Japanese Film Festival returns to Dundalk's An Táin Arts Centre

The Japanese Film Festival returns to Dundalk's An Táin Arts Centre for its 10th year on Saturday 11th April 2026. An Táin Arts Centre is delighted to collaborate once again with the Embassy of Japan in Ireland and access>CINEMA to present a diverse and engaging programme of films.

Showcasing the work of some of the most acclaimed filmmakers in contemporary Japanese cinema, the festival spans a wide range of themes, genres and topics.

This year's festival features two special screenings: The Concierge at 6pm and Millenium Actress which will show at 8pm.

The Concierge- Dir: Yoshimi Itazu
A young woman named Akino takes a job at Hokkyoku Department Store, which has one very unusual feature: all of the store’s customers are animals! The store caters to all the animals’ needs, with even some extinct creatures frequenting the store. It is all initially very overwhelming for Akino, as she rushes around attempting to meet the high standards expected by her supervisor - something that’s especially difficult given many customers have more complex demands that require thinking outside the box. Can Akino fit in and become a full-time concierge?

Based on a hit manga and animated by the esteemed Production I.G, The Concierge is a light-hearted and endlessly charming fantasy comedy.

Millennium Actress- Dir: Satoshi Kon
JFF is delighted to present 25th anniversary screenings of Millennium Actress, directed by the late, great Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue, Tokyo Godfathers). The modern anime classic tells the life story of famed film actress Chiyoko Fujiwara, loosely based on legendary Japanese film actresses Setsuko Hara and Hideko Takamine. When two documentarians travel to interview an ageing, long-retired Chiyoko for a wide-ranging retrospective, she opens up about her life and career. Gradually, she reveals the deeply personal meaning of a key found by one of the documentary makers years earlier - and the reasons why she vanished from the limelight.

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A celebration of and reflection on classic cinema, Millennium Actress stands as one of Satoshi Kon’s greatest achievements. With a wildly inventive visual and editing language that sends the characters hurtling across Japanese history and film genres, this is an imaginative and expressive masterpiece.

Tickets are €7 each (+€1.50 booking fee per ticket) or see both films for just €12 (+1.50 booking fee per ticket) and can be purchased online at www.antain.ie, at the box office on Crowe St, or over the phone 042 9332332.