Academy Award® Qualifying Short Shorts Film Festival (Ssff) & Asia 2023 announced the jury members of Live Action Competition, Non-Fiction Competition and Smartphone Film Competition supported by Sony's Xperia. Best short award winners of each Live Action and Non-Fiction competition will be eligible for the nomination of the following year's Academy Award®.
Since last year, in order to take a wider view of international perspectives, the judges in the Asia International category will judge the Non-Fiction Competition, and the judges of the Japan Competition will judge the Smartphone Film Competition supported by Sony's Xperia.
Live Action Competition/International Competition Judges:
34 nominated films among 2282 submissions form 97 countries and regions
Maki Sakai (Actor) / Masato Hagiwara (Actor) / Satoko Yokohama (Film director / Screenwriter)
Live Action Competition/Asia International Competition Judges:
23 nominated films among 593 submissions from 22 countries and regions
Live Action Competition/ Non-Fiction Competition Judges:
13 nominated films among 290 submissions from 59 countries and regions
Adam Torel (Producer...
Since last year, in order to take a wider view of international perspectives, the judges in the Asia International category will judge the Non-Fiction Competition, and the judges of the Japan Competition will judge the Smartphone Film Competition supported by Sony's Xperia.
Live Action Competition/International Competition Judges:
34 nominated films among 2282 submissions form 97 countries and regions
Maki Sakai (Actor) / Masato Hagiwara (Actor) / Satoko Yokohama (Film director / Screenwriter)
Live Action Competition/Asia International Competition Judges:
23 nominated films among 593 submissions from 22 countries and regions
Live Action Competition/ Non-Fiction Competition Judges:
13 nominated films among 290 submissions from 59 countries and regions
Adam Torel (Producer...
- 5/31/2023
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
“Ito”, presented in the Japan Feel-Good section at the Five Flavours Film Festival (where it was also screened during the festival’s closing ceremony), depicts a provincial teenage girl at odds with her surroundings.
Ito is screening at Five Flavours
The eponymous Ito (Ren Komai) has an issue with her father, Koichi (Etsushi Tokoyawa) who is obsessed with history and tradition. The two struggle to formulate any connection. The protagonist’s strife changes after she gets a job in a meido kissa cafe, where patrons are being served by female waitresses dressed as maids. Although the place seems to be catering mostly to male fantasies, it ultimately becomes a safe space for Ito. Within the confines of the café she finds her new, chosen family. Ito is raised only by her father, as the mother has passed away when she was young. This lack, as well as a strained relationship with her grandmother,...
Ito is screening at Five Flavours
The eponymous Ito (Ren Komai) has an issue with her father, Koichi (Etsushi Tokoyawa) who is obsessed with history and tradition. The two struggle to formulate any connection. The protagonist’s strife changes after she gets a job in a meido kissa cafe, where patrons are being served by female waitresses dressed as maids. Although the place seems to be catering mostly to male fantasies, it ultimately becomes a safe space for Ito. Within the confines of the café she finds her new, chosen family. Ito is raised only by her father, as the mother has passed away when she was young. This lack, as well as a strained relationship with her grandmother,...
- 12/1/2022
- by Olek Młyński
- AsianMoviePulse
Bizarre rom-coms are nothing new to Japanese cinema, with the country’s film industry often priding itself on its more unorthodox works. The case is no different for “Bare Essence of Life”, Satoko Yokohama’s second feature film that made its debut in 2009. While certainly not dull, a string of narrative hiccups and a challenging protagonist mean that the film is a mixed bag, to say the least.
Bare Essence of Life is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
Yojin (Kenichi Matsuyama) is an enthusiastic farmer who, following the taped instructions of his late grandfather, grows and sells organic crops with his ageing grandmother (Misako Watanabe). When a mourning teacher, Machiko (Kumiko Aso), comes to Yojin’s small countryside town, the young man is immediately infatuated. Yojin, who in his own words is “not broken, just different”, finds a unique method of dampening his obnoxious social behavior in a bid to win over Machiko.
Bare Essence of Life is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
Yojin (Kenichi Matsuyama) is an enthusiastic farmer who, following the taped instructions of his late grandfather, grows and sells organic crops with his ageing grandmother (Misako Watanabe). When a mourning teacher, Machiko (Kumiko Aso), comes to Yojin’s small countryside town, the young man is immediately infatuated. Yojin, who in his own words is “not broken, just different”, finds a unique method of dampening his obnoxious social behavior in a bid to win over Machiko.
- 3/16/2022
- by Tom Wilmot
- AsianMoviePulse
From a futuristic existential animation about androids to a culturally rich documentary delving into the art of ramen-making, the Japanese Film Festival: Online returns from 14-27 February 2022 with a free streamed Festival featuring the best in Japanese cinema.
The 2022 Festival presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney will screen 17 films nation-wide for free, including feature films and documentaries. Jff Online 2022 marks the second time The Japan Foundation, Sydney will screen the festival across Australia to enjoy online.
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.”
Japanese Film Festival Programmer, Susan Bui said:
“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.
The 2022 Festival presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney will screen 17 films nation-wide for free, including feature films and documentaries. Jff Online 2022 marks the second time The Japan Foundation, Sydney will screen the festival across Australia to enjoy online.
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.”
Japanese Film Festival Programmer, Susan Bui said:
“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.
- 2/9/2022
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Exclusive: New York’s Japan Society has unveiled the full line-up for the 15th edition of Japan Cuts: Festival Of New Japanese Film, the largest celebration of Japanese cinema in North America.
Running August 20 – September, the hybrid online and in-theater event will welcome 27 features and 12 short films including 32 films available online throughout the U.S. and 14 screenings of eight films on the big screen in Japan Society’s auditorium.
The fest will kick off with the U.S. Premiere of Soushi Matsumoto’s sci-fi coming-of-age story It’s A Summer Film! The title will be presented online and in person.
Also in person will be the fest’s centrepiece presentation, Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Venice Film Festival Silver Lion-winning Wife of a Spy, a thriller tale of suspicion, betrayal and love set during WWII. The film’s star, Yu Aoi, will be the recipient of this year’s Cut Above Award from the Japan Society,...
Running August 20 – September, the hybrid online and in-theater event will welcome 27 features and 12 short films including 32 films available online throughout the U.S. and 14 screenings of eight films on the big screen in Japan Society’s auditorium.
The fest will kick off with the U.S. Premiere of Soushi Matsumoto’s sci-fi coming-of-age story It’s A Summer Film! The title will be presented online and in person.
Also in person will be the fest’s centrepiece presentation, Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Venice Film Festival Silver Lion-winning Wife of a Spy, a thriller tale of suspicion, betrayal and love set during WWII. The film’s star, Yu Aoi, will be the recipient of this year’s Cut Above Award from the Japan Society,...
- 7/20/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
A rare chance to see a small screen work from Palme d’Or-winning (and not only) director Hirokazu Koreeda is available this year at the BFI London Film Festival, with a teaser episode of the drama series “A Day-Off of Kasumi Arimura” (Arimura Kasumi No Satsuky). The 8-episode drama was released in Japan at the beginning of 2020 on Wowwow Channel and it features Kasumi Arimura, a busy and popular actress both in the script and in real life, although the narration is completely fictional. Director Koreeda has directed episode 1 and 3 of the series, while other episodes have different directors.
“A Day-Off of Kasumi Arimura” is screening at the BFI London Film Festival
It’s the onset of winter and seasonal cold is spreading; one of Kasumi’s fellow members of the cast is sick and the next day shooting is cancelled at the last minute. Kasumi has an unexpected day off then,...
“A Day-Off of Kasumi Arimura” is screening at the BFI London Film Festival
It’s the onset of winter and seasonal cold is spreading; one of Kasumi’s fellow members of the cast is sick and the next day shooting is cancelled at the last minute. Kasumi has an unexpected day off then,...
- 10/9/2020
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Film can be a magical thing that takes you to new and unexplored worlds; but perhaps it’s also fair to say that the majority of films made are run-of-the-mill affairs amounting to little more than promotional videos for the star idol or, sadly, product(s). Rather than being superstars, the cast of such films are simply ordinary people going about their day jobs, but with the job security of a zero hours contract.
The Actor is screening as part of The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
Based on the novel “Actor Takuji Kameoka” by Akito Inui, in her third feature film, Satoko Yokohama explores the world of jobbing actor Takuji Kameoka (Ken Yasuda): a man who acts in both his professional and personal life, but is permanently unsure of his role in the world.
We start in what appears to be a bad TV movie; and that’s exactly what it is.
The Actor is screening as part of The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
Based on the novel “Actor Takuji Kameoka” by Akito Inui, in her third feature film, Satoko Yokohama explores the world of jobbing actor Takuji Kameoka (Ken Yasuda): a man who acts in both his professional and personal life, but is permanently unsure of his role in the world.
We start in what appears to be a bad TV movie; and that’s exactly what it is.
- 1/28/2020
- by Andrew Thayne
- AsianMoviePulse
Highlights include the UK premiere of Finding Dory and the world premiere of the 4K restoration of Highlander [pictured].Scroll down for competition titles
The line-up for the 70th Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff) has been unveiled this morning by artistic director Mark Adams.
This year’s Eiff (June 15-26) will comprise a total 161 features from 46 countries including: 22 world premieres, five international premieres, 17 European premieres and 85 UK premieres.
Highlights include the UK premiere of Disney-Pixar animation Finding Dory, in-person events that include Us indie filmmaker Kevin Smith and Sex & The City actress Kim Cattrall, and the opening and closing gala world premieres of the previously announced Tommy’s Honour and Whisky Galore!.
Old classics will be re-imagined with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra performing the score to E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial live at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre and the world premiere of the newly-restored 4K version of Highlander, celebrating its 30th anniversary with star Clancy Brown in attendance.
The...
The line-up for the 70th Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff) has been unveiled this morning by artistic director Mark Adams.
This year’s Eiff (June 15-26) will comprise a total 161 features from 46 countries including: 22 world premieres, five international premieres, 17 European premieres and 85 UK premieres.
Highlights include the UK premiere of Disney-Pixar animation Finding Dory, in-person events that include Us indie filmmaker Kevin Smith and Sex & The City actress Kim Cattrall, and the opening and closing gala world premieres of the previously announced Tommy’s Honour and Whisky Galore!.
Old classics will be re-imagined with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra performing the score to E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial live at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre and the world premiere of the newly-restored 4K version of Highlander, celebrating its 30th anniversary with star Clancy Brown in attendance.
The...
- 5/25/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Competition section features six world premieres including titles from Koji Fukada and Yoshihiro Nakamura.
The 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (October 22-31) has unveiled its line-up with six world premieres in the Competition section, including Turkish director Mustafa Kara’s Cold Of Kalandar, Hao Jie’s My Original Dream and Thai film-maker Kongdej Jaturanrasmee’s Snap.
Also world-premiering in Competition are three Japanese titles: Kohei Oguri’s Foujita, Yoshihiro Nakamura’s The Inerasable and Koji Fukada’s Sayonara – the most local films in the main section since 2004.
The other selections are either Asian or international premieres. The topics of war or refugeeism are a common thread among some films, echoing current day headlines. “We were not conscious about choosing those types, it just happened that way and we noticed afterwards,” said Competition programming director Yoshi Yatabe.
“As much as possible we’d like to cover a wide range of geographical areas and genres,” he said of...
The 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (October 22-31) has unveiled its line-up with six world premieres in the Competition section, including Turkish director Mustafa Kara’s Cold Of Kalandar, Hao Jie’s My Original Dream and Thai film-maker Kongdej Jaturanrasmee’s Snap.
Also world-premiering in Competition are three Japanese titles: Kohei Oguri’s Foujita, Yoshihiro Nakamura’s The Inerasable and Koji Fukada’s Sayonara – the most local films in the main section since 2004.
The other selections are either Asian or international premieres. The topics of war or refugeeism are a common thread among some films, echoing current day headlines. “We were not conscious about choosing those types, it just happened that way and we noticed afterwards,” said Competition programming director Yoshi Yatabe.
“As much as possible we’d like to cover a wide range of geographical areas and genres,” he said of...
- 9/29/2015
- ScreenDaily
Competition section features six world premieres including titles from Koji Fukada and Yoshihiro Nakamura.
The 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (October 22-31) has unveiled its line-up with six world premieres in the Competition section, including Turkish director Mustafa Kara’s Cold Of Kalandar, Hao Jie’s My Original Dream and Thai film-maker Kongdej Jaturanrasmee’s Snap.
Also world-premiering in Competition are three Japanese titles: Kohei Oguri’s Foujita, Yoshihiro Nakamura’s The Inerasable and Koji Fukada’s Sayonara – the most local films in the main section since 2004.
The other selections are either Asian or international premieres. The topics of war or refugeeism are a common thread among some films, echoing current day headlines. “We were not conscious about choosing those types, it just happened that way and we noticed afterwards,” said Competition programming director Yoshi Yatabe.
“As much as possible we’d like to cover a wide range of geographical areas and genres,” he said of...
The 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (October 22-31) has unveiled its line-up with six world premieres in the Competition section, including Turkish director Mustafa Kara’s Cold Of Kalandar, Hao Jie’s My Original Dream and Thai film-maker Kongdej Jaturanrasmee’s Snap.
Also world-premiering in Competition are three Japanese titles: Kohei Oguri’s Foujita, Yoshihiro Nakamura’s The Inerasable and Koji Fukada’s Sayonara – the most local films in the main section since 2004.
The other selections are either Asian or international premieres. The topics of war or refugeeism are a common thread among some films, echoing current day headlines. “We were not conscious about choosing those types, it just happened that way and we noticed afterwards,” said Competition programming director Yoshi Yatabe.
“As much as possible we’d like to cover a wide range of geographical areas and genres,” he said of...
- 9/29/2015
- ScreenDaily
WikiLeaks founder to judge films at the 21st Raindance Film Festival; 2013 line-up unveiled.Scroll down for full line-up of films
Julian Assange has joined the jury of the 21st Raindance Film Festival (Sept 25 - Oct 6), a London-based event that celebrates independent film in the UK and around the world.
The appointment is a controversial one. The Australian editor-in-chief and founder of WikiLeaks took refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning about sexual assault allegations.
It is understood that he fears Sweden would extradite him to the Us, where he believes he is wanted in relation to WikiLeaks’ disclosure of a significant amount of classified Us military and diplomatic documents.
Commenting on Assange’s appointment, Raindance founder Elliot Grove said: “Every year Raindance invites interesting people to join our jury. In the past we have had musicians like Mick Jones, Marky Ramone and [link...
Julian Assange has joined the jury of the 21st Raindance Film Festival (Sept 25 - Oct 6), a London-based event that celebrates independent film in the UK and around the world.
The appointment is a controversial one. The Australian editor-in-chief and founder of WikiLeaks took refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning about sexual assault allegations.
It is understood that he fears Sweden would extradite him to the Us, where he believes he is wanted in relation to WikiLeaks’ disclosure of a significant amount of classified Us military and diplomatic documents.
Commenting on Assange’s appointment, Raindance founder Elliot Grove said: “Every year Raindance invites interesting people to join our jury. In the past we have had musicians like Mick Jones, Marky Ramone and [link...
- 9/3/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Yojin (Kenichi Matsuyama, best known as L in Death Note series) is a twenty five year old man-child living in a rural town in Aomori with his grandmother. He's not dumb. As he describes himself, his brain is wired differently. He is prone to outbursts and childish behavior. Yojin's daily routine begins with half a dozen alarm clocks and schedule written on the white boards in his room, as he forgets things frequently. He listens to his late grandfather's audiotape instructions on how to grow vegetables and follows through rather unsuccessfully and helps out his grandmother to sell her organic vegetables in town.
Everything changes when Matsuko (beautiful Kumiko Aso) arrives in town from Tokyo. She is a sullen kindergarten teacher who lost her boyfriend in a horrible car accident where his head was decapitated and never recovered. She came to Aomori to consult a medium to see if she can still communicate with him.
Everything changes when Matsuko (beautiful Kumiko Aso) arrives in town from Tokyo. She is a sullen kindergarten teacher who lost her boyfriend in a horrible car accident where his head was decapitated and never recovered. She came to Aomori to consult a medium to see if she can still communicate with him.
- 7/6/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Japan Society has posted the full list of films to be screened as part of their Japan Cuts Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema which will take place in NYC from July 1-16, 2010.
Here’s the list. The films marked with an asterisk will be co-presented with the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival.
About Her Brother (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Yoji Yamada)
Accidental Kidnapper (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Hideo Sakaki)
Alien vs. Ninja* (2010, World Premiere, Dir. Seiji Chiba)
Bare Essence of Life, aka Ultra Miracle Love Story (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Satoko Yokohama)
The Blood of Rebirth* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Toshiaki Toyoda)
Boys on the Run* (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Daisuke Miura)
Confessions* (2010, U.S. Premiere, Dir. Tetsuya Nakashima)
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World (2004, New York Premiere, Dir. Isao Yukisada)
Dear Doctor* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Miwa Nishikawa)
Electric Button, aka Moon & Cherry (2004, U.S. Premiere,...
Here’s the list. The films marked with an asterisk will be co-presented with the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival.
About Her Brother (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Yoji Yamada)
Accidental Kidnapper (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Hideo Sakaki)
Alien vs. Ninja* (2010, World Premiere, Dir. Seiji Chiba)
Bare Essence of Life, aka Ultra Miracle Love Story (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Satoko Yokohama)
The Blood of Rebirth* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Toshiaki Toyoda)
Boys on the Run* (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Daisuke Miura)
Confessions* (2010, U.S. Premiere, Dir. Tetsuya Nakashima)
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World (2004, New York Premiere, Dir. Isao Yukisada)
Dear Doctor* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Miwa Nishikawa)
Electric Button, aka Moon & Cherry (2004, U.S. Premiere,...
- 5/28/2010
- Nippon Cinema
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