Japanese Film Festival

Last updated

Japanese Film Festival Singapore
Location Singapore
StartedMay 1, 1983

The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) is a film festival held in Singapore and dedicated to Japanese cinema. It was first held in 1983 and then held annually from 1999 to 2016, and curated with Singapore audiences in mind, led by local programmers with a wide-ranging programme of film classics, Japanese independents and commercial releases. There was no festival in 2017. Under new direction from 2018 from the Japan Foundation in Tokyo, it has shifted its focus to screening mainly commercial releases from Japan.

Contents

History

The JFF was established in Singapore in 1983. [1] The festival was organised by the Singapore Film Society and the Japanese Embassy and the films were shown at the Cultural Theatre and Victoria Theatre. [2]

The next JFF was shown in 1986. [3] In 1987, Japanese ambassador to Singapore, Wasuke Miyake, brought JFF to Singapore which was held in October. [4] [5]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, the festival turned to hybrid screenings for 2020 and 2021. [1] Since then they have continued to deliver the hybrid model each year using a platform provided by Shift72. [6]

2014 (26 June to 12 July)

The Japanese Film Festival was held from 26 June to 12 July at the National Museum of Singapore.

Film programme

Currents

Retrospective (Ichikawa Kon)

2013 (26 June to 8 July)

The Japanese Film Festival was held from 26 June to 8 July at the Alliance Francaise and the National Museum of Singapore. There will be a focus on films from the 80s as well as a retrospective on Shindo Kaneto and Yoshimura Kozaburo, in addition to a showcase of the best in Japanese current films.

Festival highlights (Inspire)

Film programme

Around the 80s

Retrospective (Shindo Kaneto and Yoshimura Kozaburo)

Currents

Undercurrents

2012 (1 to 8 July)

The Japanese Film Festival was held from 2 to 8 July at the National Museum of Singapore. Besides showcasing the best of current Japanese films, one segment of the festival focused on documentaries examining the undercurrents and post-trauma effects of the tsunami in Japan in March 2011, while another segment focused on the celebration of the Nikkatsu Centennial.

Festival highlights (Action)

Film programme

Tsunami Documentaries

Nikkatsu Centennial - Celebrating 100 Years of Nikkatsu Studio

Japanese Currents

2011 (2 to 10 July)

The Japanese Film Festival was held from 2 to 10 July at the National Museum of Singapore. The festival theme was Journey.

Festival highlights (Journey)

Opening Film:

Closing Film:

Director in attendance:

Film programme

Tribute to Takamine Hideko / 高峰 秀子

Focus on Gosho Heinosuke / 五所　平之助

Focus on Kumakiri Kazuyoshi / 熊切 和嘉

Japanese Currents

Others

2010 (19 to 29 August)

In 2010, the Japanese Film Festival was held from 19 to 29 August at the National Museum of Singapore. The festival theme was Youth.

Festival Highlights (Youth)

Opening Film:

Closing Film:

Director in focus: Ōshima Nagisa / 大島 渚
Director in attendance:

Film Programme

Focus on Japanese New Wave and Oshima Nagisa

Focus on PIA Film Festival

Directions – Focus on NDJC 2007

Directions – Focus on NDJC 2008

Japanese Currents

2009 (25 to 30 August)

The Japanese Film Festival 2009 was a showcase of some of the finest in Japanese horror, mystery and supernatural cinema that year. The festival was held from 25 to 30 August at the National Museum of Singapore.

Festival Highlights (Horror)

Audience Award:

Film Programme

2008 (22 to 31 August)

In 2008, the Japanese Film Festival was held from 22 to 31 August 2008 at the National Museum of Singapore, and was a pre-event of the Japan Creative Centre, which was launched in mid November 2009. The festival theme focused on femininity in Japanese Cinema, as exemplified by the festival theme: "Jyo-yuu" (女　優). The festival showcased works by Master director Naruse Mikio and acclaimed actress-director Tanaka Kinuyo. Works of award-winning young director Kawase Naomi and two other independent directors of the current indie movement Matsuoka Naomi and Matsue Tetsuaki were also featured.

Festival highlights ("Jyo-yuu" 女優)

Director in focus: Naruse Mikio / 成瀬 巳喜男
Directors in attendance:

Film programme

Free-Admission Component

Paid Screenings Component

2007 (15 to 23 September)

The 2007 festival theme was True. Romance and the festival was held at the National Museum of Singapore.

Festival Highlights (True.Romance)

Director in focus: Imamura Shohei / 今村 昌平
Director in attendance:

Actress in attendance:

Film Programme

Imamura Shohei Retrospective

Ichikawa Jun Showcase

Other films

2006 (21 to 29 October)

Friendship was the theme of the 2006 Japanese Film Festival.

Festival Highlights (Friendship)

Director in focus Kitano Takeshi / 北野 武
Director in attendance:

Film Programme

Kitano Takeshi Retrospective

Ogigami Naoko Showcase

Other films

2005 (28 September to 9 October)

Adaptations was the theme of the 2005 Japanese Film Festival.

Festival Highlights (Adaptations)

Directors in focus:

Film Programme

Nomura Yoshitaro Retrospective

Ichikawa Kon Retrospective

Other films

2004 (24 September to 3 October)

Tokyo Stories was the theme of the 2004 Japanese Film Festival.

Festival Highlights (Tokyo Stories)

Directors in focus:

Film Programme

Yamada Yoji Retrospective

Ichikawa Jun Retrospective

Other films

2003 (26 September to 5 October)

Festival highlights (Commemoration - Ozu Yasujiro)

Director in focus: Fukasaku Kinji / 深作 欣二
Commemoration: 100th birthday and 40th death anniversary of Ozu Yasujiro / 小津 安二郎

Film programme

Fukasaku Kinji Retrospective

Ozu Yasujiro (Commemoration)

Other films

2002 (11 to 20 October)

Film programme

2001 (29 September to 7 October)

Festival highlights (Kurosawa Retrospective)

Director in focus: Kurosawa Akira / 黒澤 明

Film programme

Kurosawa Retrospective

Other films

2000 (7 to 15 October)

Festival highlights (Mizoguchi Retrospective)

Director in focus: Mizoguchi Kenji / 溝口 健二

Film programme

Mizoguchi Retrospective

Other films

1999

Film programme

Audience Award winners

YearFilmDirectorCountry of origin
2012About the Pink Sky / ももいろそらをKobayashi Keiichi / 小林 啓一Japan
2010Fish Story / フィッシュストーリー Nakamura Yoshihiro / 中村義洋Japan
2009 Strange Circus / 奇妙なサーカス Sono Shion / 園 子温Japan

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References

  1. 1 2 Lui, John (29 September 2022). "Film Picks: Japanese Film Festival, South Korean Film Festival, Crimes Of The Future | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "Film fest and fair". The Straits Times . 1 May 1983. p. 28. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023– via NewspaperSG.
  3. ↑ "Japan cinema's angry years". The Straits Times . 14 March 1986. p. 6. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023– via NewspaperSG.
  4. ↑ "New Japanese envoy has plans for better ties". The Straits Times . 7 April 1987. p. 23. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023– via NewspaperSG.
  5. ↑ "Japanese films with the accent on youth". The Straits Times . 4 October 1987. p. 2. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023– via NewspaperSG.
  6. ↑ "Japanese Film Festival". www.shift72.com. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
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