JFF2023 @ Shaw Lido

Panorama Section

Our Panorama section is multitudinous and not simply defined by genres; it covers a wide range of recent releases that provide festival goers the opportunity to catch commercial titles that are hugely successful in Japan, as well as highly-acclaimed independent titles. 

We have programmed unique and fascinating films, such as A MAN, which was nominated for the Venice Horizons Award at the 79th Venice Film Festival and made a clean sweep at the Japan Academy Awards (Japan's equivalent of the Oscars), and AMIKO (our Programmer's personal favourite), which delves into the intricacies of an adolescent child's emotions and thought processes as she interacts with a society that deems her peculiar, set against an earthy and mesmerising score by Japanese Folk sensation Ichiko Aoba. We have also brought in Nezumikozo Jirokichi, critically-acclaimed animation director Rintaro’s latest animated short after a hiatus of close to 11 years, where he pays homage to director Sadao Yamanaka. We have paired this short with a quirky meta drama Garden Sandbox, which has a novel and inventive way of telling us the story of a fictitious town that evolves into a character that impacts the narration of the film. 

There is a film (or two, or three…) for everyone!

Documentary Vision

Our Documentary Vision section provides insider access to various aspects of Japanese culture. 

In Bring Min'yo Back, a Japanese band attempts to revitalise a dying branch of Japanese Folk music, with mind-blowing collaborations spanning across continents, opening up a window for us to witness the universality of music. 

Have your nightmares ever been haunted by characters from Ringu, Pulse or Ju-on? In The J-Horror Virus, we hear personal accounts from pioneers and film critics of the J-Horror film movement about the genesis of these iconic films, how they managed to terrify audiences, and how influential and internationally widespread this particular movement became. 

Is there a place for physical books in today’s age? The pandemic expedited how we consume data and information digitally, and led to the demise of many small businesses across all industries. Polan is a heartfelt and exceptional documentary which distances itself from the subject to provide an authentic recollection of a vintage bookshop and its bittersweet final days.

The documentaries in this section come from deeply personal places, and you are bound to walk away feeling a deeper connection to the subject matter and filmmakers.

Restored Classics

Our Restored Classics section pays homage to 2 pioneer Japanese directors. We are extremely proud to present LUPIN THE 3rd, THE CASTLE OF CAGILOSTRO, an early work from everyone’s favourite pioneer animator; an iconic and underrated title in his massive oeuvre. 

In commemoration of our 40th year of the Japanese Film Festival in Singapore, we will also have a first-ever Surprise Screening of another iconic Japanese director’s film. Stay tuned on our socials as we reveal clues to what this surprise title might be, but we will only announce it moments before the actual screening!

Director Masterclasses

We are honoured to have two directors - Mr. Jasper Sharp (director of The J-Horror Virus) and Mr. Lim Kah Wai (director of Your Lovely Smile) to conduct masterclasses for our Singapore audiences. Jasper, a UK director, will explain the J-Horror Phenomenon in UK and Kah Wai, a Malaysian, Osaka-based director will share his independant filmmaking journey in Japan. 

Admission is free. Limited seats. Do register at The J-Horror Virus and Your Lovely Smile film pages.

 JFF2023 @ Asian Film Archive (Oldham Theatre)

 JFF2023 @ The Projector (Golden Mile Tower: Greenroom)