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Media Release

For Immediate Release | May 2, 2018

Japanese Film Festival (JFF) Fringe

The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) returns with JFF Fringe, an off-season program of monthly in-cinema screenings of four contemporary Japanese films. JFF Fringe offers a second chance to catch encores of Japanese box office hits alongside an Australian premiere. Presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney in collaboration with Event Cinemas, each film will show for one night only in Sydney and Brisbane from May 30 to August 29, 2018.

The beautifully hand-drawn animation In This Corner of the World is a realistic and moving film that won the Japan Academy Prize 2017 for Best Animation. Set in Kure and Hiroshima between the 1930s-1940s, the film tells the story of Suzu, a resilient young woman who starts a family in Hiroshima, and of what was lost during the war.

Lightening the mood is the live-action gag-comedy Gintama, adapted from the manga series by the same name. In the story, feudal Japan is occupied by aliens and is rapidly modernised with skyscrapers and motor vehicles. However, the reckless Gintoki retains his samurai spirit and rebels against their extra-terrestrial overlords.

Present meets past in the Australian premiere of Honnouji Hotel, an entertaining period film with a fantasy twist. Mayuko, a young woman who lacks direction in life, checks into a mysterious hotel in Kyoto. The unlikely combination of a music box, a local sweet and the hotel elevator transports her back in time where she meets the infamous warlord Nobunaga Oda and his young page.

A sold-out film at JFF 2016, The Long Excuse is an introspective family drama exploring realistic human connections. In this award-winning film, celebrity author Sachio Kinugasa, played by Masahiro Motoki (Best Actor for Departures, Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2009), loses his wife in a fatal bus accident while he is having a tryst with a younger woman. Forced to play the role of a grieving widower in the public eye, he is shocked by his own indifference. Sachio meets the bereaved family of his wife’s best friend, who died in the same accident, and impulsively offers to care for the children while their father works long hours.

Tickets on sale at participating Event Cinemas box offices and online.

Screening Schedule

May 30 (Wednesday)
Gintama

June 27 (Wednesday)
Honnouji Hotel

July 30 (Monday)
In This Corner of the World

August 29 (Wednesday)
The Long Excuse

Screening times for all films
Sydney – 6pm
Brisbane – 6pm

ABOUT THE JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL

The Japanese Film Festival in Australia (JFF) is presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney. The JFF started in 1997 with three free film screenings by former Festival Director Masafumi Konomi, and is now one of the largest celebrations of Japanese films in the world.

Last year, the Festival celebrated its 21st year with an audience of 27,240 Australia-wide. The Festival has enjoyed great success over the years, with the opportunity to showcase a vast variety of cinematic delights from 35mm film classics to newly released titles currently screening in Japan. JFF brings out special guests from Japan for Q&A evenings and film screenings, as well as programs events for audience to enjoy Japanese traditional and pop culture.

JFF Australia is part of JFF Asia-Pacific Platform initiated by The Japan Foundation Asia Center based in Tokyo. This initiative aims to support and grow interest in Japanese films and cinema culture throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia.

Editor’s Notes
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  • For high-resolution images, please contact us.

Sydney Venue

Event Cinemas George Street
500-252 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000

T: (02) 9273 7300

Brisbane Venue

Event Cinemas Brisbane City Myer Centre
Myer Centre, Elizabeth St
Brisbane City QLD 4000

T: (07) 3027 9999

Media Enquiries

Jessica Chow
(02) 8239 0055

Admission

$15 (Online booking fees apply.)

Available at the box offices of participating cinemas and online.

Ticketing Enquiries

Please contact the participating box office.

Program Enquiries

(02) 8239 0055

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