#SHOWBIZ: Yoji Yamada classics, 'Girl Power' buzz at JFF
THE Japanese Film Festival (JFF) returns to Malaysia for its 22nd edition, offering audiences a diverse selection of Japanese cinema while continuing its role as a cultural bridge between Malaysia and Japan.
The 22nd edition of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF), which kicked off on September 8 in Malaysia's Klang Valley, showcases a diverse range of Japanese cinema across 14 carefully selected films, including anime, kabuki-related productions, suspense, comedy, drama, and two 4K remastered classics. Organized by the Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur (JFKL), the festival will travel to four additional cities before concluding on October 18.
This year's opening film, "Tokyo Taxi," is the latest work by acclaimed filmmaker Yoji Yamada, who celebrates his 95th birthday this year and has devoted over six decades to producing humanistic stories and memorable portraits of everyday life. The festival also features a "Girl Power" program highlighting female protagonists and their journeys of resilience, self-discovery, and determination.
The JFF serves as a vital bridge between Malaysia and Japan, introducing Malaysian audiences to over 128 directors and film representatives, with the 2025 edition alone drawing more than 10,000 attendees. The festival also offers opportunities for nurturing next-generation filmmaking talent through the JFF Filmmaking Workshop, which brought together over 25 film students from five Malaysian institutions for a three-day programme.
Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata noted that the festival bridges cultures by allowing audiences to encounter different histories, values, and perspectives, ultimately fostering opportunities for audiences to discover another culture through storytelling.
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