The festival is scheduled to run from 16 to 19 December 2025 and will be held in partnership with the French Embassy at the Centre Culturel Francophone du Rwanda.

The program will feature popular films including “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “Dreaming of The Meridian Arc,” “The Imaginary,” “The Fish Tale,” “ITO, The Lines That Define Me,” “Poupelle of Chimney Town,” and “Akira.” The festival will include both animation (animated) films and live-action movies.

The festival was officially launched on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, with a screening of “Akira,” one of Japan’s landmark cinematic productions.

Moriguchi Yuta, Second Secretary at the Japanese Embassy in Rwanda, said that “Akira” marked a major milestone in Japanese cinema, particularly in animation, which is why it was chosen for the opening in Rwanda. The film was first released in 1988. "‘Akira’ became a landmark that brought Japanese cinema to international audiences. Since then, Japanese animated films have gained widespread popularity and a global fanbase,” Moriguchi said.

He added that the festival aims to provide Rwandans with a deeper understanding of Japanese culture through the medium of film."The themes of the films are diverse, from ‘Akira’ to others that explore Japanese culture in different ways. We hope that many Rwandans will learn about our culture, appreciate it, and celebrate it,” he said.

Moriguchi emphasized that the festival will offer more than just film screenings, providing an opportunity for Rwandans to engage with Japanese culture in a meaningful way.

"Today, many people watch films through platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime, but we want to create a physical space in Africa, especially in Rwanda, where people can enjoy cultural activities like this. Admission is free, and we hope the community will attend and enjoy Japanese cinema,” he added.

The Japanese Film Festival is one of the key events commemorating 15 years of the Embassy’s presence in Rwanda, since its opening in 2010.

"We opened the Embassy in 2010, so this year marks 15 years. That is why we decided to organize this festival in a special way. This is the eighth edition of the festival, and it holds special significance in our history here in Rwanda. We are committed to continuing cultural activities like this,” Moriguchi said.

The festival is also expected to strengthen the cultural and artistic ties between Japan and Rwanda, further enhancing the relationship between the two countries.