Japanese master filmmaker Kore-eda Hirokazu is set to receive the Career Achievement Award at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival, it was announced today. Featuring a retrospective program of six selected films, the acclaimed writer-director will receive the award on Friday, October 18, at a tribute screening of Nobody Knows, presented in 35mm, and participate in a conversation exploring his storied career. The 60th Chicago International Film Festival runs October 16 – 27, 2024 at venues across the city. The Kore-eda Hirokazu Tribute and Retrospective is co-presented in partnership with the Japan Foundation New York. Additional support is provided by Ana.
In addition to Nobody Knows, which screened at the 2004 Festival, the 60th Chicago International Film Festival retrospective program features films that were showcased in past editions, including 2013’s Like Father, Like Son; the 2016 film After The Storm; 2018’s Shoplifters; and Broker in 2022. 1998’s After Life marks that title’s Chicago International Film Festival debut.
In addition to Nobody Knows, which screened at the 2004 Festival, the 60th Chicago International Film Festival retrospective program features films that were showcased in past editions, including 2013’s Like Father, Like Son; the 2016 film After The Storm; 2018’s Shoplifters; and Broker in 2022. 1998’s After Life marks that title’s Chicago International Film Festival debut.
- 9/19/2024
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Cannes-do
The imminently upcoming Sydney Film Festival has added eight titles that premiered at Cannes to its lineup. They are: Guan Hu’s “Black Dog”; Mohammad Rasoulof’s “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”; Francis Ford Coppola’s passion project “Megalopolis”; Guy Maddin, Evan and Galen Johnson’s “Rumours,” starring Australia’s Cate Blanchett; documentary “Ernest Cole: Lost and Found,” Jia Zhangke’s “Caught by the Tides”; “The Girl with the Needle”; and revenge thriller “Ghost Trail.”
Due to demand, the Sff organizers have also added additional screenings of “The Substance,” the Demi Moore-starring film already set as the festival’s closing night title. The festival runs June 5-16.
Filmmaker On The Move
Nishikawa Miwa, the Japanese director behind “The Long Excuse” (2016) and “Under the Open Sky” (2021), has been set as the mentor to the Tokyo International Film Festival’s Teens Meet Cinema, film production workshop for teenagers. Selected...
The imminently upcoming Sydney Film Festival has added eight titles that premiered at Cannes to its lineup. They are: Guan Hu’s “Black Dog”; Mohammad Rasoulof’s “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”; Francis Ford Coppola’s passion project “Megalopolis”; Guy Maddin, Evan and Galen Johnson’s “Rumours,” starring Australia’s Cate Blanchett; documentary “Ernest Cole: Lost and Found,” Jia Zhangke’s “Caught by the Tides”; “The Girl with the Needle”; and revenge thriller “Ghost Trail.”
Due to demand, the Sff organizers have also added additional screenings of “The Substance,” the Demi Moore-starring film already set as the festival’s closing night title. The festival runs June 5-16.
Filmmaker On The Move
Nishikawa Miwa, the Japanese director behind “The Long Excuse” (2016) and “Under the Open Sky” (2021), has been set as the mentor to the Tokyo International Film Festival’s Teens Meet Cinema, film production workshop for teenagers. Selected...
- 6/3/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Wim Wenders’ “Perfect Days,” which won the best actor award for Koji Yakusho at the Cannes Film Festival, has sold out worldwide. The Match Factory is handling international sales. (Read our interview with Wim Wenders here.)
As previously announced, North American rights went to Neon and France went to Haut et Court.
Further sales included U.K./Ireland/Latin America/Turkey (Mubi), Australia/New Zealand (Madman), Benelux (Paradiso), China (DDDream), Italy (Lucky Red), Spain (A Contracorriente), Switzerland (Dcm), Baltics (A-One Baltics), Bulgaria (Art Fest), Cis (A-One), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Aerofilms), Former Yugoslavia (McF), Greece (Feelgood Entertainment), Hong Kong (Edko Films), Hungary (Cirko), Israel (Lev Cinemas), Poland (Gutek), Portugal (Alambique), Romania (Bad Unicorn), Scandinavia (Future Film) and Taiwan (Applause).
The film is a deeply moving and poetic reflection on finding beauty in the everyday world around us. It follows Hirayama, who seems utterly content with his simple life as a cleaner of toilets in Tokyo.
As previously announced, North American rights went to Neon and France went to Haut et Court.
Further sales included U.K./Ireland/Latin America/Turkey (Mubi), Australia/New Zealand (Madman), Benelux (Paradiso), China (DDDream), Italy (Lucky Red), Spain (A Contracorriente), Switzerland (Dcm), Baltics (A-One Baltics), Bulgaria (Art Fest), Cis (A-One), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Aerofilms), Former Yugoslavia (McF), Greece (Feelgood Entertainment), Hong Kong (Edko Films), Hungary (Cirko), Israel (Lev Cinemas), Poland (Gutek), Portugal (Alambique), Romania (Bad Unicorn), Scandinavia (Future Film) and Taiwan (Applause).
The film is a deeply moving and poetic reflection on finding beauty in the everyday world around us. It follows Hirayama, who seems utterly content with his simple life as a cleaner of toilets in Tokyo.
- 5/31/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Variety has been given a sneak peek of the trailer (below) for Wim Wenders’ “Perfect Days,” which world premieres in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
The film is a deeply moving and poetic reflection on finding beauty in the everyday world around us. It follows Hirayama, who seems utterly content with his simple life as a cleaner of toilets in Tokyo. Outside of his very structured everyday routine he enjoys his passion for music and for books. And he loves trees and takes photos of them. A series of unexpected encounters gradually reveal more of his past.
Koji Yakusho leads the cast. In 2005, he co-starred in “Memoirs of a Geisha,” which was nominated for six Academy Awards. In the following year, he co-starred in “Babel,” a film that was honored by the Cannes Film Festival and earned Golden Globes and Academy Awards.
Along with his international success, Yakusho has...
The film is a deeply moving and poetic reflection on finding beauty in the everyday world around us. It follows Hirayama, who seems utterly content with his simple life as a cleaner of toilets in Tokyo. Outside of his very structured everyday routine he enjoys his passion for music and for books. And he loves trees and takes photos of them. A series of unexpected encounters gradually reveal more of his past.
Koji Yakusho leads the cast. In 2005, he co-starred in “Memoirs of a Geisha,” which was nominated for six Academy Awards. In the following year, he co-starred in “Babel,” a film that was honored by the Cannes Film Festival and earned Golden Globes and Academy Awards.
Along with his international success, Yakusho has...
- 5/20/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The Academy (Afaa) revealed the nominees for the 15th Asian Film Awards today. Thirty-six films from eight Asian regions will compete for 16 awards. China’s One Second, South Korea’s The Book of Fish, India’s The Disciple, and two Japanese films, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy and Wife of a Spy, compete for this year’s “Best Film Award.”
Three Hong Kong films were nominated for this year’s Afa, including Drifting, directed by Jun Li, nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Actress. Limbo, directed by Cheang Pou-soi, was nominated for Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best sound; Adam Wong’s The Way We Keep Dancing was nominated for Best Original Music.
The Afaa is honoured that legendary South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong will be this year’s Jury President. Lee was the lifetime award recipient at the 13th Asian Film Awards.He won the “Best...
Three Hong Kong films were nominated for this year’s Afa, including Drifting, directed by Jun Li, nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Actress. Limbo, directed by Cheang Pou-soi, was nominated for Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best sound; Adam Wong’s The Way We Keep Dancing was nominated for Best Original Music.
The Afaa is honoured that legendary South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong will be this year’s Jury President. Lee was the lifetime award recipient at the 13th Asian Film Awards.He won the “Best...
- 9/9/2021
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Quebec’s Fantasia Festival has unveiled the third and final wave of titles set to screen at this year’s 25th edition and announced that Takashi Miike’s latest feature “The Great Yokai War – Guardians,” will close the festival. The world premiere of Julien Knafo’s Quebec zombie flic “Brain Freeze” will open the festival following an Aug. 4 pre-fest screening of James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad.”
“The Great Yokai War- Guardians” is the follow-up to Fantasia 2006 opener “The Great Yoki War,” and unspools in a fantasy world of Japanese demons, kaiju and pop culture references which proved a hit in Montreal the first time around.
Other key titles featured in the third wave lineup include Lee Won-tae’s “The Devil’s Deal,” his first film since “The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil” won Sitges’ best film award in 2019. BAFTA-winner Paul Andrew Williams’ (“Murdered for Being Different”) “Bull,” a revenge thriller,...
“The Great Yokai War- Guardians” is the follow-up to Fantasia 2006 opener “The Great Yoki War,” and unspools in a fantasy world of Japanese demons, kaiju and pop culture references which proved a hit in Montreal the first time around.
Other key titles featured in the third wave lineup include Lee Won-tae’s “The Devil’s Deal,” his first film since “The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil” won Sitges’ best film award in 2019. BAFTA-winner Paul Andrew Williams’ (“Murdered for Being Different”) “Bull,” a revenge thriller,...
- 7/21/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The Toronto Japanese Film Festival 2021 is pleased to announce the 2021 Kobayashi Audience Choice Award goes to Miwa Nishikawa’s Under The Open Sky.
Starring Koji Yakusho in a career best performance, Under The Open Sky is a poignant, touching film directed with great empathy and intelligence. Adapted from Naoki Prize-winning novelist Ryuzo Saki’s Mibuncho.
James Heron festival Director said “Director Nishikawa’s wonderful film received some strong competition from Jose! Jose Mujica – Just Keep Walking and Mio’S Cookbook but prevailed in the end. Congratulations Nishikawa-san and thank you for your consistently great filmmaking. We are already looking forward to your next film!”.
The Kobayashi Audience Choice Award is presented to the film chosen as the festival favorite by audiences based on ballots completed at the end of each screening.
The award is named in honour of Coby and Yone Kobayashi, a second-generation nikkei couple whose vision, generosity and...
Starring Koji Yakusho in a career best performance, Under The Open Sky is a poignant, touching film directed with great empathy and intelligence. Adapted from Naoki Prize-winning novelist Ryuzo Saki’s Mibuncho.
James Heron festival Director said “Director Nishikawa’s wonderful film received some strong competition from Jose! Jose Mujica – Just Keep Walking and Mio’S Cookbook but prevailed in the end. Congratulations Nishikawa-san and thank you for your consistently great filmmaking. We are already looking forward to your next film!”.
The Kobayashi Audience Choice Award is presented to the film chosen as the festival favorite by audiences based on ballots completed at the end of each screening.
The award is named in honour of Coby and Yone Kobayashi, a second-generation nikkei couple whose vision, generosity and...
- 7/6/2021
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Translated by Lukasz Mankowski:
Born in 1977, Miwa Nishikawa is a director, screenwriter, producer. Studied literature at the Waseda University, started her film career as the assistant of Hirokazu Koreeda, who produced her debut, “Wild Berries.” The film received awards at the Yokohama Festival, Mainichi Film Concours and the Japanese Professional Movie Award. Her following, award-winning productions were also well-received. “Sway” (2006) was presented in the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight section, its script received the literary Yomiuri award and soon came out as a novel. Nishikawa also published a set of short stories “Kino no kamisama” and a novel “Nagai iwake.”
On the occasion of “Under the Open Sky screening at Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we speak with her about shooting her first novel adaptation, the world of Yakuza in the past and now, Koji Yakusho and Meiko Kaji, music and humour in the film, and other topics
All your previous movies were from your own original scripts,...
Born in 1977, Miwa Nishikawa is a director, screenwriter, producer. Studied literature at the Waseda University, started her film career as the assistant of Hirokazu Koreeda, who produced her debut, “Wild Berries.” The film received awards at the Yokohama Festival, Mainichi Film Concours and the Japanese Professional Movie Award. Her following, award-winning productions were also well-received. “Sway” (2006) was presented in the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight section, its script received the literary Yomiuri award and soon came out as a novel. Nishikawa also published a set of short stories “Kino no kamisama” and a novel “Nagai iwake.”
On the occasion of “Under the Open Sky screening at Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we speak with her about shooting her first novel adaptation, the world of Yakuza in the past and now, Koji Yakusho and Meiko Kaji, music and humour in the film, and other topics
All your previous movies were from your own original scripts,...
- 6/24/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Canada’S Largest Showcase Of Contemporary Japanese Cinema
Streams Across Canada
Saturday, June 5 – Sunday, June 27, 2021
Monday, May 10, 2021 – The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s 10th annual Toronto Japanese Film Festival (Tjff) will be presented across Canada from Saturday, June 5 to Sunday, 27, 2021. During this period, Tjff screenings will be held online, using the Cinesend festival platform, with select onsite screenings at the Jccc’s Kobayashi Hall planned for October, public health protocols permitting. The festival is one of the largest film events of its kind in the world and is recognized by the Japanese film industry as a vital conduit for bringing Japanese film to international audiences.
“When we held the first Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we never dreamed we’d be celebrating our 10th anniversary during a pandemic, said Tjff Director James Heron. “We also never dreamed the festival would be so well attended, loved by Toronto audiences and embraced by...
Streams Across Canada
Saturday, June 5 – Sunday, June 27, 2021
Monday, May 10, 2021 – The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s 10th annual Toronto Japanese Film Festival (Tjff) will be presented across Canada from Saturday, June 5 to Sunday, 27, 2021. During this period, Tjff screenings will be held online, using the Cinesend festival platform, with select onsite screenings at the Jccc’s Kobayashi Hall planned for October, public health protocols permitting. The festival is one of the largest film events of its kind in the world and is recognized by the Japanese film industry as a vital conduit for bringing Japanese film to international audiences.
“When we held the first Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we never dreamed we’d be celebrating our 10th anniversary during a pandemic, said Tjff Director James Heron. “We also never dreamed the festival would be so well attended, loved by Toronto audiences and embraced by...
- 5/19/2021
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Fine entertainment, food for thought, five world premieres and at least a touch of Japanese wackiness and warmth – this is what awaits the audience with around 80 current Japanese short and feature-length films of the 21st Nippon Connection Film Festival. After weeks of hoping and worrying, it is now certain that unfortunately the pandemic will not allow in-theater screenings in 2021 either. The largest festival for Japanese cinema worldwide will once again be held exclusively online from June 1 to 6, 2021.
All films are available online for six days throughout Germany and in some cases outside of Germany. Face-to-face talks with the filmmakers are moving into the digital realm to spark a direct exchange. For everyone whose yearning for Japan is stronger than ever, there is also Nippon Culture: the digital supporting program with over 40 interactive workshops, talks, extraordinary performances and concerts. For the first time, the Nippon Click & Collect Kiosk at the usual...
All films are available online for six days throughout Germany and in some cases outside of Germany. Face-to-face talks with the filmmakers are moving into the digital realm to spark a direct exchange. For everyone whose yearning for Japan is stronger than ever, there is also Nippon Culture: the digital supporting program with over 40 interactive workshops, talks, extraordinary performances and concerts. For the first time, the Nippon Click & Collect Kiosk at the usual...
- 5/16/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s 10th annual Toronto Japanese Film Festival (Tjff) will be presented across Canada from Saturday, June 5 to Sunday, 27, 2021. During this period, Tjff screenings will be held online, using the Cinesend festival platform, with select onsite screenings at the Jccc’s Kobayashi Hall planned for October, public health protocols permitting. The festival is one of the largest film events of its kind in the world and is recognized by the Japanese film industry as a vital conduit for bringing Japanese film to international audiences.
“When we held the first Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we never dreamed we’d be celebrating our 10th anniversary during a pandemic, said Tjff Director James Heron. “We also never dreamed the festival would be so well attended, loved by Toronto audiences and embraced by Japanese directors and actors as the place to introduce their films to North American audiences. On this...
“When we held the first Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we never dreamed we’d be celebrating our 10th anniversary during a pandemic, said Tjff Director James Heron. “We also never dreamed the festival would be so well attended, loved by Toronto audiences and embraced by Japanese directors and actors as the place to introduce their films to North American audiences. On this...
- 5/13/2021
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
The 21st Japanese Film Festival Nippon Connection is planned as a hybrid event and is scheduled for June 1 to 6, 2021. The event is expected to take place online and at a few selected venues in the city of Frankfurt am Main. On six days, the world’s largest festival for Japanese cinema presents a selection of over 100 current Japanese short and feature-length films. All films will be available via video on demand. In addition, several filmmakers will participate in online discussions and interviews live from Japan. Digital workshops, lectures, performances, and concerts complement the program.
Due to uncertainties regarding the further progression of the pandemic and associated regulations, planning the festival is extremely difficult. The organizing team of the Nippon Connection film festival is hopeful, however, that it will be possible to offer on-site cinema as well. “Film festivals always live from shared moments in the cinema and the film experience...
Due to uncertainties regarding the further progression of the pandemic and associated regulations, planning the festival is extremely difficult. The organizing team of the Nippon Connection film festival is hopeful, however, that it will be possible to offer on-site cinema as well. “Film festivals always live from shared moments in the cinema and the film experience...
- 4/3/2021
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
The reality of the yakuza in Japan has changed significantly during the last decades, with their lives having nothing to do with what Kinji Fukasaku portrayed in the 70s. A number of the latest productions focus on this change and the current lives of the members of the “underworld”, with movies like the recent “Under the Open Sky” being one of the most prominent examples. Oudai Kojima also implements this approach, focusing, though, on the criminal practices of the current yakuza, through a rather dark approach.
Joint is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
After having served 2 years in prison, former yakuza Takeshi Ishigami spent two miserable years working on a construction site, building up funds before he returned to Tokyo with the help of Yasu, his best friend. He is determined to go straight and in order to do that, he decides to invest in a big data startup company.
Joint is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
After having served 2 years in prison, former yakuza Takeshi Ishigami spent two miserable years working on a construction site, building up funds before he returned to Tokyo with the help of Yasu, his best friend. He is determined to go straight and in order to do that, he decides to invest in a big data startup company.
- 3/12/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
New York, NY –Japan Society and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan (Aca), in collaboration with the Visual Industry Promotion Organization (Vipo), announce the inaugural Aca Cinema Project online film series 21st Century Japan: Films from 2001-2020, streaming nationwide on Japan Society’s Virtual Cinema from February 5-25, 2021.
As Japan’s film industry enters its third decade in the new millennium, this 30-film online series takes a look back at the last 20 years of Japanese cinema to celebrate some of the most remarkable narrative fiction films and filmmakers that define the era. Covering a wide range of production styles and genres—from small budget independent debuts to festival favorites and award-winning major studio releases—this diverse slate of feature and short films offers a guided tour of modern Japanese cinema, including special spotlights dedicated to the work of Kiyoshi Kurosawa and a selection of breakout films by up-and-coming filmmakers.
As Japan’s film industry enters its third decade in the new millennium, this 30-film online series takes a look back at the last 20 years of Japanese cinema to celebrate some of the most remarkable narrative fiction films and filmmakers that define the era. Covering a wide range of production styles and genres—from small budget independent debuts to festival favorites and award-winning major studio releases—this diverse slate of feature and short films offers a guided tour of modern Japanese cinema, including special spotlights dedicated to the work of Kiyoshi Kurosawa and a selection of breakout films by up-and-coming filmmakers.
- 1/11/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Cinemas in Tokyo and three neighbouring prefectures can remain open but are requested to close their doors by 8pm.
Tokyo’s cinemas will be scaling back opening hours tomorrow after the Japanese government declared a second state of emergency in the capital due to an escalation of Covid-19 infection cases.
Cinemas can stay open but have been called on to close their doors by 8:00pm, a request that has also been made to department stores, restaurants and bars, and while the order is not mandatory, it is expected that most businesses will comply.
The new restrictions apply to Tokyo...
Tokyo’s cinemas will be scaling back opening hours tomorrow after the Japanese government declared a second state of emergency in the capital due to an escalation of Covid-19 infection cases.
Cinemas can stay open but have been called on to close their doors by 8:00pm, a request that has also been made to department stores, restaurants and bars, and while the order is not mandatory, it is expected that most businesses will comply.
The new restrictions apply to Tokyo...
- 1/7/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Since the pandemic did not disrupt the production of films in the Japanese movie industry, at least not as much as in other countries, 2020 was another year with a plethora of great productions, highlighting, once more, the strength of the local cinema. In that regard, this list could easily entail 25+ movies, and the decision to cut out some was as difficult as coming up with the top ones, since the six last could all easily be in number 1.
Without further ado, here are the best Japanese films of 2020, in reverse order. Some films may have premiered in 2019, but since they mostly circulated in 2020, we decided to include them.
*By clicking on the title, you can read the full review of the film
20. Red Post on Escher Street (Sion Sono)
Sono repeatedly and almost venomously attacks the studio system of Japan through his particular sense of humour, more refined to suit...
Without further ado, here are the best Japanese films of 2020, in reverse order. Some films may have premiered in 2019, but since they mostly circulated in 2020, we decided to include them.
*By clicking on the title, you can read the full review of the film
20. Red Post on Escher Street (Sion Sono)
Sono repeatedly and almost venomously attacks the studio system of Japan through his particular sense of humour, more refined to suit...
- 12/18/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
29 of the contributors of Asian Movie Pulse from America, Europe and Asia have voted the 25 Best Films of 2020, resulting in what we consider a great selection, despite the difficulties the current year presented to both the shooting and the availability of new movies. In that regard, the list includes films from Malaysia, Japan, Iran. S. Korea, Kazakhstan, Singapore, China, and Taiwan while crime thrillers, animations, shorts, LGBT, comedies, horror, black-and-white and even “quarantine movies” have found a place.
Without further ado, here are the best Asian films of 2020, in reverse order. Some films may have premiered in 2019, but since they mostly circulated in 2020, we decided to include them, after an intense fight that lasted for 150 nights (give or take) and ended up with even more victims
*By clicking on the title, you can read the full review of the film
25. Roh
Graced with a stellar story, plenty of chilling aspects...
Without further ado, here are the best Asian films of 2020, in reverse order. Some films may have premiered in 2019, but since they mostly circulated in 2020, we decided to include them, after an intense fight that lasted for 150 nights (give or take) and ended up with even more victims
*By clicking on the title, you can read the full review of the film
25. Roh
Graced with a stellar story, plenty of chilling aspects...
- 12/12/2020
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
In an unprecedented choice for her, Miwa Nishikawa does not direct a script of her own, but adapts a novel, Ryuzo Saki’s Naoki-winner “Mibuncho”, for her latest movie. Furthermore, she cast Koji Yakusho as her protagonist, proving once more, after “Dear Doctor” and Tsurube Shofukutei, how well she can cooperate with veteran actors.
“Under the Open Sky” is Screening at Five Flavours Asian Film Festival
Yakusho plays former yakuza, past middle age Mikami Madao, who has just been released from prison after a thirteen-year murder sentence. Mikami, an orphan, has spent all his life between working for the mafia and being in prison, but this time is set on turning a different page and finally becoming a “proper” citizen. However, being essentially illiterate and without any particular skill, he finds himself racing against all odds, including his own, short-tempered and violent nature. Tsunoda, a young ex-producer/current writer, is...
“Under the Open Sky” is Screening at Five Flavours Asian Film Festival
Yakusho plays former yakuza, past middle age Mikami Madao, who has just been released from prison after a thirteen-year murder sentence. Mikami, an orphan, has spent all his life between working for the mafia and being in prison, but this time is set on turning a different page and finally becoming a “proper” citizen. However, being essentially illiterate and without any particular skill, he finds himself racing against all odds, including his own, short-tempered and violent nature. Tsunoda, a young ex-producer/current writer, is...
- 12/3/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Viggo Mortensen’s directorial debut “Falling” and the already acclaimed Chinese film “The Cloud in her Room” form part of the 11-title competition section announced by the International Film Festival & Awards Macao. The festival will take place entirely online this year, running Dec. 3-8.
The competition, which focuses on first and second films, also includes: Wang Xiaozhen’s “Love Poem,” which won the top prize at the First International Film Festival this year; Jeonju prize-winner “Black Light,” by Bae Jongdae; Cannes 2020 Label titles “Limbo,” by the U.K.’s Ben Sharrock, “Spring Blossom” by France’s Suzanne Lindon, and “Sweat” by Magnus von Horn; and “Back To The Wharf,” by China’s Li Xiaofeng.
Three other titles joining the competition are: “Servants,” by Ivan Ostrochovsky of the Czech Republic; “Shorta,” by Frederik Louis Hviid and Anders Olholm from Denmark; and “Tragic Jungle,” by Yulene Olaizola, from Mexico.
Prizes will be...
The competition, which focuses on first and second films, also includes: Wang Xiaozhen’s “Love Poem,” which won the top prize at the First International Film Festival this year; Jeonju prize-winner “Black Light,” by Bae Jongdae; Cannes 2020 Label titles “Limbo,” by the U.K.’s Ben Sharrock, “Spring Blossom” by France’s Suzanne Lindon, and “Sweat” by Magnus von Horn; and “Back To The Wharf,” by China’s Li Xiaofeng.
Three other titles joining the competition are: “Servants,” by Ivan Ostrochovsky of the Czech Republic; “Shorta,” by Frederik Louis Hviid and Anders Olholm from Denmark; and “Tragic Jungle,” by Yulene Olaizola, from Mexico.
Prizes will be...
- 11/10/2020
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Tiffcom, the market that runs concurrently with the Tokyo International Film Festival, is completely online this year, with 73 films screening for buyers Nov. 4-6. (The festival runs Oct. 31 to Nov. 7.)
But the Japanese companies are quite at home in the new online environment. They are also pitching plenty of new product that is not on the screening schedule, including new titles that have begun to earn.
Leading the Shochiku slate is “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish,” a Tamura Kotaro animation based on a story by Tanabe Seiko about a feisty disabled woman who finds love with an abled-bodied college student.
The story was first made into a 2003 live-action film that was a critical and commercial success. The animation had its world premiere last week at the Busan festival.
Also new to the Shochiku lineup is “Sakura,” a family drama directed by acclaimed indie veteran Yazaki Hitoshi. Fasting-rising young actors Kitamura Takumi,...
But the Japanese companies are quite at home in the new online environment. They are also pitching plenty of new product that is not on the screening schedule, including new titles that have begun to earn.
Leading the Shochiku slate is “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish,” a Tamura Kotaro animation based on a story by Tanabe Seiko about a feisty disabled woman who finds love with an abled-bodied college student.
The story was first made into a 2003 live-action film that was a critical and commercial success. The animation had its world premiere last week at the Busan festival.
Also new to the Shochiku lineup is “Sakura,” a family drama directed by acclaimed indie veteran Yazaki Hitoshi. Fasting-rising young actors Kitamura Takumi,...
- 11/4/2020
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety Film + TV
Five Flavours Asian Film Festival invite you for a journey through taste, colors, and sounds of the Asian continent, hoping they can provide food for your thoughts and solace for your spirits.
The Programme of this year’s Festival comprises more than forty titles representing the extreme variety of Asian cinemas – from horror cinema to sweet melodramas, from grasping auteur cinema to relaxing journeys around the continent.
All the films will be presented online between November 25 and December 6.
Preparing this year’s edition forced the organisers to face up to completely new challenges – from the matters of logistics to finding new ways of thinking about their mission, priorities, building bridges between filmmakers and audiences outside the screening rooms. The online edition of the Festival is not a compromise, but a different way to reach the, perhaps even wider, audiences, discover the rich variety of Asian cultures, and explore the contemporary...
The Programme of this year’s Festival comprises more than forty titles representing the extreme variety of Asian cinemas – from horror cinema to sweet melodramas, from grasping auteur cinema to relaxing journeys around the continent.
All the films will be presented online between November 25 and December 6.
Preparing this year’s edition forced the organisers to face up to completely new challenges – from the matters of logistics to finding new ways of thinking about their mission, priorities, building bridges between filmmakers and audiences outside the screening rooms. The online edition of the Festival is not a compromise, but a different way to reach the, perhaps even wider, audiences, discover the rich variety of Asian cultures, and explore the contemporary...
- 11/2/2020
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
In an unprecedented choice for her, Miwa Nishikawa does not direct a script of her own, but adapts a novel, Ryuzo Saki’s Naoki-winner “Mibuncho”, for her latest movie. Furthermore, she cast Koji Yakusho as her protagonist, proving once more, after “Dear Doctor” and Tsurube Shofukutei, how well she can cooperate with veteran actors.
“Under the Open Sky” is screening at San Diego Asian Film Festival
Yakusho plays former yakuza, past middle age Mikami Madao, who has just been released from prison after a thirteen-year murder sentence. Mikami, an orphan, has spent all his life between working for the mafia and being in prison, but this time is set on turning a different page and finally becoming a “proper” citizen. However, being essentially illiterate and without any particular skill, he finds himself racing against all odds, including his own, short-tempered and violent nature. Tsunoda, a young ex-producer/current writer, is...
“Under the Open Sky” is screening at San Diego Asian Film Festival
Yakusho plays former yakuza, past middle age Mikami Madao, who has just been released from prison after a thirteen-year murder sentence. Mikami, an orphan, has spent all his life between working for the mafia and being in prison, but this time is set on turning a different page and finally becoming a “proper” citizen. However, being essentially illiterate and without any particular skill, he finds himself racing against all odds, including his own, short-tempered and violent nature. Tsunoda, a young ex-producer/current writer, is...
- 10/28/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Chicago – The Chicago International Film Festival (Ciff) is competitive, and the 56th edition presented its awards on October 23rd, 2020, as a live virtual and online event on the Ciff YouTube page. The winner of the Gold Hugo as Best International Film was “Sweat” (France), directed by Magnus von Horn.
The 56th Chicago International Film Festival Celebrates Day Ten of the movie extravaganza, with films available for 2020 virtually and online. Click here for a complete how-to guide on navigating the 2020 Ciff. Go to Page Two for the schedule of October 23rd, 2020.
The awards were presented by the various jury members in each film category, and were hosted by Artistic Director Mimi Plauché, Managing Director Vivian Teng, as well as programmers Anthony Kaufman and Sam Flancher. The Festival’s highest honor is the Gold Hugo, named for the mythical God of Discovery.
International Feature Film Competition
‘Sweat’
Photo credit: Chicago International Film...
The 56th Chicago International Film Festival Celebrates Day Ten of the movie extravaganza, with films available for 2020 virtually and online. Click here for a complete how-to guide on navigating the 2020 Ciff. Go to Page Two for the schedule of October 23rd, 2020.
The awards were presented by the various jury members in each film category, and were hosted by Artistic Director Mimi Plauché, Managing Director Vivian Teng, as well as programmers Anthony Kaufman and Sam Flancher. The Festival’s highest honor is the Gold Hugo, named for the mythical God of Discovery.
International Feature Film Competition
‘Sweat’
Photo credit: Chicago International Film...
- 10/23/2020
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – The Chicago International Film Festival was founded in 1965 by Michael Kutza, and is the longest running “competitive film festival” in North America. So with that in mind it’s time for the 56th festival to confer those awards.
And the fest will be doing it live on their YouTube Channel (click here) at 10am Central Time on Friday, October 23rd.
To prove that anything can happen at the Awards Ceremony (when we were allowed to present them in person and attend the event), in 2013 I was standing in the bar at the Ambassador East hotel when an older gentleman started filming me with a high end video camera. After engaging in a pleasant conversation, I saw him again at the actual awards presentations – receiving a Lifetime Achievement honor. That gentleman was Haskell Wexler, the Oscar winning cinematographer for films such as “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” “Bound for Glory,...
And the fest will be doing it live on their YouTube Channel (click here) at 10am Central Time on Friday, October 23rd.
To prove that anything can happen at the Awards Ceremony (when we were allowed to present them in person and attend the event), in 2013 I was standing in the bar at the Ambassador East hotel when an older gentleman started filming me with a high end video camera. After engaging in a pleasant conversation, I saw him again at the actual awards presentations – receiving a Lifetime Achievement honor. That gentleman was Haskell Wexler, the Oscar winning cinematographer for films such as “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” “Bound for Glory,...
- 10/22/2020
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Virtual festival to run from October 14-25.
A host of Cannes Label and autumn festival selections populate the competitions line-up at the upcoming virtual edition of the 56th Chicago International Film Festival announced on Monday (September 21).
Venice and Toronto selections in the International Feature Competition include Apples (Greece) from Christos Nikou and Philippe Lacôte’s Ivorian Night Of The Kings, while among the New Directors highlights are João Paulo Miranda Maria’s Memory House from Brazil, and Palestine-set Gaza Mon Amor from Tarzan and Arab Nasser.
True Mothers (Japan) from Naomi Kawase in International Feature Competition and Spring Blossom (France...
A host of Cannes Label and autumn festival selections populate the competitions line-up at the upcoming virtual edition of the 56th Chicago International Film Festival announced on Monday (September 21).
Venice and Toronto selections in the International Feature Competition include Apples (Greece) from Christos Nikou and Philippe Lacôte’s Ivorian Night Of The Kings, while among the New Directors highlights are João Paulo Miranda Maria’s Memory House from Brazil, and Palestine-set Gaza Mon Amor from Tarzan and Arab Nasser.
True Mothers (Japan) from Naomi Kawase in International Feature Competition and Spring Blossom (France...
- 9/21/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
At the midpoint of Under The Open Sky, Mikami Masao, the ex-convict at the heart of the story, observes, “Prison is the one place they do not throw you out for bad behaviour.” After several on again off again prison sentences, the latest one a 13 year stretch for murder, Mikami, an aging heavy -- his handle was The Brawler in Yakuza circles -- is determined to go straight upon being released in the gently drifting snow to no family, relatives nor friends. He plans on getting a modest job, perhaps making Kendo uniforms or a becoming chauffeur or deliveryman. The Yakuza, as depicted here in quiet, petty sadness, is a sunset industry. Mikami also aims to track down his mother, whom he has not seen...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 9/14/2020
- Screen Anarchy
Films include ’Ammonite’, ’Notturno’, ’New Order’ and ’Penguin Bloom’.
New work from Francis Lee, Werner Herzog, François Ozon, Gianfranco Rosi, Regina King and Mira Nair are among the line-up for the 45th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
As previously announced, Spike Lee’s David Byrne’s American Utopia will open this year’s edition, which runs from September 10-19.
The festival will close with Nair’s A Suitable Boy (pictured), a six-part TV drama that debuted on the BBC in the UK last Sunday (July 26). Netflix has online global rights, excluding North America and China.
Scroll down for full line-up...
New work from Francis Lee, Werner Herzog, François Ozon, Gianfranco Rosi, Regina King and Mira Nair are among the line-up for the 45th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
As previously announced, Spike Lee’s David Byrne’s American Utopia will open this year’s edition, which runs from September 10-19.
The festival will close with Nair’s A Suitable Boy (pictured), a six-part TV drama that debuted on the BBC in the UK last Sunday (July 26). Netflix has online global rights, excluding North America and China.
Scroll down for full line-up...
- 7/30/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
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