The 66th edition of the Blue Ribbon Awards, presented by the Association of Tokyo Film Journalists, has announced its winners on January 24, 2024. The nominees are selected from movies released in 2023. The trifecta wins for “Godzilla Minus One” come as no surprise, sweeping the Best Film, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress categories. Yuya Ishii picks up the Best Director award for both his movies “The Moon” and “Masked Hearts”.
Best Film
Masked Hearts
Ichiko
Egoist
Monster
The Dry Spell
Godzilla Minus One
Mom, Is That You?!
(Ab)normal Desire
The Moon
One Last Bloom
Perfect Days
Bad Lands
September 1923
Do Unto Others
As Long as We Both Shall Live
Best Director
Yuya Ishii – The Moon, Masked Hearts
Hirokazu Koreeda – Monster
Daishi Matsunaga – Egoist
Takashi Yamazaki – Godzilla Minus One
Yoji Yamada – Mom, Is That You?!
Best Actor
Goro Inagaki – (Ab)normal Desire
Ryunosuke Kamiki – Godzilla Minus One, We're Broke, My Lord!
Best Film
Masked Hearts
Ichiko
Egoist
Monster
The Dry Spell
Godzilla Minus One
Mom, Is That You?!
(Ab)normal Desire
The Moon
One Last Bloom
Perfect Days
Bad Lands
September 1923
Do Unto Others
As Long as We Both Shall Live
Best Director
Yuya Ishii – The Moon, Masked Hearts
Hirokazu Koreeda – Monster
Daishi Matsunaga – Egoist
Takashi Yamazaki – Godzilla Minus One
Yoji Yamada – Mom, Is That You?!
Best Actor
Goro Inagaki – (Ab)normal Desire
Ryunosuke Kamiki – Godzilla Minus One, We're Broke, My Lord!
- 1/25/2024
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Organised by the Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo International Film Festivals, and supported by Create HongKong and the Film Development Fund, the Asian Film Awards Academy (Academy or Afaa) has spearheaded efforts to promote Asian cinema around the world year-round. As part of the Asian Film Awards (Afa), its flagship event and the largest celebration of Asian cinema in the world, the Academy appoints an emerging Asian star every year as Youth Ambassador to act as the face of the awards and to take part in outreach activities. For the first time in its history, the Academy has appointed not one, but four celebrated Asian stars as the Youth Ambassadors of the 17th Afa: (in alphabetical order) Liu Kuan-Ting, Mario Maurer, Miyazawa Hio and Will Or.
Embodying numerous countries and cultures, Asia is a region that is rich in diversity, and that diversity has always been reflected in its films,...
Embodying numerous countries and cultures, Asia is a region that is rich in diversity, and that diversity has always been reflected in its films,...
- 12/28/2023
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
With a selection from the “top of the shelf” once more, as the films of Keishi Otomo, Yuya Yagira, and the next big anime thing “Slam Dunk” eloquently highlight, Japan Cuts showcased how the top of the Japanese movie industry fares currently, while not forgetting the “hidden gems” aspect, with the returns of Yusaku Matsumoto and Daisuke Miyazaki and the presentation of “Sanka”, a film that has passed absurdly under the radar, moving into that direction. The general direction in terms of selection seemed to move towards mainstream paths, with the shorts, the animation and the documentary “I am a Comedian” adding an element of diversity. Without further ado, here is a list of this year's coverage of Japan Cuts.
You can read the full reviews by clicking on the titles 1. Interviews: Kentaro and Yuya Yagira 2. Anime Review: The First Slam Dunk (2022) by Takehiko Inoue
What is the most impressive aspect,...
You can read the full reviews by clicking on the titles 1. Interviews: Kentaro and Yuya Yagira 2. Anime Review: The First Slam Dunk (2022) by Takehiko Inoue
What is the most impressive aspect,...
- 8/8/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Takumi Saitoh is best known as an in-demand actor with an enormous list of credits, but he has also established himself as a filmmaker and photographer. After modeling in Japan and overseas in his teens, he made his acting debut in 2001, and has appeared in such heralded films as Takashi Miike's For Love's Sake (2012) Junji Sakamoto's The Projects (2015), Eric Khoo's Ramen Teh (2018), Last of the Wolves (Nyaff 2021), Shin Ultraman and The Legend and Butterfly (2023), among many others. Saitoh has been directing short films for several decades, and made his feature debut with blank 13 (2018), which won awards at film festivals in Japan and abroad, followed by the omnibus Zokki (Nyaff 2020). Home Sweet Home marks his third feature as director.
On the occasion of his film “Home Sweet Home” screening at New York Asian Film Festival, we speak with him about transitioning from actor to director, the filmmakers...
On the occasion of his film “Home Sweet Home” screening at New York Asian Film Festival, we speak with him about transitioning from actor to director, the filmmakers...
- 8/4/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Director Keishi Ohtomo returns to feudal Japan with his newest picture, “The Legend and Butterfly.” Having concluded the live-action “Rurouni Kenshin” film series, Ohtomo shifts gears for his latest feature, focusing more on real Japanese history, albeit with a heavily fictitious spin in a screenplay by Ryota Kosawa. The story deals with the rise and fall of Japanese daimyo Oda Nobunaga and explores his relationship with his wife, Nohime. This feature wouldn't be the first time Lord Nobunaga has been depicted in film or television. Still, with a big budget and an all-star cast, this epic was set to sweep away audiences and the box office while commemorating the 70th-anniversary celebration of Toei Company. Yet, despite a strong opening, it quickly dwindled in popularity and was met with mixed reception.
The Legend and Butterfly is screening at Japan Cuts
The story takes place over 30 years, beginning with a politically driven...
The Legend and Butterfly is screening at Japan Cuts
The story takes place over 30 years, beginning with a politically driven...
- 8/2/2023
- by Sean Barry
- AsianMoviePulse
Hollywood may still be struggling to regain its pre-pandemic foothold, but the Japanese film industry is absolutely thriving, with local admissions rising almost one-third in 2022 and domestic product accounting for nearly 70 percent of the local box office. Better yet, both of those figures might well bump up even higher in 2023, thanks to the blockbuster release of a new Hayao Miyazaki movie and an indie market that continues to grow in the face of streaming headwinds and a (slightly) shrinking national screen count.
What does that mean for those of us living on the other side of the world? It means we’re missing out on more great Japanese films than ever. It also means that Japan Cuts — North America’s largest festival dedicated to new Japanese cinema — is somehow even more invaluable now than it has been over the last 16 years.
Produced in partnership with — and hosted by New York...
What does that mean for those of us living on the other side of the world? It means we’re missing out on more great Japanese films than ever. It also means that Japan Cuts — North America’s largest festival dedicated to new Japanese cinema — is somehow even more invaluable now than it has been over the last 16 years.
Produced in partnership with — and hosted by New York...
- 7/26/2023
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
The Legend and Butterfly, directed by Japanese director Keishi Otomo and written by Ryota Kosawa, is an epic story set in the Warring States Period in Japan, where a man and a woman come together under special circumstances to become husband and wife. Their relationship undergoes monumental stages as the history of Japan takes shape in the background. Starring Takuya Kimura and Haruka Ayase, The Legend and Butterfly marks their third collaboration together. The performances are worthy of praise as they helm this period drama and elevate it into a grand love story.
Spoilers Ahead
Viper Meets Tiger
Lord Owari’s son Nobunaga prepares for his first night after Owari and the nearby state’s lord Mino agree to marry their children together. The wedding was actually a ploy by Lord Owari to ensure his domain’s safety against the attacks by Lord Mino. If his daughter was married right in the Owari domain,...
Spoilers Ahead
Viper Meets Tiger
Lord Owari’s son Nobunaga prepares for his first night after Owari and the nearby state’s lord Mino agree to marry their children together. The wedding was actually a ploy by Lord Owari to ensure his domain’s safety against the attacks by Lord Mino. If his daughter was married right in the Owari domain,...
- 6/5/2023
- by Ayush Awasthi
- Film Fugitives
Social drama directed by Jin Ong picked up three prizes.
Social drama Abang Adik has become the first feature from Malaysia to win the Golden Mulberry at the Far East Film Festival (Feff) in Udine, Italy.
The directorial debut feature of Jin Ong follows two undocumented men, played by Taiwan’s Wu Kang-Ren and Malaysia’s Jack Tan, one of whom is a deaf-mute and whose relationship is upset after an accident.
Ong attended the festival and collected the top prize as well as the White Mulberry for best debut feature and a further award voted by the festival’s Black Dragon season pass holders.
Social drama Abang Adik has become the first feature from Malaysia to win the Golden Mulberry at the Far East Film Festival (Feff) in Udine, Italy.
The directorial debut feature of Jin Ong follows two undocumented men, played by Taiwan’s Wu Kang-Ren and Malaysia’s Jack Tan, one of whom is a deaf-mute and whose relationship is upset after an accident.
Ong attended the festival and collected the top prize as well as the White Mulberry for best debut feature and a further award voted by the festival’s Black Dragon season pass holders.
- 5/2/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Johnnie To, Watanabe Hirobumi and Jang Sun-woo set to attend.
The Far East Film Festival (Feff), held in the Italian town of Udine, has revealed the full line-up for its landmark 25th edition, which is set to include appearances from filmmakers Johnnie To, Watanabe Hirobumi and Jang Sun-woo.
Running April 21-29, the festival will open with a double bill: He Shuming’s Ajoomma, the first co-production between Singapore and South Korea; and black comedy Bad Education by Taiwan’s Giddens Ko. It will close with Zhang Yimou’s Chinese blockbuster Full River Red.
The festival will screen 78 Asian films from 14 countries,...
The Far East Film Festival (Feff), held in the Italian town of Udine, has revealed the full line-up for its landmark 25th edition, which is set to include appearances from filmmakers Johnnie To, Watanabe Hirobumi and Jang Sun-woo.
Running April 21-29, the festival will open with a double bill: He Shuming’s Ajoomma, the first co-production between Singapore and South Korea; and black comedy Bad Education by Taiwan’s Giddens Ko. It will close with Zhang Yimou’s Chinese blockbuster Full River Red.
The festival will screen 78 Asian films from 14 countries,...
- 4/6/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Italy’s Far East Film Festival unveiled a power-packed lineup Wednesday for its 25th anniversary edition. The largest cinema event in Europe specializing in popular moviemaking from Asia, Feff will open April 21 with an inspired double bill, He Shuming’s hit Korea-Singapore co-production Ajoomma followed by first-time Taiwanese director Kai Ko’s black comedy Bad Education. And on April 29, the curtain will come down on the festival with the Italy premiere of legendary Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s latest blockbuster, Full River Red. Between those dates, the festival will screen 78 Asian films from 14 countries, including nine world premieres.
The organizers of Feff, founded in 1999 in the picturesque northern Italian city of Udine by festival pioneers Sabrina Baracetti and Thomas Bertacche, say the 2023 selection “aims to showcase the immense complexity of Asia more than ever before.” The lineup indeed presents a compelling snapshot of a wildly diverse content’s commercial cinema in flux.
The organizers of Feff, founded in 1999 in the picturesque northern Italian city of Udine by festival pioneers Sabrina Baracetti and Thomas Bertacche, say the 2023 selection “aims to showcase the immense complexity of Asia more than ever before.” The lineup indeed presents a compelling snapshot of a wildly diverse content’s commercial cinema in flux.
- 4/6/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Udine Far East Film Festival is back with a record line-up to celebrate its 25th edition. 78 films, 14 countries, 9 world premieres – Golden Mulberry for Lifetime Achievement to Baisho Chieko – On the red carpet also Johnnie To, Watanabe Hirobumi and Jang Sun-woo.
If there are 78 films (record number!) and they come from 14 countries, it should certainly be emphasized that the line-up includes 15 women directors and 12 newcomers. In brief, the 2023 selection aims to restore great complexity more than ever of Asia. A selection that combines the recent past with today, seamlessly, among different communities, different expectations and choices of life, languages and dialects, politics, religions, habits, inclinations, beliefs, myths and legends and, last but not least, different gender identities. A selection that tells in real time how the cinematography of East and Southeast Asia have re-emerged from the sad period of the pandemic, not all in the same way, and not all with the same results.
If there are 78 films (record number!) and they come from 14 countries, it should certainly be emphasized that the line-up includes 15 women directors and 12 newcomers. In brief, the 2023 selection aims to restore great complexity more than ever of Asia. A selection that combines the recent past with today, seamlessly, among different communities, different expectations and choices of life, languages and dialects, politics, religions, habits, inclinations, beliefs, myths and legends and, last but not least, different gender identities. A selection that tells in real time how the cinematography of East and Southeast Asia have re-emerged from the sad period of the pandemic, not all in the same way, and not all with the same results.
- 4/5/2023
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
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