A Tsunami of Tales: Country Focus Japan To Make Waves at IFFI
22 November 2025: Goa woke up today to a crackling mix of sea breeze and pure cinematic electricity as the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) kicked off its much-awaited Country Focus: Japan showcase. And what an opening it was! The first film to hit the screen—’Seaside Serendipity’ (Umibe e iku michi)—bathed the venue in golden coastal magic, instantly transporting audiences into a world of childhood wonder, artistic whimsy, and sunlit storytelling. The Cast and Crew of the film also walked the red carpet on this occasion.
Japan, the Country of Focus for IFFI 2025, arrives with a dazzling cinematic entourage—six films that pulse with energy, emotion, and extraordinary artistic grit. From soft dramas that linger in the heart to bold queer narratives that push boundaries; from cross-cultural heartbreaks to sci-fi sparkles of youth and dreamy, experimental art-house tapestries—this lineup is nothing short of a masterclass in Japanese storytelling.
The curation is a celluloid kaleidoscope, a vibrant passport into Japan’s evolving film universe. It celebrates fierce new voices, visionary veterans, and every storyteller who dares to blur genres, bend rules, and break stereotypes. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions, aesthetics, and unforgettable frames led by a country whose cinema continues to enchant the world.
THE COUNTRY FOCUS: JAPAN SHOWCASE — FILMS & SYNOPSIS
1. A Pale View Of Hills ( Tooi Yamanami no Hikar )
Japan, UK, Poland | 2025 | English, Japanese | 123’| Colour
Based upon Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro’s eponymous book from 1982, UK 1982. A young aspiring Japanese-British writer plans to write a book based on her mother Etsuko’s post-war experiences in Nagasaki. Haunted by the suicide of her older daughter, Etsuko begins to recount her memories from 1952 as a young mother-to-be. Her story begins with her encounter with Sachiko, a young woman full of hope about starting a new life abroad with her young daughter Mariko, who now and again mentions memories of an eerie woman. The writer finds troubling inconsistencies as she pieces together the mementoes of her mother’s Nagasaki years with the memories Etsuko shares.
2. Catching The Stars of This Summer (Kono Natsu no Hoshi wo Miru )
Japan | 2025 | Japanese | 126’ | Colour
Based on Mizuki Tsujimuras best-selling novel Catching the Stars of This Summer, the film adapts a story inspired by true events during Japans 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. three students, Asa from Ibaraki, Mahiro from Tokyo, and Madoka from Nagasakis Goto Islands connect online after school closures disrupt their club activities. United by their love of astronomy, they organize a virtual Star Catch Contest, racing to spot stars with their homemade telescopes. As their friendship deepens across regional and emotional distances, their contest culminates to an unexpected miracle that transcendgeographical
boundaries and pandemic limitations.
3. Dear Stranger
Japan, Taiwan, USA | 2025 | English, Chinese | 138’ |
Dear Stranger tells the story of a Japanese man and his Taiwanese- American wife living in New York city. Struggling with work, parenting, and caregiving, their already strained life descends into crisis when their son is kidnapped. The traumatic event brings long-buried secrets and emotional wounds to the surface, deepening their disconnect. As they
each grapple with grief and suspicion, the couple’s relationship fractures under the pressure, raising difficult questions about trust, cultural identity, and the ideal of a happy family. The film explores the complexities of immigrant life, family dynamics, and the pursuit of reconciliation amid tragedy.
4. Seaside Serendipity ( Umibe eiku michi )
Japan | 2025 | Japanese | 140’ | Colour
Set in a vibrant coastal town where artists converge with long-time residents, Seaside Serendipity follows middle-schooler Sosuke and his friends during an unforgettable summer brimming with creativity and curiosity. As they pour their energy into art and exploration, their carefree perspective intertwines with that of adults weighed down by secrets, regrets, and self-discovery, while the children embrace challenges with boundless imagination. The town itself, ever-changing under the shimmering sun, becomes a living character. Through playful encounters and small-town mysteries, Seaside Serendipity becomes a sunlit tapestry of vignettes filled with humor, tenderness, and quiet introspection.
5. Tiger
Japan | 2025 | Japanese | 127’ | Colour
Set against Tokyo underground queer scene, the film Tiger, follows 35-year-old gay masseuse Taiga Katagiri as he struggles with escalating conflicts with his estranged sister
over their inheritance. This tension blurs the lines between right and wrong, exposing harsh family dynamics and societal pressures. Taiga balances challenging work in a men-only massage parlour and gay porn auditions, navigating a fraught world of acceptance and identity. The film explores the complexities of LGBTQ+ life in a deeply divided society,
offering a poignant, authentic portrait of personal and familial struggle.
6. Two Seasons, Two Strangers ( Tabi to Hibi )
Japan | 2025 | Japanese | 89’ | Colour
Set against the contrasting seasons of summer and winter, Two Seasons, Two Strangers intertwines two poignant tales. During a rainy summer by the sea, Nagisa, a woman from the city, and Natsuo, a young visitor, share awkward exchanges as they wade together into the ocean. In the snow-covered winter, Li, a creatively blocked screenwriter, arrives at a remote guesthouse run by the enigmatic Benzo. Their sparse conversations mask a growing connection, leading them on an unforeseen journey. The film delicately explores the subtle interplay between imagined and lived realities.
