Popular anime festival Japan Anime Fest will return next month, bringing captivating storytelling and distinctive Japanese artistry to the big screen.
Organised by the Japanese Embassy, with support from the Japan Foundation and in collaboration with Epix Cinemas and Bahrain Polytechnic, the festival will run from October 1 to 8.
The event forms part of the embassy’s ongoing efforts to promote cultural exchange and strengthen mutual understanding between Japan and Bahrain.
A curated line-up of eight films catering to a variety of age groups and interests will be screened at Epix Cinemas in Dana Mall and Bahrain Polytechnic.
Among the highlights are works by ‘visionary’ Japanese animator Makoto Shinkai, renowned for his breathtaking visuals and emotional storytelling. Audiences will have the opportunity to watch two of his early masterpieces, The Place Promised in Our Early Days and 5 Centimeters per Second.
The festival will also celebrate nature through Miyori in the Sacred Forest, a film that gently explores the beauty and fragility of the natural world.
Nodding to the universal appeal of anime, a curated selection of films perfect for families, like Sumikkogurashi: The Movie, Chieri and Cherry, and the iconic Crayon Shin-chan: The Adult Empire Strikes Back will be screened – fostering connection between children and parents.
A poster of one of the films that will be screened this year
Audience favourites from Japan Anime Fest 2025, including the heartwarming Ride Your Wave and the charming Okko’s Inn, will make a welcome return.
This year’s edition introduces Furua, a new mascot joining the festival’s beloved official mascot, Sana. Named for the shared Japanese and Arabic meaning of ‘light, radiance and glory’, Sana symbolises the friendship between the two countries.
Furua, a fluffy, round Forest Spirit with leaf ears, blends the Japanese sense of soft warmth with the Arabic Furū (‘branches’). Together, Furua and his playful companions symbolise harmony with nature and the bonds between people, embodying the festival’s overarching theme of connection and healing.
Schedule and venues
October 1: Official opening at 6pm at Epix Cinemas in Dana Mall and screening of 5 Centimeters per Second at 6.30pm.
October 1 to 5 and October 8: Daily screenings at Epix Cinemas.
October 6, 7: Screening of Miyori in the Sacred Forest and The Place Promised in Our Early Days at Bahrain Polytechnic.
The screenings are free and open to the public with prior registration.
For more information, follow @japan_embassy_bah on Instagram.
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