Japanese Film Festival 2025 opens in Arts Council Karachi

Culture Reporter

Karachi: The Consulate-General of Japan in Karachi, in collaboration with the Pakistan Japan Cultural Association Sindh (PJCA) and the Arts Council of Pakistan, inaugurated the “Japanese Film Festival 2025” at the Arts Council on Wednesday.

Organized annually by the Japanese Consulate and the Japan Foundation, the festival aims to showcase Japanese culture through cinema. This year’s edition features eight films across diverse genres, with screenings scheduled through September and October at selected venues across Sindh.

The festival opened with the animated feature Penguin Highway, a coming-of-age tale blending science fiction with childhood wonder.

Addressing the audience, Consul General Hattori Masaru thanked participants for their interest and underlined the role of cinema in fostering cultural exchange. “I truly hope this festival brings meaningful encounters, lasting memories, and maybe even a fresh perspective or two,” he said.

Chief Guest Rahul Aijaz, a filmmaker and critic, highlighted the influence of Japanese masters such as Akira Kurosawa on his career. He also called for film co-productions between Pakistan and Japan to further strengthen cultural ties. Aijaz’s own feature film Indus Echoes is set for release in Karachi on September 19.

The screenings are open to the public and will continue over the next two months.