Palace Barracks Cinema is aglow with the magic of Japanese cinema as the Japanese Film Festival makes its long-awaited return. Running from 6–19 November in Brisbane, the festival offers an unmissable escape into the world of Japanese storytelling — where every frame is a work of art, and every story a window into the country’s culture, beauty, and emotion.
Curated by The Japan Foundation, this year’s Japanese Film Festival 2025 program is a visual feast. From sweeping historical dramas to offbeat comedies and taut thrillers, each film showcases the craft, imagination, and cinematic brilliance that have made Japanese filmmakers revered worldwide. It’s a celebration not only of cinema but of mood, atmosphere, and artistry — the kind that stays with you long after the credits fade.
The Queensland Homes team had the pleasure of attending the Australian premiere of Kokuhō — a visually spectacular epic from director Yoshimasa Ishibashi, and Japan’s official entry to the 2026 Academy Awards.
Set against the world of Kabuki theatre, Kokuhō follows gifted performer Kikuo (rising star Ryō Yoshizawa), who is taken under the wing of legendary actor Hanjirō Hanai, played by the incomparable Ken Watanabe (Memoirs of a Geisha, The Last Samurai). Alongside Hanai’s only son, Shunsuke (Ryūsei Yokohama), Kikuo devotes his life to the centuries-old art form — renowned for its elaborate costumes, striking makeup, and innovative stagecraft.
Over the decades, against the backdrop of breathtaking Kabuki performances, the destinies of these two young men entwine in a story of ambition, love, rivalry, and sacrifice. Their on-stage passions mirror their off-stage struggles as both strive to become a master of their craft — with only one ultimately destined to inherit the title of “National Treasure.”
For cinephiles craving a deeper dive into Japan’s film heritage, the festival also reaches the screens of QAGOMA, where the JFF Special Series revisits the golden era of Japanese cinema. Audiences can rediscover masterworks by Ozu, Mizoguchi, and Yamanaka, paired with seldom-seen pre-war “paper films” and an evocative live performance by Duo YUMENO — an unforgettable fusion of sound, image, and history.
Japanese Film Festival Australia 2025 Dates
Brisbane – 6 to 19 Nov
Melbourne – 15 to 28 Nov
Sydney – 22 Nov to 8 Dec
Perth – 5 to 15 Dec
Explore the full program and book your seats at japanesefilmfestival.net
