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The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) offers free movies to Dabawenyos that opened Friday, February 24 and will run until March 3 at Cinema 3 in SM City Davao. Featured at the opening day was “The First Slam Dunk”, a hit movie in Japan earning over $112 million or 15.74 billion yen.
During the opening night, Consul General Ishikawa Yoshihisa of Japan Consulate Office in Davao announced that top rated Japanese films of 10 movies will be featured with the hope that the film festival would continue to “strengthen friendship, coordination and understanding between Japan and the Philippines”.
At the opening program, Davao City 1st district Councilor Pilar Braga welcomed the holding of JFF here saying this partnership between two countries promotes goodwill, brotherhood, and peace between Japan and the Philippines. “This platform (movies) highlight the culture, the art, tradition, values and people of the two countries,” she said.
Engr. Jonathan Nick D. Santos, assistant vice president for Mindanao operations of SM Supermalls said the JFF, which has grown to become one of the most anticipated film festivals in the country, target to captivate audiences with a variety of visual delights.
This year’s run he said is exciting as it will bring us back to our youth with films “Slam Dunk, Voltes V and Detective Conan”.
Santos said “SM Supermalls is grateful to Japan Foundation, Manila and the Consulate General of Japan in Davao for this partnership and for mounting the Japanese Film Festival here in SM City Davao.”
Santos advised moviegoers to secure tickets in advance at the ticket booth for hassle-free cinematic experience.
“I challenge all of you here to watch these full-length movies during the festival,” he said.
Japan Foundation in Manila Director Yojiro Tanaka said in his message as read by its representative Carlos Ortiz, “with Davao’s rich culture it is worth highlighting the significant Japanese population and their descendants. The Japanese Film Festival is just one of their initiatives to deepen their engagement in the Davao region.
Please check the screening schedule here
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Aside from SM City Davao, the 2024 Japan Film Festival is also held in SM Seaside City Cebu, SM City Baguio, SM City Iloilo. The JFF is also held in Shangri-la Plaza and UPFI Film Center.