SciFi Japan

    Samurai Hanshiro Tsukumo (Ebizo Ichikawa) plans to end his life with a final act of vengeance in Takashi Miike`s HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI. Photo courtesy of Shochiku Co., Ltd. © 2011 Ichimei Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Takashi Miike Remakes Cult Classic in 3D Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd., FilmPressPlus Official Site: ichimei.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Richard Lormand SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from a Japanese movie not yet released in the United States. HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI (??, Ichimei, 2011) is director Takashi Miike`s (AUDITION, 13 ASSASSINS) remake of Masaki Kobayashi’s cult classic HARAKIRI (??, Seppuku, 1962). It was the first 3D movie to compete for the Palme d`Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Released in Japan in late 2011, the film received a limited theatrical run in the UK this past May from Revolver Entertainment and will open in Australia on August 23rd from Icon Films. Plans for distribution in North American have not yet been announced. SciFi Japan presents a look at HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI with press notes and

    Fists will fly and noses will shatter in TAI CHI 0, coming to US theaters this October. © 2012 Huayi Brothers & Taihe Film Investment Co., Ltd.

    Asian Cinema

    Well Go USA Teams with Variance to Release What is Clearly the Most Awesome Film Ever Made Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications press release Special Thanks to Leif Helland Everyone knows Well Go USA Entertainment, who brought you such kung-fu badassery as IP MAN, IP MAN 2, LEGEND OF THE FIST and SHAOLIN is the best home entertainment company ever. It is also clear that Variance Films, whose corporate motto is “we are not afraid of you and we will beat your ass,” is probably the best theatrical distributor of all time. In their exhaustive travels, Well Go USA discovered a film called TAI CHI 0 (??????), which may be the most awesome film ever made. For proof: ? It is a steampunk martial arts film. ? It’s from the creators of SHAOLIN SOCCER and DETECTIVE DEE. ? It features choreography by

    WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW: SEEDIQ BALE, Taiwan’s official Oscar entry, will receive a US theatrical release in April. © 2011 ARS Film Production Central Motion Picture Corporation

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    Taiwan’s Foreign Language Oscar Entry to Open in Major Markets Source: Well Go USA, MPRM Communications Official Movie Site: seediqbalethemovie.com Special Thanks to Leif Helland Well Go USA Entertainment has set April 27, 2012 for the theatrical release of WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW: SEEDIQ BALE (???·??, 2011), Taiwan’s official entry for the Academy Awards foreign language category. The film will open in key markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Washington, D.C., Toronto, Vancouver, Austin, and Honolulu. Produced by John Woo, the epic WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW: SEEDIQ BALE was directed by Wei Te-Sheng (CAPE NO. 7) and tells the true story of Taiwan’s aboriginal people who were almost wiped out by Japanese colonizers in the 1930s. The film stars Lin Ching-Tai, Umin Boya, Ando Masanobu, Kawahara Sabu, Vivian Hsu, Lo Mei-Ling, Landy Wen, Da Ching, Pawan Nawi, Yakau Kuhon, Lee Shih-Chia

    BATTLE ROYALE runs May 25-31 at the IFC Center in NYC. © 2000 The “Battle Royale” Production Committee

    Asian Cinema

    Source: IFC Center Special Thanks to Subway Cinema Today, the cult classic BATTLE ROYALE (?????????, Batoru Rowaiaru, 2000) begins its New York City theatrical premiere engagement with a week-long run at the IFC Center. A long-unavailable underground hit, veteran director Fukasaku’s epically violent, still-shocking and deeply influential genre masterpiece takes place in a dystopic alternate universe. To combat social unrest and economic catastrophe, the government has taken radical steps: every year, a randomly-selected ninth-grade class is sent to a deserted island and forced to battle to the death until only one survivor is left. Chiaki Kuriyama (KILL BILL), Tatsuya Fujiwara (DEATH NOTE), Aki Maeda (GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS), Kou Shibasaki (DORORO), Masanobu Ando (SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO) and screen legend Takeshi Kitano (BOILING POINT, BROTHER) star in the movie that has been argued, acclaimed and banned around the world. More than a decade later, it remains

    Anime and film soundtrack composer Yuki Kajiura will perform live at Anime Expo. Photo courtesy of Anime Expo.

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    Source: Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation press release Official Site: anime-expo.org Special Thanks to Jim Yeager and Roberta Silverman Anime Expo (AX), North America`s largest anime, manga and Japanese pop culture celebration, will feature a live concert by acclaimed composer and producer Yuki Kajiura when it returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 29 – July 2, 2012. Kajiura brings her unique fusion of Japanese and European styles to AX in “FictionJunction,” her music project featuring the composer on keyboards and a special vocalist. The multi-talented Yuki Kajiura began her music career performing in the female trio See-Saw. She has gone on to establish herself as a solo musician, composing music for other artists as well as producing for TV, commercials, films, anime and games. In 2002 she had a major hit with “Annaniisshodattanoni,” the ending theme song of TV anime MOBILE

    Yu Irie’s RINGING IN THEIR EARS will be the opening night film at this year`s Shinsedai Cinema Festival. © 2011

    Asian Cinema

    July 12 – 15, 2012 in Toronto Source: Shinsedai Cinema Festival, Ciarlo Communications press releases Official Site: shinsedai.ca Special thanks to Vince J. Ciarlo Shinsedai Cinema Festival July 12 – 15, 2012 Revue Cinema Tickets on Sale June 21, 2012 Chris Magee, Co-director and Co-programmer of the Shinsedai Cinema Festival has announced that Japanese director Yu Irie’s film RINGING IN THEIR EARS (??? ????????? ???????????????, Gekijouban Shinsei Kamattechan Rokkun Roru wa Nariyamanai, 2011 ) will have its Canadian premiere as the opening night film of the fourth annual festival on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 7:00 p.m., at the festival’s new home, The Revue Cinema in Roncesvalles Village. This film kicks off four days of Japan’s best new filmmaking talent for a new generation. New this year, the festival presents "Battle Girls & Bondage", Toronto’s first ever Pink Film Double Bill, on Saturday,

    Shota Sometani (HIMIZU, SADAKO 3D) stars in Sogo Ishii`s black comedy, ISN`T ANYONE ALIVE?, coming to the UK in 2012. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2011 Dragon Mountain, LLC.

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    Source: Third Window Films press release Official Movie Site: ikiteru.jp (Japan), thirdwindowfilms.com/isnt-anyone-alive (UK) Special Thanks to Adam Torel Distributor Third Window Films has acquired the UK rights for ISN`T ANYONE ALIVE? (????????????, Ikiteru mono inai noka, 2011). After nearly 10 years without a feature film, veteran director Sogo Ishii returns (now with the name Gakuryu Ishii) with a black comedy (based on the Shiro Maeda play of the same name) about strange deaths happening all over a college campus after talk of a curse spreads around it, and soon the world! Featuring many new faces of Japanese cinema including the award-winning star of HIMIZU, Shota Sometani, and from a director who has been bringing us strange and surreal films for 30 years (BURST CITY, CRAZY THUNDER ROAD, CRAZY FAMILY, ANGEL DUST, ELECTRIC DRAGON 80000V) ISN`T ANYONE ALIVE? is a wonderful and unique piece of filmmaking from a

    UK theatrical poster for director Sion Sono`s HIMIZU. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2012 Himizu Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Third Window Films Official Movie Site: himizu.gaga.ne.jp (Japan), thirdwindowfilms.com/films/himizu (UK) Special Thanks to Adam Torel HIMIZU (???, 2012), the award-winning film from Japanese director Sion Sono (LOVE EXPOSURE, COLD FISH) opens in cinemas across the UK on June 1st from Third Window Films. The new film from Sono, HIMIZU tells the powerful story of two teenagers’ struggle to live in dystopian future Japan destroyed by a natural disaster. When young Yuichi is pushed too far he embarks on a violent campaign of revenge against society’s evil doers and it’s up to Keiko -- who is desperately in love with him -- to try to bring him back to the path of a decent man. A heart-rending drama and tender love story, HIMIZU features startling performances from its young leads. The film was in competition at the 68th Venice International Film Festival in

    The King of the Monsters advances on Tokyo in GODZILLA, screening Saturday for free at the Japan Society in New York. © 1954 Toho Co., Ltd.

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Japan Society Special Thanks to Subway Cinema Tomorrow, the Japan Society in New York City will host free 35mm screenings of GODZILLA and FISH STORY as part of their Open House Weekend running May 5-6. Passes are first-come-first-served and will be available for pick-up at 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 5. 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. Saturday, May 5, 4:00 PM GODZILLA (???, Gojira) 1954, 96 min., 35mm., black and white, in Japanese with English subtitles. Directed by Ishiro Honda. With Akira Takarada, Momoko Kochi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura. GODZILLA is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It’s also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama, made in Japan at

    he Look East: Korean Film Festival runs June 23-24 at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. © Look East: Korean Film

    Asian Cinema

    Grauman’s to Host Korean Film Screenings, VIP Events and First-Ever Castings of Korean Talent Source: BWR Public Relations press release Official Website: lookeastfestival.com Special Thanks to Cindy Lyster An appreciation of all things Korean has swept into popular culture -- from taekwondo to kalbi to K-pop -- extending to a proliferation of film and television talent who trace their lineage to the Asian peninsula. This summer, Hollywood will offer an appreciation with the first Look East: Korean Film Festival, a celebratory weekend taking place Saturday and Sunday, June 23-24. Hyundai Motors serves as a Lead Festival sponsor of the festival. Marking the first time in its 85-year history, Asian performers will cast their hand and footprints in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday, June 23. They include Korean actor Byung-hun Lee, an award-winning international star who recently appeared as Storm Shadow in Paramount

    A pregnant woman (Riisa Naka) transforms her former neighborhood in MITSUKO DELIVERS, the new film from SAWAKO DECIDES director Yuya Ishii. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2011 Mitsuko Delivers Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Third Window Films press release Official Movie Site: harakore.com (Japan), thirdwindowfilms.com/mitsuko-delivers (UK) Special Thanks to Claire Marty Third Window Films is pleased to announce the UK theatrical release of MITSUKO DELIVERS (????????, Hara Ga Kore Nande, 2011), opening at ICA and selected regional sites May 11th, 2012. Directed by Yuya Ishii (SAWAKO DECIDES), the film stars Riisa Naka (LOVE STRIKES!, TIME TRAVELLER: THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME), Aoi Nakamura (PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2: TOKYO NIGHT, QUIRKY GUYS AND GALS, BECK) and Ryo Ishibashi (AUDITION, THE GRUDGE, KIDS RETURN). MITSUKO DELIVERS is an Official Selection of the London Film Festival, Busan Film Festival and Vancouver Film Festival. INTRODUCTION The 28-year-old film director, Yuya Ishii, has now burst on the world scene with his brilliant filmmaking. Ishii’s film MITSUKO DELIVERS was featured in the 37th Rotterdam International Film Festival and the 32nd Hong Kong

    Haruka Ayase plays a junior high school boys volleyball coach who finds a controversial method to motivate her team in OPPAI VOLLEYBALL. Photo courtesy of NTV. © 2009 “Oppai Volleyball” Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    A Beautiful Young Coach Inspires Her Team with "Boobs Volleyball" Source: NTV (Nippon Television Network) Official Site: warnerbros.co.jp/opv Special Thanks to Asuka Kimura and Tzeling Huang SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from a Japanese movie not yet released in the United States. INTRODUCTION “If we win the competition, our teacher will show us her boobs?!” 1979, Kitakyushu. Shortly after accepting her new junior high school teaching position, Mikako, who has become advisor to the inept boys of the volleyball team, makes an extraordinary promise to show them her boobs (Oppai) if they win a game. Mikako has mixed feelings about the boob promise, but the members wholeheartedly want to see her boobs and practice with feverish intensity, gaining strength as if they had become different people. What fate befalls Mikako in the face of this conflict?!

    The Terracotta Far East Film Festival returns to London this month. Image courtesy of Terracotta Distribution. © 2012 Terracotta Distribution

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Terracotta Distribution Official Site: terracottafestival.com Special Thanks to Claire Marty The 4th annual Terracotta Far East Film Festival is set to run April 12th -15th and will once again be hosted by Prince Charles Cinema in the heart of London’s Chinatown. With a stunning line-up of films hand-picked from the best of the region, encompassing diverse genres from comedy to drama to horror and everything in between, the festival will continue to hold exclusive Q&As, masterclasses and fabulous parties. Each year the festival strives to improve on last year and to discover new talent: last year, the programme included a little known indie-comedy from China, RED LIGHT REVOLUTION, which ended winning the festival Audience Award. This year, there will be a focus on Taiwan, given the strength of output in recent years. Most cineastes will be familiar with the works of Edward Yang, Hou Hsiao-hsien

    Nationwide PRAY FOR JAPAN charity screenings on March 14th will benefit the Japan-based charity Japan Emergency NGO. © 2012 Prayforjapannetwork

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    Special Screening Event on March 14th Honors One-Year Anniversary of Japanese Tsunami Tragedy Source: FUNimation Entertainment press release Official Movie Site: prayforjapan-film.org Special Thanks to Scott Lonski On March 11, 2011, Japan’s Tohoku coastal region was destroyed by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and devastating tsunami that followed. PRAY FOR JAPAN takes place in the devastated region of Ishinomaki, Miyagi -- the largest coastal city in Tohoku with a population of over 160,000 people. Filmmaker Stu Levy -- an American living in Japan -- filmed the tsunami aftermath during his trips to Tohoku as a volunteer and over a period of 6 weeks, captured over 50 hours of footage. PRAY FOR JAPAN focuses on four key perspectives of the tragedy -- School, Shelter, Family, and Volunteers. With each perspective we meet victims who faced significant obstacles and fought to overcome them. Through these four vantage points, the

    Japanese action star Tak Sakaguchi will be a guest at A-Kon 23 in Dallas. Photo courtesy of MAT.

    Asian Cinema

    Star of VERSUS and YAKUZA WEAPON at Anime Convention in Dallas, June 1-3 Source: Monster Attack Team Official Site: a-kon.com Special Thanks to Edward Holland The Texas-based Japanese live-action magazine Monster Attack Team is hosting Super Action Star Tak Sakaguchi during an onslaught of Q&As, demo sessions and exclusive autograph signings at A-Kon 23, June 1-3, 2012 in downtown Dallas, home of the longest running Anime Convention in North America. This summer, meet live in person one of the most explosive cult heroes of the Japanese film industry today. For over a decade, Tak Sakaguchi has been one of the most recognizable superstars within the realms of Japanese action, science fiction, fantasy and horror visual media. He is a multi-talented martial artist, actor, fight choreographer, scriptwriter, and director and before motion pictures and television studios came calling, he made his living as a street fighter. On

    Warner Bros. is planning a live action feature film version of the popular BLEACH franchise. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © Tite Kubo/ Shueisha, TV Tokyo, dentsu, Pierrot

    Asian Cinema

    VIZ Media’s Mega-Hit Franchise Continues To Expand Across All Entertainment Channels Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: j-bleach.com (Japan), Bleach.viz.com (US) Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in the North America, announced today that Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired the live-action feature film rights to the hit manga and anime property BLEACH (????, Buriichi). The announcement comes after another successful year for BLEACH in print, digital publishing, cable television, streaming video, consumer products and video-on-demand. “BLEACH has built a huge international following in its manga and anime formats, and we’re excited that Warner Bros. shares our belief that BLEACH can also become a fantastic live-action film,” said Jason Hoffs of VIZ Productions, VIZ Media’s Hollywood-based production company. “BLEACH is an exciting opportunity to mix Japanese and Hollywood storytelling to create something

    On March 11th, Third Window films and the Institute of Contemporary Arts present a special preview screening of MITSUKO DELIVERS in London, with all profits going to disaster relief efforts in Fukushima. Photo courtesy of Third Window Films. © 2011 Hara Ga Kore Nande Production Committee

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    Event at ICA on March 11th, 2012 Source: Third Window Films press release Official Movie Site: harakore.com (Japan), thirdwindowfilms.com/mitsuko-delivers (UK) Special Thanks to Claire Marty On March 11th, Third Window films and the ICA present a special Charity Preview of MITSUKO DELIVERS (????????, Hara Ga Kore Nande, 2011) in London. 100% of Third Window Films` profits from the screening will go to a Fukushima-based charity. Third Window Films will also be selling DVDs at the event, with 100% of their sales also going to charity. Alongside the Fukushima charity, Third Window Films are also giving away 100% of ticket sales of all Japanese films playing in their `East Winds Film Festival` to the Japan Society Earthquake Relief Fund. Charity film screening of MITSUKO DELIVERS March 11th, 2012 at 7pm Institute of Contemporary Arts The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH £10 ENTRY Tickets

    Beat Takeshi and Kippei Shiina in OUTRAGE, coming to theaters in America this December. Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing. © 2010 Bandai Visual, TV Tokyo, Omnibus Japan and Office Kitano

    Asian Cinema

    Now On Demand; Theatrical Run Starts December 2nd Source: Magnolia Pictures Official Site: office-kitano.co.jp/outrage (Japan), magnetreleasing.com/outrage (US) The Japanese crime thriller OUTRAGE (??????, Autoreiji, 2010) is being distributed in the United States by Magnet Releasing, a division of Magnolia Pictures (THE HOST, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, MONSTERS, TROLLHUNTER). The film is written, stars, and directed by internationally renowned "Beat" Takeshi Kitano (KIKUJIRO, BROTHER, BATTLE ROYALE, ZATOICHI). OUTRAGE is now available on Video On Demand and starts a limited theatrical run on December 2nd. Check the Magnolia Pictures website for theater locations and dates. The following press notes and images are courtesy of Magnet Releasing/ Magnolia Pictures... Bandai Visual, TV Tokyo, Omnibus Japan, Office Kitano and Magnet Releasing Present a Magnet Release: OUTRAGE Written, Edited & Directed by Takeshi Kitano Official Selection: 2010 Cannes Film Festival 109 min., 2.35, 35mm

    SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO is just one of thirty movies making their Australian premiere at the 15th Japanese Film Festival. Photo courtesy of Japan Foundation. © 2010 Space Battleship Yamato Production Committee.

    Asian Cinema

    Lineup includes SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, A GHOST OF A CHANCE, ARRIETTY, OBA: THE LAST SAMURAI and GANTZ 1 & 2 Source: Japan Foundation, Sydney press releases Official Site: japanesefilmfestival.net Special Thanks to Evon Fung and Amanda Thompson Not long now until the 15th Japanese Film Festival hits Sydney and Melbourne with their biggest line-up to date. Featuring 30 films – all Australian premieres – festival organizers are thrilled to reveal the full program for 2011: OPENING FILM Koki Mitani’s A GHOST OF A CHANCE (???????, Suteki na Kanashibari, 2011) the festival with a hilarious courtroom drama where the only witness is a 421 year-old ghost. A mini retrospective of Mitani’s work, who is often referred to as Japan’s ‘King of Comedy’, will be featured in the festival with A GHOST OF A CHANCE as one of the screenings, along with SUITE DREAMS (??????

    SKETCH OF MUJO, the first documentary to be made in the wake of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, is one of six new Japanese films screening during the

    Asian Cinema

    Six New Japanese Films Screening November 25-27 Source: Barbican Centre, Sarah Harvey Publicity press release Special Thanks to Liz Parkinson Premiere Japan 2011 Barbican Film, Barbican Centre, London UK 25 – 27 November 2011 Now in its seventh year in London, Premiere Japan comes to the Barbican for the first time from 25 to 27 November, screening six of the best and most recent features and documentaries from Japan. Highlights include Locarno Film Festival winner, TOKYO PARK featuring rising star Haruma Miura; the latest delight from Yazaki Hitoshi, SWEET LITTLE LIES adapted from Ekuni Kaori’s best selling novel, and SKETCH OF MUJO the first documentary to be made in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier this year. Each screening is preceded by a short film chosen from submissions made by students, both Japanese and non-Japanese, at the University of the Arts London. Premiere Japan

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