MEDIA RELEASE
Toronto, ON – On Monday, MPP Adil Shamji was at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC)’s screening of Sham, part of the 15th Toronto Japanese Film Festival to formally congratulate JCCC on what’s been done since receiving a $150,000 Capital grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The grant, awarded last summer, was used to purchase and install a state-of-the-art cinema media server projection system at the JCCC. The project will maintain and increase access to the JCCC’s Toronto Japanese Film Festival and year-round film program, which requires new equipment to keep up with updated industry standards used by film distribution companies.
“The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s work to enrich the lives of Don Valley East residents through Japanese culture and heritage is exemplary,” said Dr. Adil Shamji, MPP for Don Valley East. “This well‑deserved Ontario Trillium Foundation grant will help the JCCC continue delivering high‑quality cultural and educational programs, including enhanced film screenings and concerts.”
The Toronto Japanese Film Festival is a vibrant 24-film lineup that regularly draws thousands of attendees and includes Q&A sessions with visiting Japanese directors. The OTF grant was used to purchase and install a new projector, server, and processor in the Centre’s Kobayashi Hall, which is the main venue for the Toronto Japanese Film Festival. This year, the festival will also become Canada-wide for the first time, with six Japanese films shown in Vancouver as part of the JCCC’s Vancouver Japanese Film Festival.
"Over the past 15 years, the Toronto Japanese Film Festival has showcased a diverse range of award-winning Japanese films for our audiences, which continue to grow,” said Jon Nagamatsu, Interim Executive Director, JCCC. “With funding from OTF, we can ensure that the festival continues to flourish by showing cinema-level quality films for many years to come.”
Founded in 1963, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre is a not-for-profit organization which celebrates the unique culture, history, and legacy of Japanese Canadians for the benefit of all Canadians. Operating under the motto of “Friendship through Culture,” the JCCC’s mission is to promote understanding, inclusion, and friendship by sharing the Japanese Canadian experience through traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. Each year, approximately 250,000 in-person visitors, from all backgrounds and walks of life, take part in JCCC cultural events, heritage activities, martial arts, language education, food events, crafts, and film programs.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. In 2025-26, OTF invested nearly $107M into 746 community projects. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
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Organization Contact for Media Inquiries:
Adrienne Wu, Engagement Lead
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
416-441-2345 ext. 233
adriennew@jccc.on.ca
Photo Credit: Office of MPP Adil Shamji