Film enthusiasts in provincial areas had a glimpse of the latest Japanese film works. The Japan Foundation, Manila, in partnership with SM Cinema, brought back the on-site screenings of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) with its award-winning and must-see full-length films simultaneously screened at SM City Baguio, SM Seaside City Cebu, and SM City Davao.
During the opening ceremony at SM City Davao, The Japan Foundation, Manila director Ben Suzuki welcomed guests with a video message, while Hon. Ishikawa Yoshihisa, consul general of Japan in Davao and Engr. Jonathan Nick D. Santos, assistant vice president for Mindanao of SM Supermalls officially opened the film festival at SM City Davao with a toast.
Guests at SM City Davao opening ceremony witnessed the drama/thriller film In The Wake directed by Zeze Takahisa.
Cinemagoers from Baguio, Cebu, and Davao also had the opportunity to watch other Japanese Film Festival offerings. These included animated films Belle by Hosoda Mamoru and Inu-Oh by Yuasa Masaaki; Drama/Youth/Animation film Blue Thermal by Tachibana Masaki; drama films Blue by Keisuke Yoshida, And So The Baton Is Passed by Maeda Tetsu, In Anime Supremacy! by Yoshino Kohei, and Every Day A Good Day by Omori Tatsushi; Drama/Suspense film Intolerance by director Keisuke Yoshida; and Drama/Thriller film Lesson in Murder by Shiraishi Kazuya.
