From 8 February – 29 March discover the UK’s biggest festival of Japanese cinema at Brewery Arts. We’ve handpicked a selection of films, as part of The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme (JFTFP), which is back for its latest and greatest instalment for 2025!
In a world where injustice runs rampant, cinematic expressions of justice seem inexhaustible: time and time again, heroic protagonists fend off malicious antagonists or enact their revenge, the constant injustices they face mirroring audiences’ own. Japan is no exception to this, and the JFTFP25 promises to showcase how Japanese filmmakers use the language of cinema to explore the concepts of criminal, social, and moral justice, along with how people respond to external judgement.
Featuring everything from thought-provoking hidden gems to laugh-a-minute entertainment, you are invited to join us in questioning the very concepts of justice, justification, and judgement against today’s backdrop of ever-changing values and perspectives.
All JFTFP cinema tickets £6.50!
Film programme
A Samurai in Time (12A)
8 February, 5pm
When an Edo-era samurai travels through time to the 21st century, he puts his sword skills to good use – as an extra on a period drama TV set.
Penalty Loop (12A)
15 February, 5pm
A man out for bloody revenge finds himself trapped in a time loop with the man he’s trying to kill. Will this help him achieve justice?
Bushido (15)
22 February, 5pm
Now-unemployed samurai Kakunoshin’s life was destroyed by a false accusation. Having learned the truth, he sets out to restore his honour through revenge, but this comes at a cost…
Stay Mum (12A)
1 March, 5pm
When Chisako comes across a young, abused amnesiac, she takes him under her wing, claiming to be his mother. Before long, she must confront the consequences of her lie.
Ichiko (12A)
8 March, 5pm
When Ichiko goes missing, her boyfriend immediately begins to search for her. But he discovers that she’s not who he thought she was.
The Moon (18)
15 March, 5pm
Once-popular novelist Yoko, seeking a change, gets a job at a facility for the disabled. She soon witnesses abuse from her co-workers towards the residents, which culminates in a shocking incident…
We Make Antiques! (12A)
22 March, 5pm
A shady antiques dealer and a skilled potter team up to execute a high-stakes con. Can they pull off the swindle of their careers?
Ghost Cat Anzu (12A)
29 March, 5pm
Wishing to see her dead mother again, a young girl sets out on a fantastical adventure accompanied by her grandfather’s goofy magical talking cat.
View the full cinema programme here.
