The Department of Trade and Industry’s Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Tokyo (PTIC-Tokyo), alongside its coordinating office in Manila, the Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC), joined the Opening Ceremony of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) in Manila on 30 January 2025.

Now in its 28th year, JFF continues to captivate Filipino audiences with a diverse lineup of films that highlight shared cultural values, resilience, and artistry. With over 40,000 attendees last year, the Philippines remains one of the festival’s largest and most enthusiastic audiences globally!

Beyond showcasing Japan’s cinematic excellence, JFF aligns with DTI’s push to promote the Philippine film industry on the global stage. As we work to position the Philippines as a film tourism and production hub in the region, PTIC Tokyo is actively fostering Philippine-Japanese collaborations — such as our engagement with Kuruwa LLC to promote DitO, a Filipino-Japanese film featured in this year’s JFF!

We look forward to further strengthening creative partnerships between our two nations and exploring new avenues for cultural and economic exchange through film and the rest of the creative industries. ♦

  • From Left to Right: Mr. Ben Suzuki, Director of The Japan Foundation, Manila; Mr. Sean Patrick Jacob Razo, Representative of PTIC-Tokyo; Madame Akiko Endo, Spouse of the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuya Endo; Foreign Trade Service Officer Jeremiah Reyes, Foreign Trade Service Corps
  • PTIC-Tokyo and FTSC Coordinating Office Representatives with Director Jose Javier “Joey” Reyes, Chairperson and CEO of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
  • Madame Akiko Endo, Spouse of the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuya Endo.
  • Mr. Ben Suzuki, Director of The Japan Foundation.
  • Director Jose Javier “Joey” Reyes, Chairperson and CEO of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
  • Mr. Yojiro Tanaka, Deputy Director of the Japan Foundation Manila, presenting “DitO”, the Japanese-Philippine co-production film.

Date of Release: 11 February 2025