Japanese Film Festival Ireland – Ireland Japan Association

The Japanese Film Festival Ireland returns for its 16th edition this April, bringing a selection of new and classic Japanese films to screens across Ireland.

Ireland’s only truly national film festival will showcase 16 films this year, from festival favourites to the latest anime features. The festival will run from April 1 – 26, with screenings in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Sligo, Waterford, Dundalk, Wexford, Bray and – for the first time – Ballina.

“It brings me great joy to see Ireland’s keen interest in Japanese cinema. The 2025 Japanese Film Festival boasts an impressive 16 films at 9 locations across Ireland. From the classic horror ‘The Snow Woman,’ which comes from the writings of Ireland’s very own Lafcadio Hearn, to the time travel comedy ‘A Samurai in Time,’ this year’s festival surely has something for everyone in Ireland.” – H.E. Mr. Junji Shimada, Ambassador of Japan to Ireland

This year’s selection includes the delightful fish-out-of-water time travel comedy A Samurai in Time, which last month took home Best Film at the Japan Academy Film Awards. The darkly comic character study Teki Cometh, meanwhile, won three of the top prizes at last year’s Tokyo International Film Festival, including Best Film.

A Samurai In Time

Other acclaimed films and international festival favourites screening during the festival include Cloud, the new thriller from Kiyoshi Kurosawa; the profound All the Long Nights from director Sho Miyake (Small, Slow but Steady); and Living in Two Worlds, a sensitive and heartfelt portrait of a young man’s experiences growing up with Deaf parents.

Cloud

Cottontail, meanwhile, brings together actor Lily Franky (Shoplifters) and Ireland’s own Ciarán Hinds for a moving drama about one Japanese widower’s trip to England to fulfil his late wife’s final wish. Those looking for a unique insight into Japanese society & culture should check out the documentary The Making of a Japanese, which follows a group of Tokyo elementary school students over the course of a year, and the charming comedy-drama Takano Tofu.

Cottontail

Anime fans won’t want to miss this year’s selection of new anime films: Ghost Cat Anzu, Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window, City Hunter: Angel Dust and Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon. We’re also excited to present two classic anime titles: Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved debut feature Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, and the vibrant and playful Tekkonkinkreet.

Ghost Cat Anzu

In Dublin, we’re also excited to present 1968’s The Snow Woman, based on a famous ghost story recounted by Dublin-raised Lafcadio Hearn in his classic Kwaidan collection. This screening will tie in with the 175th anniversary of Hearn’s birth, along with the ongoing exhibition celebrating his work which has been taking place nationally (currently in Dublin’s Farmleigh Gallery). The screening will be preceded by a short introduction introducing the audience to Hearn’s life and work.

“This year marks the 16th year of the festival and our collaboration with the Embassy of Japan. JFF 25 will bring the latest Japanese films to audiences across Ireland, alongside a selection of classic titles. Whether you’re a JFF regular or have never been before, we look forward to welcoming you to this year’s screenings. As ever, the festival has an exciting range of titles to choose from. Whether you’re looking for the latest anime, festival favourites or an insight into Japanese culture & society, this year’s programme has something for everyone.” – Maeve Cooke, director of access>CINEMA

JFF 2025 Screening Schedule

Wexford | Wexford Arts Centre: April 1 and 8

Galway | Eye Cinema: April 9-12

Dublin | Light House Cinema: April 10-17

Cork | The GATE Screen @ Arc Cinema: April 11-17 and Triskel Christchurch: April 21-23

Sligo | Sligo Film Society @ The Model Arts Centre: April 10

Wicklow | Mermaid Arts Centre Bray: April 14

Mayo | Ballina Arts Centre: April 15

Louth | An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk: April 18

Waterford | Garter Lane Arts Centre: April 22, 25 and 26

All The Long Nights

Ticketing links and full listings are now available at www.jff.ie.

Ticket sales information for screenings are available from each participating venue.

The Embassy of Japan and access>CINEMA are the co-organisers of the Festival with the support by The Arts Council of Ireland.

The Japanese Film Festival Ireland returns for its 15th edition this April, with a line-up of films that will bring the best of Japanese cinemas to towns and cities across Ireland.

Ireland’s only truly national film festival will showcase 19 films this year, from the latest anime hits to exciting indie discoveries. The festival will run from April 9 – 27, with screenings in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Waterford, Dundalk, Wexford and – for the first time – Bray.

‘Having started with just 4 films in 3 cities in 2008, this event is now in its 15th edition with 19 films in 9 locations around Ireland. Its continued success is thanks to the dedication of all the organisers, but above all to the enthusiasm of Irish audiences. I am delighted to see so much interest in Japanese cinema in Ireland, and hope that everyone will enjoy this year’s exciting selection of films from Japan.’ – Mr. Norio Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan to Ireland

This year’s line-up will bring Irish audiences everything from acclaimed dramas to crowd-pleasing anime hits. This year’s programme includes the Irish premieres of exceptional new dramas such as Egoist, Great Absence, Ichiko, Remembering Every Night and Shadow of Fire. Those searching for more light-hearted fare should seek out time-loop office satire Mondays: See You ‘This’ Week! and the playful horror-comedy Love Will Tear Us Apart. Anime fans won’t want to miss the first Irish screenings of new titles Lonely Castle in the Mirror and Komada: A Whisky Family. Audiences will also be able to enjoy a special insight into Japanese culture and traditions with films such as Tsugaru Lacquer Girl and Yudo: The Way of the Bath.

The festival is proud to pay tribute to the late, great Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto with a special double bill in Dublin of his beautiful final concert film Opus and Hirokazu Koreeda’s award-winning Monster (which features Sakamoto’s final film score) in Dublin. Opus will also play in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford during the festival. Audiences in Dublin and Galway will also be able to catch this year’s classic screening – Shinji Somai’s coming-of-age drama Typhoon Club, which has been widely celebrated as one of the greatest Japanese films of the 1980s.

‘We’re always excited to bring the latest Japanese films to audiences across Ireland, and this year’s JFF 24 has added significance as it marks the 15th edition of the festival and our collaboration with the Embassy of Japan. We look forward to welcoming festival audiences – whether you’re a JFF regular or have never been before – to this year’s screenings. We’ve made sure to ensure this year’s line-up of films has something for everybody, including everything from the latest festival favourites to future cult classics.’ – Maeve Cooke, director of access>CINEMA

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