Showcasing the richness of Japanese cinema and culture, the festival, which will screen 13 films, is expected to attract over 10,000 cinephiles nationwide.

Organised by The Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur (JFKL) in collaboration with the Japan embassy, it will run from Sept 10-Oct 19 at selected GSC cinemas.

JFKL director Tsukamoto Norhisa said the event this year will focus on attracting viewers to films with themes that have yet to be discovered by moviegoers.

“For instance, we are introducing culinary-themed films that highlight the many aspects of Japanese culture to the world.

“Over the years, the festival has grown to be more than just a space to watch Japanese films – it is also for cultural and knowledge exchange between Malaysia and Japan,” he said at a press conference recently.

The list of movies this year includes “The Solitary Gourmet”, “Northern Food Story”, “Teasing Master Takagi-san”, and “6 Lying University Students”.

JFF 2025 will be held in the Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu. Tickets are priced at RM10 except for “The Solitary Gourmet”, which will be sold at the prevailing cinema rate through GSC channels.

All films will be screened in Japanese with English subtitles.

The festival opens with “Sunset Sunrise”, winner of the Audience Choice Award at Chicago’s 2025 Asian Pop-up Cinema.

Over the past two decades, JFF has attracted more than 200,000 festival-goers. It has showcased 215 films by 127 directors, and hosted 11 fringe events across five states and regions.

For more information, visit GSC and the official JFF website.