Japanese Film Festival 2026

The Japanese Film Festival brings four days of contemporary Japanese cinema to Academy Cinemas, presenting a curated programme of acclaimed films screened in Japanese with English subtitles. The selection spans themes of family, craftsmanship, belonging, resilience, and personal transformation — a cross-section of everyday life in Japan told with quiet emotional depth.

Presented by the Consulate-General of Japan in Auckland and the Japan Foundation, the festival is pitched as a cultural bridge between Japan and New Zealand audiences. Whether families are already fond of Japanese film or simply curious about Japanese culture, the programme offers a genuine window into contemporary Japan through the universal currency of storytelling. Free tickets are required as spaces are limited.