Japanese Film Festival

The Japanese Film Festival in Sydney is a yearly event that usually runs in November/December every year at different Palace Cinemas around Sydney.

Each year, dozens of films are screened during the festival, which celebrates the unique culture of Japan.

Gather your friends and experience the uniqueness of Japanese film. The Japanese Film Festival in Sydney is part of the JFF Asia-Pacific Platform initiated by The Japan Foundation, which supports and grows interest in Japanese films and cinema culture throughout Australia. The festival will also be held in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide.

JFF Australia is part of the JFF Asia-Pacific Platform initiated by The Japan Foundation Head Office based in Tokyo. This initiative aims to support and grow interest in Japanese films and cinema culture throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia.

Opening Film Night

Mom, Is That You?!
From the bustling streets of Tokyo to a mother’s nest: Yoji Yamada’s ode to family and love

Working amongst the so-called “elite” in bustling Tokyo, HR manager Akio finds himself seriously burnt out amidst work-related problems, his impending divorce and a strained relationship with his college-aged daughter, Mai. Seeking a reprieve from the stresses of modern life, Akio decides to visit his childhood home where his mother, Fukue, lives. But instead of the familiar matronly figure he’s used to, Akio is shocked when he is greeted by a transformed Fukue donning fashionable attire, and that’s not the biggest surprise… she seems to have fallen in love! As Akio spends more time at home and gets to know a side of his mother he’d never seen before; he gradually rediscovers what’s important in life – something he had long lost sight of.

Heartfelt, wholesome and relatable, film veteran Yoji Yamada’s 90th film is a feel-good portrayal of an intergenerational family in modern Japan. A recurrent actor in Yamada’s filmography, Sayuri Yoshinaga, gives a moving performance as Akio’s mother, Fukue, portraying the character with a gentleness and warmth that will touch the hearts of audiences on the other side of the screen. Also starring Yo Oizumi and Mei Nagano, this multilayered story captures the ever-evolving nature of family relationships while shining a light on Japan’s fading downtown culture.

Special Series

SHOHEI IMAMURA
The visionary changemaker of post-war Japan

JFF Special Series returns to cinemas in 2024 and proudly presents the work of filmmaker Shоhei Imamura (1926 – 2006), a socially engaged auteur whose mission was to portray a true, unpolished image of Japan beyond the veil of conventional stereotypes and the post-war national agenda.

Unless otherwise specified, all films are played in their native language with English subtitles. Festival tickets can be purchased online or at the box office, but get in quick, as many sessions will sell out!

During the festival, not only adult films but several child-friendly films will be screened. Check the classification before purchasing your ticket.

You can get to Event Cinemas George Street by train or car. If you’re coming by car, parking is located behind the Cinema on Kent Street. If you’re coming by train, catch a train to Town Hall Station.

Please refer to the official website at https://japanesefilmfestival.net/films-schedule/ for the list of movies, venues and details.