Forewords

Ambassador of Japan to Singapore

The annual Japanese Film Festival in Singapore has been a constant testament to Singaporeans’ unwavering love for Japanese films and culture over the past few decades. This was especially felt during the past two years, as we continued to witness the enthusiastic participation by our friends in Singapore despite the pandemic. Taking this opportunity, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to everyone for your staunch support for the festival all these years.

As we steadily emerge stronger from COVID-19, this year’s festival will be one-step closer to how it used to be before the pandemic. All of our screenings will be held physically in theatres, and audiences will be able to enjoy a fuller and more immersive experience of Japanese cinema right here in Singapore. Together with the diverse genre of films ranging from comedy to horror, contemporary to classic titles, I am certain that this year’s programme line-up will be an exciting and thrilling one especially for Japanese film and culture lovers. 

Japan Creative Centre (JCC), Embassy of Japan in Singapore has always been very privileged to work with the Singapore Film Society and the Japan Foundation in organising this festival. Next year will be an important milestone for us, as we celebrate 40 years of our commitment to Japanese Film Festival. It is the largest event fully dedicated to Japanese cinema in Singapore. We hope that our friends in Singapore will continue to deepen their understanding and interest in Japan and Japanese culture through this festival. May their love for Japanese films continue to flourish through this festival and beyond.

Please sit back and enjoy.

Chairman of Singapore Film Society

Our Japanese Film Festival this year is our third since the Covid-19 pandemic began. How exhilarating, how meaningful, how humbling it is, to reflect on this milestone.

That JFF was even possible in 2020 was a miracle. The reinstatement of full in-cinema screenings in 2021 was a true cause celebre. This year, our customary Opening reception, which the pandemic made infeasible for the past two years, is back!

Even more uplifting is the unstinting support that JFF receives from multiple stakeholders in Japan and Singapore. Our JFF audiences continue to grow in numbers and diversity, reflecting the broadening of Japanese cinematic and cultural outreach here.

My Singapore Film Society team is also more multi-dimensional this year. Our JFF Festival Manager is an award-winning film producer, with an accomplished Head of Marketing, and an expert Lead Programmer, supported by colleagues from all walks of life who share one thing in common: an insatiable appetite for selecting and promoting world-class Japanese Movies.

I am so grateful to have them. I love them, and I love JFF. I am proud of what this flagship film festival in Singapore means to all of us involved in creating, curating, co-presenting, and consuming what makes up JFF. I warmly wish everyone a fabulous and fruitful time at our screenings!