The 24th annual Japanese Film Festival (JFF) presented by The Japan Foundation Sydney, will be an online festival this year, streamed for free to audiences across Australia and New Zealand.
From anime adventures to breath taking romance, musicals and inspiring documentaries, the online film festival will feature both the latest contemporary Japanese films to the past JFF favourites.
Highlight
- Japanese Film Festival will be streamed for free across Australia and New Zealand
- Japanese films are becoming increasingly more recognized in the world
- Japanese films plays a vital role in the Japan-Australia relationship
Since it's beginning with just 4 films in 1996, Japanese Film Festival has grown over the years, attracting over 30,000 people in 2019.
" Despite the pandemic, we wanted to deliver Japanese films to both the seasoned festival goers and first time viewers" says Yurika Sugie, director of the festival.
Japanese Film Festival celebrates 24 years in 2020 Source: Japan Film Festival /Victor Caringal
For families with young children and those living in regional areas, the online version of the popular festival will be a special treat.
"For many years, I could not attend the festival as I had young children to look after" says Akane Shimizu, who in particular is looking forward to watching the anime Sumikkogurashi :Good to be in the corner with her daughters.
Izumi Hooper who lives in the regional town of Henty, says this is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy Japanese films with her 3 young children.
"Last time I attended the festival? I don't think I was even married" says Izumi, who's husband Ben is also a big fan of Japanese films.
" The pace at which a Japanese movie progresses is far more peaceful and calm, giving you a chance to feel embraced and be part of the movie. The dialogue offers pauses which create a sense of true emotion in the film which is so refreshing when compared to Hollywood movies which seem to slam their content at you without an opportunity to reflect" says Ben.
Japanese anime has long been popular, but with films such as the Shoplifters (2018) winning the Palme d'Or - the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival- Japanese films are becoming increasingly more recognized in the world, says Yurika.
This year, the program will showcase an array of award-winning films including Tokyo International Film Festival Audience Award winner Tremble All You Want, a quirky rom-com about a young woman who must choose between her childhood crush or settle for her imperfect boyfriend; Shanghai International Film Festival Best Screenplay winner Key of Life, an ingeniously scripted deadpan comedy that sees a struggling actor and an amnesic hit man exchange identities.
Key of Life, starring Masato Sakai, Teruyuki Kagawa and Ryoko Hirosue. Awarded the best screenplay at the Shanghai International Film Festival. Source: © 2012 "Key of Life" Film Partner
Each film will be available to stream for 24 hours, and interviews of 5 film directors by an American film critic, Mark Schilling will also be available through out the festival.
For regular festivalgoer and big film fan like Tomoka Okai, the line up maybe a little disappointing, who have always enjoyed the latest Japanese films not yet available on any streaming services.
Unfortunately, Japan's film industry like many others, were not immune to the Covid pandemic, with numerous films putting their production on hold or delaying its release date.
"Normally we select films from the past 2 years, but this year, we had to look into past favourites" says Yurika.
If she has to choose one, her favourite this year will be One Night, a torrid drama by an award winning director Kazuya Shiraishi; a story about a family reunion fifteen years after a dramatic incident that threw their lives into chaos.
Japanese films also plays a vital role in the Japan-Australia relationship, providing insight into the Japanese lifestyle, ways of thinking, the language, and the culture overall, says Yurika.
One Night, featuring Takeru Satoh, Ryohei Suzuki, Mayu Matsuoka. Source: © 2019 "One Night" Film Partners
"I hope that through the films, the audience will have a greater understanding and develop greater interest in the country of Japan"
Japanese Film Festival 2020, JFF Plus: Online will open on 4th of December.
