3rd Annual Shinsedai Cinema Festival @ JCCC, July 21-24

SUPPORTED EVENT
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The Shinsedai Cinema Festival is presented by the JCCC and Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow with support from The Japan Foundation .


Dates: Thursday, July 21-Sunday, July 24
Location: JCCC (Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre), 6 Garamond Court*
Tickets: www.ticketweb.ca or reserve by phone at the JCCC 416-441-2345
*Please note that this event does not take place at the Japan Foundation , Toronto

Programmer’s Note:

2011 has proven to be one of the most difficult in recent Japanese history. Japan is still struggling to recover from the devastating aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Our thoughts and prayers have been with the victims of this event, but we have felt strongly that offering the 3rd annual Shinsedai Cinema Festival, July 21-24, is of key importance at this time. We are very proud to bring this year's line-up of films to the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre ( 6 Garamond Court ), a line-up that highlights the creativity, empathy, humour and resilience of the Japanese people.

-Chris MaGee, Co-Programmer, Shinsedai Cinema Festival

Tickets for this year’s Shinsedai Cinema Festival are currently on sale via Ticketweb.ca or by calling the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre at 416-441-2345 to reserve.

Check out our full-line-up of films by visiting shinsedai-toronto.com
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HIGHLIGHTS:

Thursday, July 21, 8 pm
OPENING NIGHT FILM: Hospitalité (dir. Koji Fukada, 2010)
A sly, humorous and insightful satire of a contemporary Japanese family and the secrets they keep from each other that begins as an homage to the classic domestic dramas of Yasujiro Ozu, but ends up in the comic territory of Tampopo director Juzo Itami. **We are very happy to announce that Kiki Sugino, the star and producer of Hospitalité, will be joining us for this screening.

Friday, July 22, 7 pm
HORROR FEATURE: Shirome (dir. Koji Shiraishi, 2010)
Koji Shiraishi, director of Occult and the controversial Grotesque, revitalizes the J-Horror genre with a mockumentary that combines the low-budget scares of The Blair Witch Project and American Idol instant stardom into an entirely unique and chilling experience.

Saturday, July 23, 8 pm
CENTERPIECE SCREENING: Wandering Home (dir. Yoichi Higashi, 2010)
Tadanobu Asano, star of such films as Last Life in the Universe, Mongol and Villon’s Wife, gives a career defining performance as real-life photojournalist Yutaka Kamoshida as he struggles to overcome alcoholism. Far from being a journey into the underbelly of addiction Wandering Home is a life-affirming drama filled with love, gentle humour and reconciliation.

Saturday, July 23, noon
FAMILY FEATURE: Azemichi Road (dir. Fumie Nishikawa, 2009)
Azemichi Road takes the classic underdog genre and gives it new life. Yuki, a young deaf girl, takes a journey from silence to acceptance through her involvement in an amateur dance troupe. Film-maker Fumie Nishikawa sets her feel-good kids film in the gorgeous landscapes of Japan ’s countryside.

Saturday, July 23, 2:30 pm
SILENT CLASSIC: Kid Commotion (dir. Torajiro Saito, 1935)
The Shinsedai Cinema Festival is very proud to present a special screening of Torajiro Saito’s Kid Commotion, starring Japan ’s answer to Charlie Chaplin Shigeru Ogura as a harried father, with the accompaniment of live sound effects provided by foley artist Goro Koyama. Audiences will not only have a chance to see a very rare and very funny silent film, but will have the opportunity to learn about the art of movie sound effects.

Sunday, July 24, 7 pm
CLOSING NIGHT FILM: Sawako Decides (dir. Yuya Ishii, 2010)
Director Yuya Ishii’s return to the Shinsedai Cinema Festival, Sawako Decides is the hilarious story of a young woman (actress Hikari Mistushima) who returns to her home town to care for her ailing father and to straighten out her life after a series of low-paying jobs and less than ideal boyfriends.