The latest addition to The Japanese Film Festival – JFF Encore – has just come to a close, introducing Sydney to the finest Japanese cinema from the last few years. A prelude to the nationally held JFF coming to Australia in Spring, Encore showcased eight Japan Academy Award–winning titles, giving film fans a chance to catch some contemporary Japanese cinema classics back on the big screen.
And from the warm reception these re-runs received, it’s clear Australian audiences are eagerly awaiting new material to hit our theatres at the 18th JFF in October.
From humble beginnings in 1997 the JFF has grown to one of the largest Japanese Film Festivals outside of Japan. At the inaugural Japanese Film Festival in Sydney, festival director Masafum Konomi was only allowed to screen three films for the public. But as audiences grew, Japanese distributors became more trusting of Konomi, with last year’s 17th festival showcasing 39 movies in cities across Australia.
Producing over 400 films a year, Japan is one of the largest film industries in the world but most movies aren’t screened outside Japan, as Japanese distributors are mostly interested in the domestic market. That is why the Japanese Film Festival is so important – it shows movie lovers that there is more to Japanese cinema than Godzilla and Anime. Directors in Japan enjoy a large amount of creative freedom, allowing them to produce films that most Hollywood studios would be afraid to touch.
Running longer than their American counterparts, with nearly all the movies at Encore lasting over two hours, Japanese movies are able to really delve into thought provoking themes.
One of the more challenging titles at Encore was Izuru Narushima’s Rebirth (2011) which explores the sensitive issue of a woman on trial for abducting and raising a six-month-old baby. While action lovers were treated to Yojiro Takita’s samurai epic drama, When the Last Sword is Drawn (2003).
And proving JFF is not afraid to have fun was Kenji Uchida’s comedy Key of Life (2012) which tells the story of a failed actor who unwittingly assumes the identity of a hitman.
There really is something for everyone in Japanese cinema, and with its selection of movies the JFF helps to foster a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and society.
The 18th JFF will be touring nationally from Oct – Dec 2014.
