Japanese Film Festival: First Look; Dates Announced for 2014

Japanese Film Festival: First Look; Dates Announced for 2014

Experience the largest Japanese Film Festival outside of Japan, boasting the latest contemporary titles that attracted 25,000 people nationwide last year. The 18th Japanese Film Festival (JFF) will begin its national tour starting mid-October in Adelaide, and continues to other major Australian cities until its final stop in Melbourne in December.

9 principal cities in 2 countries
The JFF is proud to announce its growth both domestically and internationally this year.

In Australia, the JFF expands to include new venues: Adelaide’s Mercury Cinema, Sydney’s Event Cinemas Parramatta, Art Gallery of New South Wales and Fremantle’s Hoyts Millennium.

Internationally, the JFF debuts in Auckland from November 6 at Rialto Cinemas, Newmarket.

“The Japanese Film Festival is a rapidly growing event and we are constantly looking for new opportunities bring Japanese cinema to an even larger audience. Last year we expanded our programming to Brisbane, Perth and Canberra. Building on these existing locations, we are excited to welcome four new cities onto our Festival map – Adelaide, Parramatta, Fremantle and of course Auckland, our first international move. Having nurtured the Festival since 1997, now seeing it move beyond Australia is a dream come true,” says Artistic Director Masafumi Konomi.

Program to consist of 45+ of the latest feature films
In each city, over 10 of the latest feature films will be screened. Flagship cities Sydney and Melbourne will enjoy an even greater program comprising of 45+ films.

While the full program is yet to be announced, we can reveal that the live-action adaptation of popular manga series, Rurouni Kenshin will return to the Festival as a trilogy in 2014. Fans will be delighted to hear that the JFF will screen the original episode, alongside the Australian premiere of the long-awaited two-part sequel soon to be released in Japan, Rurouni Kenshin – Kyoto Inferno and Rurouni Kenshin – The Legend Ends. The Australian premiere of Rurouni Kenshin two years ago in Sydney sold out in less than two weeks, demanding a second screening that also sold out in record time. Plot synopsis: Lone swordsman Himura Kenshin has vowed to never kill again but things are not so simple. Faced with those who wish to return Japan to times of darkness, Kenshin is forced to grapple with what renouncing violence could mean.

Free screenings
Selected cities will enjoy a variety of free screenings, some from the Japan Foundation’s 35mm collection (JFF Classics); others are semi-recent releases that have already screened as a part of the main JFF program in previous years (JFF Mini).

JFF Classics - the classic program will be shown as a prelude to the main leg of the Festival in Sydney at the Art Gallery of NSW starting 15 October. In Melbourne, it will run during the Festival period at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.

JFF Mini - the JFF will additionally travel to Townsville, Cairns, Hobart and Darwin with an abridged program consisting of three films, also free of charge. There will also be screenings in Broome for a nominal charge.

“Cinema is a powerful medium that transcends cultural barriers. As a part of the Japan Foundation’s remit to promote cultural exchange between Australia and Japan, JFF free screenings are bridges that aim to reach out to audiences across all socio-economic backgrounds and circumstances. People can still access and experience Japanese culture through film for free. We are really bringing Japan to you.”

Japanese Film Festival Dates and Venues
The 18th JFF runs nationally between October – December 2014

Ticketing: Adult $18 / Concession $15/ 5-Film Pass $75

Adelaide 10 – 12 & 17 – 19 October Mercury Cinema new!
Canberra 15 – 19 October Capitol Cinema Manuka
Brisbane 22 – 26 October Event Cinemas, Brisbane City Myer Centre
Perth 29 October – 2 November Hoyts Carousel & Hoyts Millennium new!
Auckland 6 – 12 November Rialto Cinemas, Newmarket new!
Sydney 13 – 23 November Event Cinemas, George Street & Event Cinemas, Parramatta new! Art Gallery of New South Wales new! (JFF classics – Wed, Sat & Sun, 15 – 26 October)
Melbourne 27 November – 7 December Hoyts Melbourne Central & Australian Centre for the Moving Image

Japanese Film Festival’s official channels
Website: japanesefilmfestival.net
Facebook: japanesefilmfest
Twitter: @japanfilmfest / #JFF2014AU

ABOUT THE JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL
The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) is presented and run by The Japan Foundation, Sydney and is now an established calendar event. The JFF started in 1997 with three free film screenings by Festival Director Masafumi Konomi. Last year, the Festival celebrated its 17th year with an audience of approximately 25,000 nationwide. The Festival has enjoyed great success over the years, with the opportunity to showcase a vast variety of cinematic delights from classics to newly released films currently screening in Japan. The JFF also brings out special guests from Japan for Q&A evenings and film screenings.

ABOUT THE JAPAN FOUNDATION
The Japan Foundation, Sydney is the Australian arm of the Japan Foundation, which was established by the Japanese government to promote cultural and intellectual exchange between Japan and other nations. The Japan Foundation, Sydney runs a diverse range of programs and events, including exhibitions, talk events, grant programs and Japanese language courses for all levels from beginner to advanced. The Japan Foundation was established in 1972 with a global network of 22 offices in 21 countries. The Australian office was founded in 1977.

ENDS

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