The Japanese Film Festival 2026 has brought Japanese cinema and culture to audiences in Karachi through a series of film screenings and cultural activities.
The festival was inaugurated on September 4 at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, by the Consulate-General of Japan in collaboration with the Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association, Sindh, and the Arts Council of Pakistan.
The event is being supported by the Japan Foundation and aims to promote cultural exchange and strengthen people-to-people relations between Pakistan and Japan.
The opening ceremony featured a screening of the Japanese animated film Children of the Sea, giving audiences an opportunity to experience Japanese animation and storytelling.
The festival features six Japanese films covering different themes and cinematic styles. Screenings will continue at selected venues across Karachi during September.
Speaking at the event, Japanese Consul General Hattori Masaru welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of cinema in promoting mutual understanding between the people of Japan and Pakistan.
Guest of honour Shahzeen Khan, an animator associated with the Pakistani animated film The Glassworker, also shared her views on the influence of Japanese animation and cultural initiatives on young artists.
She appreciated the efforts to provide opportunities for Pakistani animators, filmmakers and storytellers to engage with international cinema and creative traditions.
The Japanese Film Festival is part of the Consulate-General of Japan’s cultural activities aimed at introducing Pakistani audiences to Japanese arts, traditions and contemporary culture.
The festival is expected to attract film enthusiasts, students, artists and families from across Karachi, offering them an opportunity to explore Japanese cinema while encouraging greater cultural understanding and friendship between the two countries.