by James Fletcher
An initiative presented by The Japan Foundation, the festival recently marked its twenty-fifth year with a showcase of rare 35mm and 16mm film screening alongside a full program of newly released Japanese titles.
And now the JFF has announced its second annual Japanese Film Festival Online edition, running between February 14 -27, 2022.
The Online festival will feature a remarkable cross-section of contemporary Japanese cinema with seventeen films, comprised of documentaries, live-action features, and original animation, available across Australia and a selection of international markets, via online streaming, free of charge.
Japanese Film Festival Director, Yurika Sugie said, “JFF Online invites Australian audiences to celebrate the richness of Japanese cinema from the comfort of their own homes, with an eclectic virtual program traversing the hottest new international film festival award-winners, past JFF favourites and cult hits.”
Highlights of the 2022 Japan Film Festival Online include:
Ito | 2021 | Director: Satoko Yokohama
The touching drama of a shy country girl who chooses a part-time job at a “maid café”. Winner of the 2021 Osaka Asian Film Festival Grand Prix and Audience Award.
Masked Ward | 2020 | Director: Hisashi Kimura
A tense mystery set in the eerie confines of a hospital, where a chilling psychological battle unfolds leading to a chain of surprising twists.
It’s A Summer Film | 2020 | Director: Sо̄shi Masumoto
An innovative coming-of-age film about a high schooler obsessed with old samurai films, who sets out to produce her own film project.
Mio’s Cookbook | 2020 | Director: Haruki Kadokawa
A bracing period drama exploring friendship and the art of cooking, as a young chef dreams of being reunited with her best friend.
Sumodo ~ The Successors of Samurai | 2020 | Director: Eiji Sakata
An eye-opening and rare behind-the-scenes exploration of the lives and culture of famous sumo wrestlers.
Accessible via the Japanese Film Festival’s official website, the Online Festival will also be streaming to a number of overseas markets, including our neighbours in New Zealand and Southeast Asia, with Germany, Mexico, Spain, Egypt, Italy, India, South Korea, the US and Nepal being just a small cross-section of the twenty-five countries the Festival will reach.
Commenting on the wealth of films about to drop for Australian film fans, Japanese Film Festival Programmer, Susan Bui hoped audiences “enjoy cutting-edge titles from Japan’s finest auteurs in tandem with Japanophiles from 25 countries world-wide as part of this exciting global initiative.”
Japanese Film Festival Online 2022, runs from 14 Feb – 27 Feb, 2022, with all films appearing in Japanese with English subtitles. To register for free access to the Online Festival or to see the full program visit: www.japanesefilmfestival.net
