹ÂÂ
æÂ¬ä¹Â
(PG13)
- About the Pink Sky / ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂã (2011) by Kobayashi Keiichi / å°ÂæÂ åÂÂ丠(NC16)
- Death of a Japanese Salesman / ã¨ã³ãÂÂã£ã³ã°ãÂÂã¼ã (2011) by Sunada Mami / ç Âç° 麻羠(PG)
- I Wish / å¥Âè·¡ (2011) by Koreeda Hirokazu / æÂ¯æÂ è£Âå (PG)
- Tokyo Oasis / æÂ±äº¬ãªã¢ã·ã¹ (2011) by Matsumoto Kana / æÂ¾æÂ¬ 佳奠and Nakamura Kayo / ä¸ÂæÂ ä½³ä»£ (PG)
- Chronicle of My Mother / ãÂÂãÂÂæ¯Âã®訠(2011) by Harada Masato / Ã¥ÂÂç° çÂÂ人 (PG)
2011 (2 to 10 July)
The Japanese Film Festival was held from 2 to 10 July at the National Museum of Singapore. The festival theme was Journey.
Festival highlights (Journey)
Opening Film:
- Mother Water / ãÂÂã¶ã¼ã¦ã©ã¼ã¿ã¼ (2010) by Matsumoto Kana / æÂ¾æÂ¬ 佳奠(PG)
Closing Film:
- Sketches of Kaitan City / æµ·çÂÂå¸ÂÃ¥ÂÂæÂ¯ (2010) by Kumakiri Kazuyoshi / çÂÂå åÂÂå (PG)
Director in attendance:
- Kumakiri Kazuyoshi / çÂÂå åÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ
Film programme
Tribute to Takamine Hideko / é«Âå³° ç§ÂÃ¥ÂÂ
Focus on Gosho Heinosuke / äºÂæÂÂãÂÂå¹³ä¹Âå©
- The Young Women of Izu / ä¼Âè±Âã®å¨ÂãÂÂã¡ (1945) by Gosho Heinosuke / äºÂæÂÂãÂÂå¹³ä¹Âå© (PG)
- Where Chimneys Are Seen / çÂ
ÂçªÂã®è¦ÂãÂÂãÂÂå ´æÂ (1953) by Gosho Heinosuke / äºÂæÂÂãÂÂå¹³ä¹Âå© (PG)
- Woman of the Mist / æÂ§å¤Âã®女 (1936) by Gosho Heinosuke / äºÂæÂÂãÂÂå¹³ä¹Âå© (PG)
Focus on Kumakiri Kazuyoshi / çÂÂå åÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ
- Sketches of Kaitan City / æµ·çÂÂå¸ÂÃ¥ÂÂæÂ¯ (2010) by Kumakiri Kazuyoshi / çÂÂå åÂÂå (PG)
- Antenna / ã¢ã³ãÂÂã (2004) by Kumakiri Kazuyoshi / çÂÂå åÂÂå (R21)
- Green Mind, Metal Bats / éÂÂæÂ¥âÂÂéÂÂå±ÂãÂÂãÂÂã (2006) by Kumakiri Kazuyoshi / çÂÂå åÂÂå (M18)
Japanese Currents
- Mother Water / ãÂÂã¶ã¼ã¦ã©ã¼ã¿ã¼ (2010) by Matsumoto Kana / æÂ¾æÂ¬ 佳奠(PG)
- Strawberry Shortcakes / ã¹ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂãªã¼ã·ã§ã¼ãÂÂã±ã¤ã¯ã¹ (2006) by Yazaki Hitoshi / ç¢崠ä»Âå¸ (R21)
- Birthright / èÂÂ帯 (2010) by Hashimoto Naoki / æ©ÂæÂ¬ ç´樹 (PG)
- Megane / ãÂÂãÂÂã (2007) by Ogigami Naoko / è»丠ç´å (PG)
- Kamome Diner / ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂé£Âå  (2005) by Ogigami Naoko / è»ä¸Âç´å (PG)
- The Days After / å¾Âã®æÂÂ¥ (2010) by Koreeda Hirokazu / æÂ¯æÂ è£Âå (PG)
- Pool / ãÂÂã¼ã« (2009) by Omori Mika / 大森 ç¾Â馠(PG)
Others
2010 (19 to 29 August)
In 2010, the Japanese Film Festival was held from 19 to 29 August at the National Museum of Singapore. The festival theme was Youth.
Festival Highlights (Youth)
Opening Film:
Closing Film:
- Sweet Little Lies / ã¹ã¤ã¼ãÂÂãªãÂÂã«ã©ã¤ãº (2010) by Yazaki Hitoshi / ç¢å´Âä»Âå¸ (NC16)
Director in focus: Ã
Âshima Nagisa / 大島 æ¸Â<br> Director in attendance:
Film Programme
Focus on Japanese New Wave and Oshima Nagisa
Focus on PIA Film Festival
- A Stranger of Mine / éÂÂå½ãÂÂãÂÂãªãÂÂ人 (2004) by Uchida Kenji / Ã¥ÂÂ
ç°ãÂÂãÂÂã (PG)
- Water Flower / æ°´ã®è± (2005) by Kinoshita Yusuke / æÂ¨ä¸ÂéÂÂä» (PG)
- Fourteen / 14æÂ³ (2006) by Hirosue Hiromasa / 廣æÂ«å²丠(PG)
- ASYL - Park and Love Hotel / ãÂÂã¼ã¯ãÂÂã¢ã³ãÂÂãÂÂã©ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂã« (2007) by Kumasaka Izuru / çÂÂÃ¥ÂÂåº (PG)
- MIME-MIME / ãÂÂã¤ã ãÂÂã¤ã (2008) by Sode Yukiko / 岨æÂÂç±貴å (M18)
Directions â Focus on NDJC 2007
- The Bus to Heaven (2007) by Gunjigake Masayuki (PG)
- Good bye, George Adamski (2007) by Kodama Kazuto (PG)
- Seismic Girl (2007) by Tatenai Kenta (PG)
- Babin (2007) by Hirabayashi Isamu (PG)
- Restaurant UFO (2007) by Yamaguchi Satoshi (PG)
Directions â Focus on NDJC 2008
- A Lying Woman's Daybreak (2008) by Kumagai Madoka (PG)
- Bloom (2008) by Tanaka Tomofumi (PG)
- The Sparkling Amber (2008) by Nakako Ryota (PG)
- Kudan (2008) by Yoshii Kazuyuki (PG)
- The Third Skin (2008) by Wajima Kotaro (PG)
Japanese Currents
- Air Doll / 空æ°Â人形 (2009) by Koreeda Hirokazu / æÂ¯æÂÂè£Âå (R21)
- Bare Essence of Life / ã¦ã«ãÂÂã©ãÂÂã©ã¯ã«ã©ãÂÂã¹ãÂÂã¼ãªã¼ (2009) by Yokohama Satoko / 横æµÂè¡å (PG)
- Fish Story / ãÂÂã£ãÂÂã·ãÂ¥ã¹ãÂÂã¼ãªã¼ (2009) by Nakamura Yoshihiro / ä¸ÂæÂÂ義洠(PG)
- LALAPIPO - A Lot of People / ã©ã©ãÂÂã (2009) by Miyano Masayuki / å®®é éÂÂ
ä¹ (R21)
- Live Tape / ã©ã¤ãÂÂãÂÂã¼ã (2009) by Matsue Tetsuaki / æÂ¾æ±Âå²æÂ (PG)
- Yuriko's Aroma / ã¦ãªåÂÂã®ã¢ãÂÂã (2010) by Yoshida Kota / Ã¥ÂÂç°浩太 (M18)
2009 (25 to 30 August)
The Japanese Film Festival 2009 was a showcase of some of the finest in Japanese horror, mystery and supernatural cinema that year. The festival was held from 25 to 30 August at the National Museum of Singapore.
Festival Highlights (Horror)
Audience Award:
Film Programme
2008 (22 to 31 August)
In 2008, the Japanese Film Festival was held from 22 to 31 August 2008 at the National Museum of Singapore, and was a pre-event of the Japan Creative Centre, which was launched in mid November 2009. The festival theme focused on femininity in Japanese Cinema, as exemplified by the festival theme: "Jyo-yuu" (女ãÂÂåª). The festival showcased works by Master director Naruse Mikio and acclaimed actress-director Tanaka Kinuyo. Works of award-winning young director Kawase Naomi and two other independent directors of the current indie movement Matsuoka Naomi and Matsue Tetsuaki were also featured.
Festival highlights ("Jyo-yuu" 女åª)
Director in focus: Naruse Mikio / æÂÂç¬ å·³åÂÂç·<br> Directors in attendance:
- Kawase Naomi / æ²³ç¨ ç´ç¾Â
- Matsuoka Naomi
- Matsue Tetsuaki
Film programme
Free-Admission Component
Paid Screenings Component
- Shara / æ²Âç¾Â
Ã¥ÂÂ樹ãÂÂ(2003) by Kawase Naomi / æ²³ç¨ ç´羠(PG)
- The Mourning Forest / 殯ã®森ãÂÂ(2007) by Kawase Naomi / æ²³ç¨ ç´羠(PG)
- Shadow of Sand / ç Âã®影ãÂÂ(2008) by Kaida Yusuke (PG)
- Katatsumori / ãÂÂãÂÂã¤ãÂÂã (1994) by Kawase Naomi / æ²³ç¨ ç´羠(PG)
- See Heaven / 天ãÂÂè¦ÂãÂÂã (1995) by Kawase Naomi / æ²³ç¨ ç´羠(PG)
- The Setting Sun / é½ã¯å¾ã¶ã (1996) by Kawase Naomi / æ²³ç¨ ç´羠(PG)
- Broken Blossom / è±ã®鼠(2003) by Matsuoka Naomi (R21)
- Pathos / èÂÂ骨ã®ãÂÂãÂÂã¹ (2008) by Matsuoka Naomi (R21)
- Birth / Mother /ãÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ乳女 (2006) by Kawase Naomi / æ²³ç¨ ç´羠(R21)
- Summer Vacation with Naomi Kawase / 2002å¹´ã®å¤Âä¼Âã¿ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂãÂ¥ã¡ã³ãÂÂæ²Âç¾Â
Ã¥ÂÂ樹 (2003) by Matsue Tetsuaki (PG)
- Every Japanese Woman Makes Her Own Curry / ã«ã‹¼ã©ã¤ã¹ã®女ãÂÂã¡ (2003) by Matsue Tetsuaki (PG)
- Embracing / ã«ã¤ã¤ã¾ãÂÂ㦠(1992) by Kawase Naomi / æ²³ç¨ ç´羠(PG)
- Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth / ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂã°ã (2001) by Kawase Naomi / æ²³ç¨ ç´羠(PG)
- Sakuran / ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂã (2006) by Ninagawa Mika / è·巠å®Âè± (R21)
2007 (15 to 23 September)
The 2007 festival theme was True. Romance and the festival was held at the National Museum of Singapore.
Festival Highlights (True.Romance)
Director in focus: Imamura Shohei / ä»ÂæÂ æÂÂå¹³<br> Director in attendance:
Actress in attendance:
Film Programme
Imamura Shohei Retrospective
Ichikawa Jun Showcase
- Dying at a Hospital (1993) by Ichikawa Jun / å¸Âå· æºÂ
- Tokyo Marigold (2001) by Ichikawa Jun / å¸Âå· æºÂ
- How to Become Myself (2007) by Ichikawa Jun / å¸Âå· æºÂ
Other films
- Inochi / å½ (2002) by Shinohara Tetsuo / 篠å å²éÂÂ
- The Sting of Death / Shi no toge (1990) by Oguri Kohei / å°Â栠康平
- The Strange Tale of Oyuki / Bokuto Kidan (1992) by Shindo Kaneto / æÂ°è¤ Ã¥Â
¼äºº
- Faraway Sunset / Toki rakujitsu (1992) by Koyama Seijiro
- HachikÃ
 Monogatari / ãÂÂãÂÂÃ¥Â
Â©èª (1987) by Koyama Seijiro
- Lost in the Wilderness / æ¤ÂæÂÂç´己ç©誠(1986) by Sato Junya / ä½Âè¤ ç´Âå½Â
- Appassionata / Jo no mai by Nakajima Sadao
- Oriume by Matsui Hisako
- Gabai Granny / ä½Âè³Âã®ãÂÂã°ãÂÂã°ãÂÂã¡ãÂÂã (2006) by Kurauchi Hitoshi
- Life Can Be So Wonderful / Sekai wa tokidoki utsukushii (2007) by Minorikawa Osamu
- Moon and Cherry / Tsuki to Cherry (2004) by Tanada Yuki
- ' / Megumi hikisakareta kazoku no sanjyuunen (2006) by Patty Kim and Chris Sheridan
2006 (21 to 29 October)
Friendship was the theme of the 2006 Japanese Film Festival.
Festival Highlights (Friendship)
Director in focus Kitano Takeshi / Ã¥ÂÂé æÂ¦<br> Director in attendance:
Film Programme
Kitano Takeshi Retrospective
Ogigami Naoko Showcase
- Yoshino's Barber Shop by Ogigami Naoko
- Kamome Diner / Kamome Shokudo by Ogigami Naoko
Other films
2005 (28 September to 9 October)
Adaptations was the theme of the 2005 Japanese Film Festival.
Festival Highlights (Adaptations)
Directors in focus:
Film Programme
Nomura Yoshitaro Retrospective
Ichikawa Kon Retrospective
Other films
2004 (24 September to 3 October)
Tokyo Stories was the theme of the 2004 Japanese Film Festival.
Festival Highlights (Tokyo Stories)
Directors in focus:
Film Programme
Yamada Yoji Retrospective
Ichikawa Jun Retrospective
Other films
2003 (26 September to 5 October)
Festival highlights (Commemoration - Ozu Yasujiro)
Director in focus: Fukasaku Kinji / 深你欣äºÂ<br> Commemoration: 100th birthday and 40th death anniversary of Ozu Yasujiro / å°Âæ´¥ å®ÂäºÂéÂÂ
Film programme
Fukasaku Kinji Retrospective
Ozu Yasujiro (Commemoration)
Other films
2002 (11 to 20 October)
Film programme
- Lightning / 稲妻 (1952) by Naruse Mikio / æÂÂç¬ å·³åÂÂç·
- Flowing / æµÂãÂÂã (1956) by Naruse Mikio / æÂÂç¬ å·³åÂÂç·
- Ugetsu / 鍿ÂÂç©誠(1953) by Mizoguchi Kenji / æºÂå£ å¥äºÂ
- Juvenile / ã¸ãÂ¥ãÂÂãÂÂã¤ã« (2000) by Takashi Yamazaki / 山崠貴
- First Love / Hatsukoi (2000) by Shinohara Tetsuo / 篠å å²éÂÂ
- Fifteen / å¦校 IV (2000) by Yamada Yoji / å±±ç° æ´Â次
- Ozamu Tezuka's Anime by Tezuka Osamu / æÂÂå¡ æ²»è« - Jumping (1984) / Pictures At An Exhibition (1966) / Broken Down Film (1985)
2001 (29 September to 7 October)
Festival highlights (Kurosawa Retrospective)
Director in focus: Kurosawa Akira / é»Â澤 æÂÂ
Film programme
Kurosawa Retrospective
Other films
2000 (7 to 15 October)
Festival highlights (Mizoguchi Retrospective)
Director in focus: Mizoguchi Kenji / æºÂå£ å¥äºÂ
Film programme
Mizoguchi Retrospective
Other films
1999
Film programme
Audience Award winners
References
External links