THIS year's Japanese Film Festival (JFF) marks two decades of Japanese films in Malaysia.
Running from Sept 12 to Oct 20 at selected GSC Cinemas around the country, the festival showcases a diverse lineup of 13 films, comprising dramas, animation, romance, thriller, and science-fiction fare.
The festival's organiser Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur's director Tsukamoto Norihisa said that over the years, JFF has attracted over 200,000 movie-goers, presented 215 films, showcased the works of 127 filmmakers, and hosted 11 fringe events in 11 venues across five states.
"Just last year, JFF had 9,498 attendees as we dramatically recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic," he said at the festival's launch in GSC Mid Valley Megamall recently.
Tsukamoto said that this year's festival opens with Godzilla Minus One (2023), the winner of the Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards.
Directed by Yamazaki Takashi, it offers a fresh take on the Godzilla franchise and it will also mark the film's debut in Malaysian cinemas.
"We will also have a Godzilla movie marathon on Sept 14 and 21 in the Klang Valley and George Town, Penang.
"This features Godzilla Minus One and the original Godzilla movie of 1954 directed by Honda Ishiro," he said.
For anime fans, there is the 1988 movie Akira by Otomo Katsuhiro and Sand Land (2023) by the late Toriyama Akira of Dragon Ball fame.
Akira is a science-fiction, post-apocalyptic film set in Tokyo and tells the story of a biker gang leader.
Like Godzilla Minus One, it shares a similar message of the consequences of unrestrained, rapid development in science and technology.
There is also the family-oriented film To Mom With Love about the relationship of three adult daughters and their mother, Masked Hearts about a filmmaker and her dysfunctional family and Mom, Is That You? a comedy about a son who visits his mother and learns that she has a completely different personality.
"These family dramas highlight the importance of family in Japanese culture," said Tsukamoto.
The festival will also feature Matched (2024), All The Long Nights (2024) by Miyake Sho, and A Samurai In Time (2024) which was released in Japan on Aug 17.
Matched is about a girl who matches with a killer suspect on a dating application, while Let's Go Karaoke is a comedy about a gangster who gets singing lessons from the head of a school choir club.
One Second Ahead, One Second Behind is about a girl who is always a little late and chooses to date a boy who is always a little early, while All The Long Nights is about a girl who suffers from Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) and her colleague who is prone to panic attacks.
Our Secret Diary tells the story of what happens when a love note from the school's most handsome boy ends up with the wrong girl, and A Samurai In Time is about a warrior who finds himself transported to the present day and becomes a successful action hero.
"Each of them offers a unique perspective on contemporary Japanese life and culture," said Tsukamoto.
The foundation is also organising a five-day filmmaking workshop for Malaysian and Japanese youths.
Led by director Lim Kah Wai, it will cover ideation, production, and editing.
Tickets for the festival are priced at RM10 (except for A Samurai In Time which will be sold at prevailing prices) and are available at GSC.
The films will be screened in the Klang Valley from Sept 12 to 18 at GSC Mid Valley in Kuala Lumpur, GSC 1 Utama in Petaling Jaya, and Aurum at The Exchange TRX in Kuala Lumpur.
They will also be screened at GSC Gurney Plaza in George Town, Penang from Oct 19 to 22, GSC Paradigm Mall in Johor Baru, Johor from Sept 26 to 29, GSC CityOne Megamall in Kuching, Sarawak from Oct 10 to 13, and GSC Suria Sabah in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from Oct 17 to 20.
For a complete listing of film synopsis, showtimes, and additional information, visit JFKL's social media platforms and www.gsc.com.my.
100 free tickets up for grabs to watch JFF2024 movies!
IN conjunction with the Japanese Film Festival 2024 (JFF2024), 100 cinemagoers will get to enjoy one free ticket each to catch certain films screened during the festival via the NST x JFF2024 tie-up.
Just utilise the Promo Code (JFFNST0008EPD) to redeem one free ticket starting from Sept 5, 2024. Redemption is on a first-come-first-served basis, for the first 100 redemptions, while stock last.
This promotion is valid for JFF2024 films only, but not valid for "A Samurai in Time" which will be sold at the prevailing ticket price, and the "Godzilla Minus One" Imax screening.
Promo codes can be redeemed via the GSC Website, GSC Mobile App, or E-Kiosk of GSC Mid Valley Megamall, GSC 1 Utama, GSC Gurney Plaza, GSC Paradigm Mall JB, GSC CityONE Megamall Kuching and GSC Suria Sabah Kota Kinabalu.
Just select 'Payment Method' and apply the 'Promo Code'.
Each code offers 1 (one) movie ticket and only 1 (one) redemption for each transaction. The Promo Code is inclusive of RM0.50 booking fee per ticket for online transactions.
Tickets are valid till Oct 20, 2024.
The codes are not exchangeable for cash and are not valid with any ongoing promotions, vouchers, and or privilege cards.
GSC will not held responsible for any loss or damage of the promo code.