See a Great Japanese Movie on the Big Screen for Free, Courtesy of Japan Society and SciFi Japan Source: Japan Society Official Site: Japan Cuts 2012 Special Thanks to Shannon Jowett The 2012 New York Asian Film Festival/Japan Cuts: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema is now in full swing. Running through July 12 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center and July 12 - 28 at Japan Society, the combined festival will feature dozens of films, international and world premiere screenings, Q&A`s with filmmakers, and other special events. Our friends at Japan Society are offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win free tickets to see one of three films on their schedule... the North American premiere of Takashi Yamazaki`s live action SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, a 35mm screening of the suspense classic CURE by award-winning director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (PULSE, BRIGHT FUTURE) or the New York premiere of the outrageous ZOMBIE ASS: TOILET OF THE DEAD by modern schlockmeister Noboru Iguchi (ROBOGEISHA, MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD)! All three screenings will take place at Japan Society, located at 333 East 47th Street between First and Second Avenues in New York City.

ZOMBIE ASS: TOILET OF THE DEAD (?????, Zonbi Asu) Tuesday, July 17 at 7:30 pm New York Premiere Japan. 2011. 84 minutes, HD Cam, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Noboru Iguchi. With Asami, Mayu Sugano, Ashana Mamuro, Yuki and Kentaro Kishi. A steaming heap of bad taste from the twisted mind of cinematic madman Noboru Iguchi (ROBOGEISHA, MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD). Wracked with guilt over the suicide of her sister, karate student Megumi accompanies a group of older friends on a trip into the woods. Things start to go badly when Maki finds a parasitical worm inside a fish -- and wolfs it down alive in the hopes that it`ll help keep her skinny. Attacked by a crowd of undead who emerge from an outhouse toilet, the group seeks refuge at the home of Dr. Tanaka and his daughter Sachi. Unbeknownst to them, Tanaka has been conducting experiments on the parasites and the zombies. Featuring special effects by Yoshihiro Nishimura and some truly jaw-dropping contributions from Iguchi`s genius subconscious. 18+ This film is unrated, but may only be viewed by persons 18 or older.

CURE (???, Kyua) Saturday, July 21 at 11:00 pm Japan. 1997, 111 min., 35mm, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. With Koji Yakusho, Masato Hagiwara, Tsuyoshi Ujiki, Anna Nakagawa, Yoriko Doguchi. Renowned for his horror films, Japanese writer-director Kurosawa Kiyoshi made his international breakthrough in 1997 with the psychological thriller CURE. Detective Takabe (Yakusho Koji) is assigned to investigate a series of murders in which the victims are killed by knife and left with an X-shaped wound carved across the throat and chest. All of these murders, however, have been committed by different people who are apprehended shortly afterward. With the help of psychologist Sakuma, Takebe traces the case to a young mysterious man with no memories of his past and strong hypnotism abilities. Pulled into a dangerous mind game, Takebe finds that the man is starting to have an unsettling effect on him as well.

SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO (???????, Supeesu Batorushippu Yamato) Saturday, July 28 at 9:00 pm, Closing Film North American Premiere Japan. 2010. 137 min., 35mm, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki. With Takuya Kimura, Meisa Kuroki, Toshiro Yanagiba. The landmark 1974 animated series SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO finally gets live-action treatment from director Takashi Yamazaki (ALWAYS -SUNSET ON THIRD STREET-). In the year 2199, earth has become a wasteland after five years of radiation attacks from an unseen alien enemy called the Gamilons. One of the survivors is Kodai Susumu (Kimura Takuya), who picks up a mysterious device one day while hunting for scrap metal. After discovering a map to a planet inside the device, the military sends out its last battleship -- the Yamato -- in the hopes that it`ll be the key to save humanity. Kodai joins the Yamato crew and quickly proves to be a worthy team member. With only a year left before the end of earth, what will the Yamato crew find at the end of their long and perilous journey? One of the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time, SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO is a sci-fi spectacular for audiences of all ages.

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES and INFORMATION

Prize: A. The prize consists of one (1) pair of passes to see SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, CURE or ZOMBIE ASS at Japan Cuts. B. Passes will be available one (1) hour before the shows at the Japan Society Will Call. The winner must present a photo ID in order to claim their prize. Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street between First and Second avenues (accessible by the 4/5/6 and 7 subway at Grand Central or the E and V subway at Lexington Avenue). For more information, call 212-832-1155 or visit japansociety.org. C. In the event that a winner chooses not to (or cannot) accept a prize, he or she forfeits all claim to that prize. D. One entry per person. Prizes are non-transferable. No substitution of prizes allowed. E. These passes are for admission to the SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, CURE or ZOMBIE ASS screenings only. Japan Society is providing complimentary admission with the condition that no other benefits are implied. Winners understand and acknowledge that they are responsible for all other expenses including transportation, food (you`ll have to buy your own snacks, sorry!), and lodging. Furthermore, winners and their guests understand and acknowledge that Japan Society and SciFi Japan are in no way liable for any injuries or other losses incurred by accepting the passes. Duration of contest: The contest runs from July 3 until 11:59 pm on June 12, 2012. How to enter: A. Submit your name, email address and your top two (2) movie picks from the selection above. You must choose two films to be entered in the the random drawing. Determination of winners: A. Only contestants who have submitted the requested information will be entered in the final drawing. The first randomly drawn eligible entry will be judged the winner. B. SciFi Japan is not responsible for typographical, electronic or other errors in Internet operation affecting the offering, outcome, administration of the contest or the announcement of prizes. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. C. The decision of the New York Asian Film Festival and SciFi Japan is final. Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of the SciFi Japan judges, which are final and binding in all respects. Just email the following information to "Japan Cuts 2012" at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Good luck! Name: Email address: Movie Choice #1: Movie Choice #2:

---

About Japan Society

The Japan Society Film Program offers a diverse selection of Japanese films, from classics to contemporary independent productions. Its aim is to entertain, educate and support activities in the Society`s arts & culture programs. The Film Program has included retrospectives of great directors, thematic series and many U.S. premieres. Some original film series curated by the Japan Society have traveled to other U.S. venues in tours organized by the Film Program. For more, visit japansociety.org/film. Founded in 1907, Japan Society is a world-class, multidisciplinary hub for global leaders, artists, scholars, educators, and English and Japanese-speaking audiences. At the Society, more than 100 events each year feature sophisticated, topically relevant presentations of Japanese art and culture and open, critical dialogue on issues of vital importance to the U.S., Japan and East Asia. An American nonprofit, nonpolitical organization, the Society cultivates a constructive, resonant and dynamic relationship between the people of the U.S. and Japan. Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street between First and Second avenues (accessible by the 4/5/6 and 7 subway at Grand Central or the E and V subway at Lexington Avenue). For more information, call 212-832-1155 or visit japansociety.org.

---

For more information on Japan Cuts: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema and New York Asian Film Festival, please see the previous coverage here on SciFi Japan:

• Japan Cuts 2012: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema- Information and Schedule
• New York Asian Film Festival 2012- Information and Schedule