Credit: JFF

From 10-20 December, The annual Japanese Film Festival features a total of 28 films in four sections: Panorama, Indie, Shorts and The Projector Showcase. 

Organised by the Singapore Film Society (SFS), in collaboration with the Japan Creative Centre, Embassy of Japan in Singapore, the festival celebrates Japanese cinema with a diverse selection of titles under the theme ‘The Closest You Can Get to Japan in 2020’. The quirky tagline was not the original theme when JFF was initially set to launch in February earlier this year, but was naturally suitable for the postponed festival’s re-launch. The festival hopes to bring Japanese culture, food and stories closer to our Singapore audiences, many of whom tend to travel to Japan during this holiday period. 

This edition, there will be a mix of both physical and online screenings - via Shaw Kinolounge for cinephiles and fans of Japanese cinema, under the aim of building an extensive bridge between the Japanese film industry and Asia-Pacific moviegoers, and to raise interest in Japanese culture.

Opening film ‘Bento Harassment + online Q&A with Director Renpei Tsukamoto. JFF will open with a quirky family drama, BENTO HARASSMENT (今日も嫌がらせ弁当) on 10 December 2020. Director Renpei Tsukamoto will be joining for an online Q&A session on 12 December, kick-starting a line-up of more Q&As with directors than previous editions of JFF. 



BENTO HARASSMENT is Renpei’s third collaboration with star actress Ryoko Shinohara, the latest in a long line of illustrious directorial titles. 

Synopsis: Kaori is a single mother, who was doing a great job at raising a loving daughter, till the young girl hit high-school and the dreaded rebellious phase. Frustrated at the change in her daughter, Kaori decides to take measures to communicate with Futaba in a unique way – she creates messages in her daughter’s bento meals, with a side of revenge. These bento messages slowly turn into a bridge between mother and daughter. 

Ticket sales are now opened on Shaw’s website and Shaw Kinolouge, The Projector and Singapore Film Society Peatix Page (https://jffsg.peatix.com). Head to the official film festival website for more information.