Join us for the fourth annual Hanabi Film Festival, happening select days August 17 – 29, as we celebrate a wide range of works from Japan. Once again, our festival features several restorations of classic and cult films along with brand new features coming to Portland and the U.S. for the first time!

Limited f estival passes available for access to all films, including an option to add-on a limited edition poster and t-shirt designed by artist Akane Yabushita or select a discounted late-night only pass. Tickets to individual screenings are also available.

Named after the Japanese word for fireworks, hanabi festivals are common throughout Japan as a way to invite tourists and locals to celebrate the summer season. Customs include wearing yukata—a lightweight cotton kimono to beat the heat, street food such as yakitori, takoyaki, and shaved ice, and live music.

Another tradition associated with hanabi festivals is the concept of mottainai. This philosophy encourages people to be mindful of their resources and not waste anything unnecessarily. At hanabi festivals, this often means cleaning up after oneself and not leaving any trash behind.

Hanabi festivals take place during the kawa-biraki period between May and August of the lunar calendar. In centuries past, this was a time when people gathered by the river to escape warm temperatures. Like umi-biraki (the beach) and yama-biraki (the mountain), it’s a declaration to say, “We will start the season of having fun by the river!”

Another important festival time is Obon (or just “Bon”), celebrated in mid-August to remember one’s ancestors as all spirits return back to Earth, similar to Mexico’s Day of the Dead and China’s Hungry Ghost Festival. Born from traditional Japanese Buddhist customs, this celebratory period has evolved to include spooky tales, haunted houses, and horror movies as a practice to endure being scared, called kimodameshi (“testing the liver”).

The relationship between Portland and Japan runs deep. In 1959, Portland and Sapporo became sister cities, one of the oldest such declarations in America. Japan is one of Oregon’s largest import and export markets with billions of dollars of goods and services exchanged each year. There’s even a PDX Taproom in Shibuya, Tokyo!

Our film festival seeks to show audiences the broad genre of films from Japan, from 1960s arthouse favorites to cult gems from the 1980s and new works, including award-winning animated features, critically-acclaimed indie productions, and rarely screened oddities. We hope this festival opens Portlanders to new films and encourages people to seek out their own favorites from Japan.

A limited number of festival passes are available to see all of the films; individual tickets can also be purchased in advance online and at the door while seats remain.

Please note that not all films are appropriate for all-ages. Some films—especially late night screenings—may contain scenes that could be viewed as controversial, offensive, or even triggering.

Special thanks to Akane Yabushita for creating the Hanabi Film Festival 2026 poster and t-shirt design.