Hibiya Cinema Festival is one of the major movie events in Japan. It is among Asia's most highly regarded film festivals, and its popularity extends beyond just film buffs and cinephiles to the general public. The festival takes place every year in October in Tokyo, and this year, it will be held from Friday, October 14 to Sunday, October 23. Hibiya Cinema Festival showcases Japanese and international movies in its outdoor screening venue, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya Step Square. Along with the screenings, the festival also hosts various events for all to enjoy. The Open screenings are free events; however, due to the high number of attendees, ensure you get there early or reserve your seat.
Outdoor Movie Screening
This event is the perfect opportunity for a movie marathon in Tokyo. Movie Mania showcases a diverse selection of movies, from recent blockbusters such as Mamma Mia!, Sing, and La La Land to timeless classics like Dreamgirls, Les Misérables, and Jersey Boys. This fantastic movie lineup caters to all ages, making it a great place to spend with your loved ones this October. However, if you are pressed for time, there’s still an opportunity for you to watch a short film. About eight award-winning short films from the International Short Film Festival will be played between the main movie screenings. The short films are up to 25 minutes long. The short film that caught our attention is a Singaporean one called Final Exam. It’s about three top-scoring students who assist their classmate Nina in her exam preparation. Unfortunately, the three students later learn that Nina’s upcoming test may be her last at the school.
Here’s a lineup of movie screenings you don’t want to miss! You can check out this link for a detailed movie schedule.
October 14, 2:45pm, October 16, 1pm and 3pm and October 21, 3pm: La La Land
October 15, 1pm: Mamma Mia!
October 15, 3pm: Sing
October 17, 3pm: Muthu
October 18, 3pm: Staying Alive
October 19, 3pm: Dreamgirls
October 20, 3pm and October 23, 1pm and 5:30 pm: Mamma Mia! Here We Go AgainOctober 22, 1pm and 6pm: Rocketman
October 22, 3pm: Les Misérables
October 23, 3pm: Jersey Boys
The Fourth Toronto Japanese Film Festival in Hibiya
Supported by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan and in cooperation with the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya brings you the Fourth Toronto Japanese Film Festival in Hibiya. Watch the best Japanese movies that have won awards both locally and internationally. Some famous films that will be screened are One Summer Story, Ribbon, and The Last 10 Years. These movies will have English subtitles, so you don’t have to worry about the language barrier. This event will take place at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya Step Square. From 6–7pm there will be a live-streamed Director on Stage session during which movie directors talk with the audience about the films they created. The movie screenings will start at 7pm. There are three seating areas at the event: the Relaxing zone, Pallet zone, and Café zone. If you want to sit in the Relaxing zone, you’ll have to reserve a seat in advance here.
Make sure you don’t miss out on these popular Japanese Movies
October 15, 7pm: One Summer Story
October 16, 7pm: Ribbon
October 17, 7pm: KIBA: The Fangs of Fiction
October 18, 7pm: And So the Baton Is Passed
October 19, 7pm: Shoplifters
October 20, 7pm: INUBU: The Dog
October 21, 7pm: The Last 10 Years
Premium Theatre for Two Days Only at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya
There will be two special screenings of the two most memorable movies. The first screening on October 18 is The Greatest Showman, a musical about circus performers. The main character, played by Hugh Jackman, is a businessman who creates the famous Barnum & Bailey Circus. In the movie, he struggles with his love for the circus and his responsibilities as a husband and father. The second screening on October 20 is Bohemian Rhapsody, a movie about how Freddie Mercury became the lead singer of Queen, one of the world’s most famous bands. It’s also an inside look at how Queen came to make some of their greatest hits. Book your ticket for these special screenings at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya Tokyo.
October 18, 7pm: The Greatest Showman
October 20, 7pm: Bohemian Rhapsody
Ticket is required for entry. Call 050-6868-5068
Tokyo Midtown Hibiya. 4F, TOHO cinemas Hibiya screens 1
Kinema Junpo Magazine Covers Exhibition
Kinema Junpo, also known as Kinejun, is a monthly Japanese film magazine published since 1919. It’s the first film magazine in Japan, and is still in publication today. Kinejun covers new releases, the latest industry news, and interviews with actors, directors, and other figures involved with cinema. The Kinejun film magazine cover exhibition is a series of displays hosted by Tokyo Midtown Hibiya to showcase the covers of different issues of Kinejun from the 70s and 80s. Some of the movies featured in this exhibition are Top Gun, Saturday Night Fever, and Superman.
October 14–November 2
Tokyo Midtown Hibiya B1F, Hibiya Arcade
If you are looking for a film experience, try to attend the open screenings as they offer a great atmosphere to enjoy films alongside a diverse audience. Make sure to check the details of the screenings before heading out to the venue, as there is a possibility for the schedule to change.
Angelinah Maphanga
Content Marketer, Custom Media
