Japanese Film Festival - Australia
DATE: MELBOURNE & CLASSICS - 23 November to 3 December 2017 at
VENUE: Hoyts Australia MELBOURNE CENTRAL & ACMI Cinemas
WEB: The program is available via www.japanesefilmfestival.net
Please note, the Classics programs is free admission. See japanesefilmfestival.net for ticketing details.
Fresh Perspectives
The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) returns in 2017 with a line-up of the very best of fresh and classic Japanese cinema, for a huge national tour of Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, from October 13th to December 3rd.
With each city’s program carefully curated by the Japan Foundation, Sydney, the 2017 Festival will present the most exciting new films direct from Japan, including comedies, samurai and yakuza action, manga adaptations, romances, drama and much more.
The Festival will open in true Japanese style with MUMON: THE LAND OF STEALTH, an action-packed film about a deadly ninja with unmatched strength who accidentally triggers a deadly battle between a warlord’s army and the ninjas in his province. Directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura (Fish Story) and starring Satoshi Ohno (The Locked Room), this film will have audiences on the edge of their seats. Other program highlights of the 2017 Festival include BIRDS WITHOUT NAMES, a visceral tale of lust, devotion and redemption from Kazuya Shiraishi (The Devil’s Path) fresh from the Toronto International Film Festival; MY UNCLE, a heartfelt comedy about a young boy who embarks on a transpacific adventure with his eccentric, free-loading uncle; and A DOUBLE LIFE, a poignant drama from first-time feature film director Yoshiyuki Kishi, which was nominated for Best Director and Best Actress at London’s Raindance Film Festival in 2016.
Fans of Japanese Anime will be delighted by Katabuchi Sunao’s (Mai Mai Miracle) adaption of Kono Fumiyo’s comic IN THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD, a captivating and beautifully hand-drawn coming of age story set in turbulent times; and ANCIEN AND THE MAGIC TABLET, a multi-layered story of mystery and spirited adventure inspired by the sleepy but brave Okayama folk hero Momotaro, that merges a science fiction-inspired dream world with the glimmering beauty of contemporary Okayama. “Every film in this year's program was handpicked to present fresh perspectives and showcase the next generation of Japanese cinema,” said JFF Program Coordinator, Margarett Cortez. “Among this selection are genre-benders such as BEFORE WE VANISH by veteran Kiyoshi Kurosawa, stunning arthouse comeback film SNOW WOMAN by Asia's indie darling Kiki Sugino, and international collaborations such as GUKOROKU - TRACES OF SIN by filmmaker Kei Ishikawa and Polish cinematographer Piotr Niemyjski. We’re also excited to introduce new blood in the Japanese cinema industry through a short film special supported by 'New Directions in Japanese Cinema', a Japanese government program supporting emerging filmmakers.”
The Festival will also host a number of special guest Q&A screenings in Melbourne and Sydney.
Bohemian Rhapsody Club and Online Magazine is proudly covering the festival major events and QA sessions ( media: Dina Gavrilova)
films we review:
Satoshi A Move for Tomorrow
Love and Other Cults
The Tokyo Night Sky
Please stay tuned for details.