An Open Draft – Asia Film Programmers Lab #2 (2025)
First Phase (Workshop and Research in Tokyo)
October–November 2025
Presentations at the JF Headquarters
As part of its comprehensive initiative “Partnership to Co-create a Future with the Next Generation: WA Project 2.0,” which aims to foster exchange and human resource development among the next generation in Japan and ASEAN countries, the Japan Foundation (JF) launched a new program in FY2024 focusing on film programmers—professionals involved in film screenings and program curation. The following is a report on the program’s implementation in FY2025.
In the First Phase of the program, participants take part in workshops on developing screening programs for Japanese films, as well as networking with film professionals from Japan and other countries and gathering information on Japanese cinema.
In FY2025, a total of 15 emerging professionals involved in film exhibition—including 10 participants from ASEAN countries and 5 from Japan—gathered in Tokyo to take part in the program activities described below.
Participants shared positive feedback, including comments such as: “Through discussions with participants from other countries about film programming, I gained valuable experiences that will certainly benefit my future work,” and “By visiting screening venues, I learned the importance of connecting with local communities, which inspired me to create a similarly beloved space in my own country.”
Visit to EUROSPACE (Tokyo)
At Fukaya Cinema (Saitama)
| Period | Thursday, October 23, 2025 - Monday, November 1, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Venue | JF Headquarters（Tokyo), Fukaya Cinema (Fukaya City, Saitama), Cinémathèque Takasaki (Takasaki City, Gunma), and others |
| Organizers | JF |
| Advisor | TSUCHIDA Tamaki (Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival / Waseda University) |
| Mentors |
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| Participants |
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| Program |
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Second Phase
The Second Phase of this project includes screenings and other events organized by participants from ASEAN countries to present the outcomes of the First Phase.
Event Reports
- Hanoi (Vietnam）
- Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
- Jakarta (Indonesia)
- Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
- Chiang Mai (Thailand )
Vietnam
Hanoi
Screening venue and talk event
As the first event of the Second Phase, five Japanese films focusing on family relationships were screened at White Light Cinéhub, the only arthouse cinema in Hanoi, Vietnam. The program, titled “Silence and (dis)connection,” was curated by film programmer Ha Quoc Minh (see outline below).
Despite being a newly established venue, advance reservations for all screenings reached capacity, and many audience members expressed a desire for the program to continue. The project generated significant local interest, with the cinema's social media following increasing by approximately 1.5 times during the program period.
In addition, UENO Michinari, who participated from Japan, joined a talk session on the current state and significance of Japan's arthouse cinema culture, known as “mini-theater” culture, drawing on his experience as manager of Takada Sekaikan, one of Japan's oldest independent cinemas. The event also featured a dialogue with filmmaker Nguyen Le Hoang Viet, followed by an exchange of views with audience members.
Reflecting on the project, Ha Quoc Minh commented that “Through the process of understanding audience needs, I was able to clarify my own interests and identify new possibilities. I hope to continue organizing screenings with different themes in the future and to share this experience with other programmers as well.”
From left: Nguyen Le Hoang Viet, UENO Michinari, and Ha Quoc Minh.
| Event Name | Silence and (dis) connection |
|---|---|
| Event Period | Friday, April 3, 2026 – Sunday, May 3, 2026 |
| Venues | White Light Cinéhub |
| Programmer | Ha Quoc Minh (Film Programmer, White Light Cinéhub) |
| Curatorial Cooperation | UENO Michinari (Manager of Takada Sekaikan) |
| Featured Films |
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| Related Event | Talk Event
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| Organizer | The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, White Light Cinéhub |
| Project URL | facebook: White Light Cinéhub |
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
Screening venue and talk event
As the second event of the Second Phase, film programmer Yeap Swee Leong presented “Cinema Pairing Japan x Malaysia,” a program that brought together three Japanese films and two Malaysian films by directors who have been inspired by Japanese cinema.
Held over three days, the screenings drew strong interest from local audiences, with advance tickets for Tokyo Story selling out. The program was warmly received in Kuala Lumpur, particularly among younger viewers.
At the talk events, Malaysian directors Chong Keat Aun and Al Jafree Md Yusop spoke about their connections to Japanese cinema, giving audiences the opportunity to hear firsthand how Japanese films have influenced their creative approaches. The conversations also highlighted how each director has developed a distinctive voice grounded in his own cultural background and artistic perspective. The program provided a meaningful opportunity for audiences to experience cultural exchange between Japan and Malaysia through cinema.
Reflecting on the project, Yeap noted that the experience helped him clarify his approach to film programming and gave him the confidence to describe, in his own words, what programming means to him.
| Event Name | Cinema Pairing Japan x Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Event Period | Friday, May 15 – Sunday, May 17, 2026 |
| Venues | GSC Mid Valley Megamall |
| Programmer | Yeap Swee Leong (Filmmaker, film programmer, and founder of the Raintown Film Festival) |
| Featured Films |
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| Related Events | Talk Events
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| Organizer | The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur |
| Co-organizer | GSC International Screens |
| Project URL | Cinema Pairing (Japan x Malaysia) – JFKL |
Indonesia
Jakarta
screening and talk session
As the third event of the Second Phase, a film programmer Hasta Aisyah Trida Pramita curated a series of screenings and related events under the title “Et Cetera: Dan Lain Lain,” centered on the theme of urban alienation. The program featured three Japanese films and two Indonesian films (details below).
Each screening attracted a large number of applications, with Tokyo Sonata and Amiko in particular reaching full capacity. In addition to the screenings, a talk session was held with SOMA Kosuke, who supported the program, and Juan Hendry, director of the Jelek Film Festival. The session explored screening spaces in Tokyo and Jakarta. A zine-making workshop was also conducted as part of the program.
Audience participation was actively encouraged throughout the event. Visitors were invited to write down their expectations prior to the screenings and their impressions afterward, which were then displayed at the venue. They also shared their thoughts during post-screening discussions. These participatory initiatives contributed to a lively and engaging atmosphere.
The programmer commented that participation in the “An Open Draft – Asia Film Programmers Lab” was a highly valuable experience for her future career. She also expressed her intention to continue developing screening programs from different perspectives and to implement them in various locations.
| Event Name | Et Cetera : Dan Lain Lain |
|---|---|
| Event Period | Saturday, May 23, 2026 – Sunday, May 24, 2026 |
| Venues | Teater Sjumandjaya (Taman Ismail Marzuki) |
| Programmer | Hasta Aisyah Trida Pramita |
| Featured Films |
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| Related Event | Talk Session: From Urban Space to Screening Space: Tokyo, Jakarta, and Alienation
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| Organizer | The Japan Foundation, Jakarta |
Cambodia
Phnom Penh
Screening and Panel Discussion
As part of the Second Phase, film programmer Rochivorn Then planned and presented “Cinema Adrift: What if movie theatres disappeared?,” a screening program and series of related events centered on Japanese and Cambodian films and exploring the significance and future of movie theatres. An overview of the program is provided below.
Over the course of the program, seven films were screened, accompanied by a panel discussion and a photo exhibition. The opening screening of the Cambodian film Becoming Human drew a large audience and was followed by a talk with the director, cast, and key staff members. Japan-based filmmaker Lim Kah Wai also joined the event, taking part in Q&A sessions after screenings of This Magic Moment and Your Lovely Smile. The panel discussion, titled “What if movie theatres disappeared?,” brought together filmmakers and audiences for a lively conversation on the role of movie theatres and the experience of watching films together in Japan and Cambodia. A photo exhibition introducing movie theatres in both countries was also held at the venue, alongside networking sessions that created further opportunities for audiences and film professionals to connect.
Photo exhibition
Reflecting on the experience, Rochivorn Then noted that participating in An Open Draft ‐Asia Film Programmers Lab helped deepen his understanding of film programming, provided valuable hands-on experience, and expanded his international film network. He also expressed the hope of applying these experiences to future screening projects and to ongoing efforts to promote film culture.
| Event Name | Cinema Adrift: What if movie theatres disappeared? |
|---|---|
| Event Period | Thursday, August 6 – Sunday, August 9, 2026 |
| Venues | Institut français du Cambodge、Legend Cinema Exchange Square |
| Programmer | Rochivorn Then |
| Featured Films |
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| Related Events | Panel Discussion
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| Organizer | The Japan Foundation, Phnom Penh Liaison Office |
| Project URL | Institut Français |
Thailand
Chiang Mai
Curator conversation and historical walk
As part of the Second Phase, film programmer Nattakun Khamphinit (hereinafter, the programmer) planned and implemented screenings and related events at Suan Anya in Chiang Mai under the title “Hearing the Voice of the Absence.” Exploring the relationship between voices, spaces, and memory, the program reexamined histories that have gradually faded from public consciousness or have been obscured by structures of power that determine what should be remembered and recorded.
Over the course of the program, eight films were screened across three programs, accompanied by related events included a curator conversation between the programmer and MIYOSHI Gohei, who had worked together from the first phase to prepare this screening program; a historical walking tour around Chiang Mai University and its surrounding communities tracing histories that have already become “invisible”; and a keynote lecture by YAMASHITA Koyo, a mentor for the project “An Open Draft – Asia Film Programmers Lab”. These related events were designed to complement the meticulously structured film program, enabling audiences to deepen their understanding of the screening theme from multiple perspectives over the three-day program as a whole.
Reflecting on the experience, the programmer commented that opportunities to screen Japanese films for her own community had previously been limited, and that although the process involved many challenges—including research and negotiations with distributors—she was satisfied with the results. She also expressed her intention to continue deepening her research on Japanese cinema, including through visits to Japan, and to apply what she learns to her activities.
| Project Title | Hearing the Voice of the Absence |
|---|---|
| Period | Friday, August 7–Sunday, August 9, 2026 |
| Venues | Suan Anya, Chiang Mai |
| Programmer | Nattakun Khamphinit (Film Programmer, Dude, Movie) |
| Screened Films | Programme 1: Landscape and the Order of Seeing
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| Related Events | Curator Conversation
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| Presented by | Dude, Movie |
| Supported by | The Japan Foundation, Bangkok |
| In Partnership with |
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| Project URL | The Open draft special film screenings “Hearing the Voice of Absence” |
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