The 26th Japanese Film Festival, the largest celebration of Japanese film in the country, bringing new and old films to local audiences, returns in November and December.

Presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney, the festival tours five major cities launching in Canberra (November 5–20) before moving to Perth (November 21–27), Brisbane (November 11–27), Melbourne (November 30 – December 4) and finishing up in Sydney (December 7–14).

Opening the festival this year across all cities is the historical drama Dreaming of the Meridian Arc, a witty rewriting of Japanese history by director Kenji Nakanishi. Set in both present-day Japan and the Edo period, this comedy uncovers the true story behind the man who completed the first ever map of Japan.

Other films include Intolerance, And So The Baton Is Passed, Blue, In the Wake, Baby Assassins,  ANIME SUPREMACY!, Blue Thermal, Lesson in Murder and The Pursuit of Perfection. 

Alongside the latest box office hits is this year’s JFF Special Series, which will show in Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. This free series proudly presents rare 35mm film screenings of master filmmaker Mikio Naruse’s works.

Sydney audiences will also be treated to a special post-film talk event. The talk will be held at The Chauvel on Wednesday 14 December, where after a screening of Floating Clouds, Dr Mats Karlsson, Senior Lecturer at The University of Sydney, will discuss the film in the context of director Mikio Naruse’s filmography, which spanned 1930 to 1967.

The program of events in all five major cities are:

Canberra  
Opening Reception: 16 November at Palace Electric
Latest Releases: 16-20 November at Palace Electric
Special Series: 5-6 November at NFSA

Perth 
Opening Reception: 21 November at Palace Raine Square
Latest Releases: 21-27 November at Palace Raine Square

Brisbane 
Opening Reception: 23 November at Palace Barracks
Latest Releases: 23-27 November at Palace Barracks
Special Series: 11-20 November at QAGOMA

Melbourne 
Opening Reception: 30 November at The Kino
Latest Releases: 30 November-4 December at The Kino
Special Series: 2-4 December at ACMI

Sydney 
Opening Reception: 7 December at Palace Norton Street
Latest Releases: 7-11 December at Palace Central, Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona
Special Series: 12-14 December at The Chauvel