Japanese Film Festival 2024 Returns With Godzilla, Anime Classics & More

By Danial Martinus  •  12 Sep 2024 in Movies & TV

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The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) is back in Malaysia for its 20th anniversary, running from 12 September to 20 October 2024. The festival is set to light up selected GSC cinemas across the country with 13 films, spanning various genres such as drama, sci-fi, romance, thriller, and animation.

Since its launch 20 years ago, JFF has attracted over 200,000 movie lovers, screened 215 films, hosted 127 directors, and organised 11 fringe events across five states. Last year alone, the festival drew nearly 10,000 attendees as it made a strong comeback following the pandemic.

What to expect at JFF 2024

This year, JFF 2024 kicks off with Godzilla Minus One, a fresh take on the iconic monster franchise directed by Yamazaki Takashi. The film recently won Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards and will make its Malaysian premiere at the festival.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Godzilla, the festival is also hosting a Godzilla Marathon on 14 and 21 September in Klang Valley and Penang respectively, featuring Godzilla Minus One alongside the classic original Godzilla from 1954.

Anime fans are in for a treat with screenings of the 1988 classic Akira by Otomo Katsuhiro and Sand Land (2023), based on a story by the legendary Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragon Ball. The lineup also includes compelling new releases like Matched (2024), All the Long Nights (2024) by Miyake Sho, and A Samurai in Time (2024), which premiered in Japan in August.

To celebrate its milestone anniversary, the Japan Foundation in Kuala Lumpur is also organising a five-day filmmaking workshop for young Malaysian and Japanese filmmakers. Directed by Lim Kah Wai, the workshop will cover the entire filmmaking process, from ideation to editing.

The completed short films will be showcased on the Japan Foundation’s YouTube channel, giving young filmmakers a platform to share their work.

And if you love free stuff, festival-goers can collect stamps throughout the festival to win exclusive goodies and prizes.

Ticket information

Tickets are priced at RM10 (except for A Samurai in Time, which will be sold at the regular price), with a special IMAX screening of Godzilla Minus One priced at RM50.

All films will be shown in Japanese with English subtitles.

Ready to dive into the world of Japanese cinema? Head over to the JFF website for a full list of films, showtimes, and all the details.

For more entertainment news, head to JUICE Malaysia.