The Film Development Council of the Philippines’ Cinematheque Centres nationwide will be screening seven Japanese films starting this January and continuing onto March for Japan Film Week 2020. This film series continues a partnership between FDCP and the Japan Foundation, Manila which started the film week screenings in 2018. 

The Japan Film Week is one of two film series’ alongside the Eigasai Japanese Film Festival that showcases Japanese cinema to the Filipino audience. “We are grateful to continue this partnership with the Japanese Foundation of Manila, and happy to see the growth of the Japan Film Week from Cinematheques to even more venues across the country.” FDCP Chair Liza Dino said regarding the collaboration. 

Japan Film Week will showcase a variety of critically-acclaimed, award-winning animated and feature films. Namely, Okada Mari’s directorial debut, the multi-award-winning animated movie Maquiao: When the Promised Flower Blooms, Yoon Mia’s documentary on the aftermath of the Great East Japan earthquake Life Goes On, the Shimbou Akiyuki and Takeuchi Nobuyuki animated film Fireworks, Should We See it From the Side or the Bottom?, Fukatsu Masakazu’s feature drama-film Dad’s Lunch Box, Kosaka Kitaro’s adaptation of children’s literature Okko’s Inn, Shinkai Makoto’s debut feature-length animation Weathering With You, and Keita Meguro’s The Tears of Malumpati, a film set in Panay Island tackling the problem of access to clean drinking water in the region. 

(c) 2019 "Weathering With You" Film Partners 

The Film Week kicks off January 27 at Cinematheque Centre Davao, which holds the series for five days till the 31st. It arrives in Cinematheque Centre Manila on February 26 and screenings continue to the 29th of the month. Japanese Film Week will conclude in Cinematheque Centre Iloilo from March 2 to March 5. All screenings will contain English subtitles and are free to the general public. 

The Japanese Foundation was established as a special legal entity by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and since 2003 has run as an independent administrative institution. In collaboration with FDCP’s International Relations Division (IRD), Japan Film Week fulfills the foundation’s Arts and Cultural Exchange program, which shares “Japan’s heart and mind to the world, helping people relate to Japan even beyond the language barrier” through arts and culture. 

Tickets are free onsite and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact Lloren Tuano for premiere night reservations at [email protected]

See the schedule for Cinematheque Centre Davao below

Cinematheque Centre Davao

• Jan. 27 - Weathering With You (7 pm)
• Jan. 28 - Life Goes On (6:30 pm)
• Jan. 29 - Okko's Inn (6:30 pm)
• Jan. 30 - The Tears of Malumpati (4 pm) and Maquia (6:30 pm)
• Jan. 31 - Dad's Lunch Box (4 pm) and Fireworks (6:30 pm)

Cinematheque Centre Manila

• Feb. 26 - Weathering With You (7 pm)
• Feb. 27 - Fireworks (2 pm), Maquia (4 pm), The Tears of Malumpati (6 pm) and Life Goes On (8 pm)
• Feb. 28 - Dad's Lunchbox (2 pm), Life Goes On (4 pm), Weathering With You (6 pm) and Okko's Inn (8 pm)
• Feb. 29 - Maquia (12 pm), The Tears of Malumpati (2 pm), Fireworks (4 pm) and Dad's Lunchbox (6 pm)

Cinematheque Centre Iloilo

• Mar. 2 - Weathering With You (7 pm)
• Mar. 3 - Dad's Lunchbox (6:30 pm)
• Mar. 4 - The Tear's of Malumpati (4 pm), Okko's Inn (6:30 pm)
• Mar. 5 - Maquia (4 pm), Fireworks (6:30 pm)
• Mar. 6 - Life Goes On (4 pm), Weathering With You (6:30 pm)