Japanese Film Festival

Japanese Film Festival

Last Friday after uni, I attended the Volunteers Orientation meeting for the Japan Foundation. Why? Because the staff there had to brief us on do's and don'ts of the upcoming Japanese Film Festival!

They're showing a bunch of award-winning Japanese films starting on the 17th of November and I seriously can't wait! I already have about 3 films I want to watch!

So before I say anything else, here's a few details for those who live in Sydney and are interested in watching the film. Of course, the Japanese Film Festival is ongoing around Australia so if you live in Canberra or Melbourne, you should check it out too!

Oh, did I mention that Takenouchi Yutaka (the actor) is guest starring? He'll be at the opening night as well as some of the other films with director Hirayama Hideyuki.

Without further ado, here's a list of films (that I personally want to watch) that's screening in Sydney (at George Street Event Cinemas) starting on the 17th of November...
For more films that are screening, visit the site!

Princess Toyotomi

Screening: 18th November 2011 @ 6:30pm

Director:  Masayuki Suzuki

Cast: Shinichi Tsutsumi, Haruka Ayase, Masaki Okada, Kiichi Nakai

Synopsis: (Taken from the Film Festival site) 

Japan's Da Vinci Code, but as a comedy.

Three elite investigators from the Audit Board in Japan stumble across a 400-year old secret that could turn the city of Osaka into an independent country within Japan.

Watch Trailer

 Star Watching Dog

Screening: 19th November 2011 @ 1:00pm

Director: Tomoyuki Takimoto

Cast:  Toshiyuki Nishida, Tetsuji Tamayama, Umika Kawashima

Synopsis: (Taken from the Film Festival site) 

The body of an unidentified man is found in the bush in Hokkaido; by his side lies the body of a dog, who seems to have died much later. Touched by the bond between dog and master, caseworker Kyosuke sets out on a journey to discover the man’s identity. Both heart-warming and heart-wrenching, this road movie follows Kyosuke as he traces their final footsteps along the coast of eastern Japan, coming to terms with his own past along the way. The film is based on a best-selling manga story which echoes the legend of the faithful dog Hachiko. It stars Tetsuji Tamayama as Kyosuke, and veteran actor Toshiyuki Nishida as master of the smilingly loyal dog, Happy.

Watch Trailer

Patisserie: Coin de Rue

Screening: 19th November 2011 @ 7pm

Director:  Yoshihiro Fukugawa

Cast:  Yosuke Eguchi, Yu Aoi, Keiko Toda, Noriko Eguchi

Synopsis: (Taken from the Film Festival site) 

A disillusioned Natsume arrives at Coin de Rue, a popular Tokyo pastry shop, begging for work. Aiming to become a high-calibre pastry chef, she is determined to overcome both her past and the challenges ahead. Pastry critic Tomura is a frequent visitor. Moved by Natsume’s persistence, he slowly begins to confront his own painful past – aided, of course, by mouthfuls of tasty pastries in between.


GANTZ & GANTZ 2: Perfect Answer

Screening: 19th November 2011 @ 6:35pm (Gantz) & 9:15pm (Gantz 2)

Director:  Shinsuke Sato

Cast:   Kazunari Ninomiya, Kenichi Matsuyama, Takayuki Yamada

Synopsis: (Taken from the Film Festival site) 

From the producer of Death Note.
GANTZ is a mysterious black orb that summons the semi-deceased with a mission to hunt down aliens. In this game-like realm, there is a time limit and you are scored on your efforts. Once you reach 100 points, you have the option to be freed from GANTZ or revive someone already dead. Access to high-tech suits with superhuman abilities and weaponry is available for each assignment. Game on.

Arrietty

Screening: 26th November 2011 @ 3:50pm

Director:  Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Cast:   Mirai Shida, Ryunosuke Kamiki (Summer Wars, Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away), Shinobu Otake

Synopsis: (Taken from the Film Festival site) 

14-year-old Arrietty and the rest of the Clock family live in peaceful anonymity as they make their home from items "borrowed" from humans. However, life changes for the Clocks when a human boy discovers Arrietty. Inspired by the children's novel series “The Borrowers”, this is the latest creation from Studio Ghibli, co-produced by master animator Miyazaki Hayao (Laputa, Spirited Away). 

 

 

There's heaps of other great films but these are the ones I'm looking forward to most. 

I was given two shifts for the JFF and they're on the 19th and 24th of November :)

I think everyone should come and support the films. The films are in Japanese but with English subtitles and tickets for some of the more popular films are running out FAST so pre-book them if you can!!!

Okay, that's all for now :)