There’s bound to be something to suit everyone’s tastes in this year’s line-up!

Presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney, the festival tours five major cities across Australia, launching in Canberra (5–20 November) before moving to Perth (21–27 November), Brisbane (11–27 November), Melbourne (30 November–4 December) and finishing up in Sydney (7–14 December).

This year, adventures big and small await JFF cinephiles. The Latest Releases program explores a spectrum of emotions, with stories that challenge longstanding truths and portray the diversity of the human experience.

Opening the festival this year across all cities is the historical drama Dreaming of the Meridian Arc, a witty rewriting of Japanese history by director Kenji Nakanishi. Set in both present-day Japan and the Edo period, this comedy uncovers the true story behind the man who completed the first ever map of Japan.

If you appreciate drama on the big screen then catch Intolerance with its intricate portrayals of the behaviour and psychology of people caught in extreme situations. There’s also the moving exploration of the lies and secrets of a girl with a complex family upbringing in And So The Baton Is Passed; the human drama, Blue, which carefully examines the inner lives of boxers; and the poignant murder mystery/drama, In the Wake, about the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.

If you’re after quirky cinema, meet an unusual pair of teenage assassins learning to cohabitate and adjust to the facade of ‘normal life’ in the action film Baby Assassins, or dive into a delightful tale of people pouring their passion into anime production in ANIME SUPREMACY! The coming-of-age animation, Blue Thermal, is a refreshing story about college students unexpectedly becoming devoted to competitive gliding.

The psychological thriller Lesson in Murder takes us on a darker path, and tells the story of a young man upended by a serial killer’s claim. And foodies will not want to miss the mouth-watering documentary, The Pursuit of Perfection, following four elite chefs in Tokyo who work tirelessly to perfect their craft.

Alongside the latest box office hits is this year’s JFF Special Series, which will show in Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. This free series proudly presents rare 35mm film screenings of master filmmaker Mikio Naruse’s works.

Sydney audiences will also be treated to a special post-film talk event. The talk will be held at The Chauvel on Wednesday 14 December, where after a screening of Floating Clouds, Dr Mats Karlsson, Senior Lecturer at The University of Sydney, will discuss the film in the context of director Mikio Naruse’s filmography, which spanned 1930 to 1967.

The program of events in all five major cities are:

Canberra  
Opening Reception:16 November at Palace Electric
Latest Releases: 16-20 November at Palace Electric
Special Series: 5-6 November at NFSA

Perth 
Opening Reception: 21 November at Palace Raine Square
Latest Releases: 21-27 November at Palace Raine Square

Brisbane 
Opening Reception: 23 November at Palace Barracks
Latest Releases: 23-27 November at Palace Barracks
Special Series: 11-20 November at QAGOMA

Melbourne 
Opening Reception: 30 November at The Kino
Latest Releases: 30 November-4 December at The Kino
Special Series: 2-4 December at ACMI

Sydney 
Opening Reception: 7 December at Palace Norton Street
Latest Releases: 7-11 December at Palace Central, Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona
Special Series: 12-14 December at The Chauvel

Come and enjoy the communal experience of going to the movies and being surrounded by likeminded people – it’s a unique opportunity to come together and celebrate the finest in Japanese cinema.

The full program can be found at: https://japanesefilmfestival.net/films-schedule

ABOUT JFF    

The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) in Australia is an annual film festival that has been presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney since 1997. The first-ever Japanese Film Festival Online was held across five continents and 20 countries from November 2020 to March 2021.

2022 marks the 26th year of JFF Australia, offering newly-released Japanese titles along with rare 35 film screenings.

ABOUT THE JAPAN FOUNDATION, SYDNEY    

The Japan Foundation, Sydney is the Australian arm of the Japan Foundation, which was established by the Japanese government to promote cultural and intellectual exchange between Japan and other nations. It runs a diverse range of programs and events, including exhibitions, talk events, grant programs and Japanese language courses for all levels from beginner to advanced. The Japan

Foundation was established in 1972 with a global network of 25 offices in 24 countries. The Australian office was founded in 1978.

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