Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (Ssff & Asia) 2024, an Academy Awards® accredited and one of the largest international short film festivals in Asia and originating in Japan, is pleased to announce the official jury members for the festival. The best short films in each category and section that will be nominated for the Academy Awards® in the following year.
In addition to the festival directors and programmers who have been involved in the selection process at international film festivals, the jury will judge this year's short films from a variety of perspectives, including filmmakers, actors, and cultural figures.
■Live Action Competition/International Category Judges
33 nominated films among 2104 submissions form 94 countries and regions
■Non-Fiction Competition Judges:
15 nominated films among 313 submissions form 55 countries and regions
Hiromi Nagasaku(Actor)/Ema Ryan Yamazaki(Documentary Film Director)/Tim Redford(Co-Director of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival)
■Live Action Competition/Asia International Category Judges:
25 nominated films...
In addition to the festival directors and programmers who have been involved in the selection process at international film festivals, the jury will judge this year's short films from a variety of perspectives, including filmmakers, actors, and cultural figures.
■Live Action Competition/International Category Judges
33 nominated films among 2104 submissions form 94 countries and regions
■Non-Fiction Competition Judges:
15 nominated films among 313 submissions form 55 countries and regions
Hiromi Nagasaku(Actor)/Ema Ryan Yamazaki(Documentary Film Director)/Tim Redford(Co-Director of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival)
■Live Action Competition/Asia International Category Judges:
25 nominated films...
- 5/14/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The main asset of the Japanese movie industry has always been a stability, particularly in terms of production quality, which, even in the years where countries like S. Korea held the sceptres of the ‘Best Asian Cinema’, did not “allow” local titles to be very far off. In that regard, it is easy to say that, even if Japanese filmmakers do not come up with masterpieces so often (at least not as often as in the past), the local industry remains the one that produces more “7/10” movies than any other in the world, consistently. This stability became much more obvious this year, since Korean cinema seems to have hit a reef that is more evident that it was before, and gradually, Japanese cinema seems to have reached the top of Asia once more, even if the level was a bit lower this year. The films that follow prove the fact in the most eloquent way.
- 12/19/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Translated by Lukasz Mankowski
Katsuhide Motoki, born in Toyama Prefecture in 1963, studied at Waseda University and in the United States. In 1987, he began working as an assistant director at Shochiku for Keisuke Kinosita and Hiroshi Teshigahara, among others. He had his directorial debut in 1998 with “Tenamonya Shosha”. His comedy “Samurai Hustle” received an award at the 2015 Japan Academy Awards, while his fame grew even bigger with “Recall”. Motoki also works as a producer (e.g. Gonin).
On the occasion of “Angry Rice Wives” screening at Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we speak with him about the place of women in Japanese society then and now, the events that inspired the film, the cast and Mao Inoue, his visual approach, and many other topics.
What was the inspiration behind shooting Angry Rice Wives?
Since Japan is a country where there is still a strong impression of the dominance of men over women,...
Katsuhide Motoki, born in Toyama Prefecture in 1963, studied at Waseda University and in the United States. In 1987, he began working as an assistant director at Shochiku for Keisuke Kinosita and Hiroshi Teshigahara, among others. He had his directorial debut in 1998 with “Tenamonya Shosha”. His comedy “Samurai Hustle” received an award at the 2015 Japan Academy Awards, while his fame grew even bigger with “Recall”. Motoki also works as a producer (e.g. Gonin).
On the occasion of “Angry Rice Wives” screening at Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we speak with him about the place of women in Japanese society then and now, the events that inspired the film, the cast and Mao Inoue, his visual approach, and many other topics.
What was the inspiration behind shooting Angry Rice Wives?
Since Japan is a country where there is still a strong impression of the dominance of men over women,...
- 7/3/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
When he is not dealing with samurais in various approaches (from realistic dramas to comedies), Katsuhide Motoki seems to focus on various aspects of corruption and the people dealing with it, as he did in the excellent “Recall”. This time his work deals with a series of actual incidents that took place in a Toyama fishing village 103 years ago, in 1918. A number of “ordinary” women raised their voices against the unreasonable government policies, with their actions getting picked up the press, and eventually evolving to “Rice Riots”, a nation-wide movement.
“Angry Rice Wives” is screening at Toronto Japanese Film Festival
The protagonist, Ito, a farmer’s daughter who was married in the village and is one of the few literate women there, lives in the aforementioned area with her husband, three children and mother-in-law. During July and August, the men in the village find work in big boats away from the area,...
“Angry Rice Wives” is screening at Toronto Japanese Film Festival
The protagonist, Ito, a farmer’s daughter who was married in the village and is one of the few literate women there, lives in the aforementioned area with her husband, three children and mother-in-law. During July and August, the men in the village find work in big boats away from the area,...
- 6/9/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Canada’S Largest Showcase Of Contemporary Japanese Cinema
Streams Across Canada
Saturday, June 5 – Sunday, June 27, 2021
Monday, May 10, 2021 – The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s 10th annual Toronto Japanese Film Festival (Tjff) will be presented across Canada from Saturday, June 5 to Sunday, 27, 2021. During this period, Tjff screenings will be held online, using the Cinesend festival platform, with select onsite screenings at the Jccc’s Kobayashi Hall planned for October, public health protocols permitting. The festival is one of the largest film events of its kind in the world and is recognized by the Japanese film industry as a vital conduit for bringing Japanese film to international audiences.
“When we held the first Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we never dreamed we’d be celebrating our 10th anniversary during a pandemic, said Tjff Director James Heron. “We also never dreamed the festival would be so well attended, loved by Toronto audiences and embraced by...
Streams Across Canada
Saturday, June 5 – Sunday, June 27, 2021
Monday, May 10, 2021 – The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s 10th annual Toronto Japanese Film Festival (Tjff) will be presented across Canada from Saturday, June 5 to Sunday, 27, 2021. During this period, Tjff screenings will be held online, using the Cinesend festival platform, with select onsite screenings at the Jccc’s Kobayashi Hall planned for October, public health protocols permitting. The festival is one of the largest film events of its kind in the world and is recognized by the Japanese film industry as a vital conduit for bringing Japanese film to international audiences.
“When we held the first Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we never dreamed we’d be celebrating our 10th anniversary during a pandemic, said Tjff Director James Heron. “We also never dreamed the festival would be so well attended, loved by Toronto audiences and embraced by...
- 5/19/2021
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s 10th annual Toronto Japanese Film Festival (Tjff) will be presented across Canada from Saturday, June 5 to Sunday, 27, 2021. During this period, Tjff screenings will be held online, using the Cinesend festival platform, with select onsite screenings at the Jccc’s Kobayashi Hall planned for October, public health protocols permitting. The festival is one of the largest film events of its kind in the world and is recognized by the Japanese film industry as a vital conduit for bringing Japanese film to international audiences.
“When we held the first Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we never dreamed we’d be celebrating our 10th anniversary during a pandemic, said Tjff Director James Heron. “We also never dreamed the festival would be so well attended, loved by Toronto audiences and embraced by Japanese directors and actors as the place to introduce their films to North American audiences. On this...
“When we held the first Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we never dreamed we’d be celebrating our 10th anniversary during a pandemic, said Tjff Director James Heron. “We also never dreamed the festival would be so well attended, loved by Toronto audiences and embraced by Japanese directors and actors as the place to introduce their films to North American audiences. On this...
- 5/13/2021
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
After dealing with the samurai genre in comedic style with the two “Samurai Hustle” movies, (and after the excellent “Recall” of last year) Katsuhide Motoki decided to tackle the category with a more serious approach, in a film based on the novel series “Inemuri Iwane Edo Zoshi” by Yasuhide Saeki.
Iwane: Sword of Serenity is screening at the Toronto Japanese Film Festival
The story is split in two parts. In the first one, and as the story begins, the titular character is studying swordsmanship in a dojo in Edo with his two childhood friends, Kinpei and Shinnosuke. Kinpei has two sisters; Mao, who is married to Shinnosuke, and Nao who will marry Iwane. When they return to their home county though, tragedy strikes immediately. Shinnosuke’s uncle shares a rumor with him that Mao is having an affair, and an enraged Shinnosuke ends up killing her the same night. Kinpei...
Iwane: Sword of Serenity is screening at the Toronto Japanese Film Festival
The story is split in two parts. In the first one, and as the story begins, the titular character is studying swordsmanship in a dojo in Edo with his two childhood friends, Kinpei and Shinnosuke. Kinpei has two sisters; Mao, who is married to Shinnosuke, and Nao who will marry Iwane. When they return to their home county though, tragedy strikes immediately. Shinnosuke’s uncle shares a rumor with him that Mao is having an affair, and an enraged Shinnosuke ends up killing her the same night. Kinpei...
- 6/8/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Centrepiece Highlight
World Premiere of “Dance With Me”
Director Shinobu Yaguchi, Lead Actress Ayaka Miyoshi in attendance
Opening Night
North American Premiere of Masayuki Suzuki’s mystery thriller, “Masquerade Hotel“
Special Guests:
Star of “Love’s Twisting Path” – Mikako Tabe
Director of award-winning “Born Bone Born” – Comedian Toshiyuki Teruya “Gori”
Director Tatsushi Omori – “When My Mom Died, I Wanted to Eat Her Ashes” and “Every Day a Good Day”
Star of “The Gambler’s Odyssey 2020” – Takumi Saitoh
The samurai, of the cinematic variety, are set to descend on Toronto this summer. They are joined by reluctant sake brewers, yakuza assassins, tea ceremony sages, deadly mahjong-playing robots, dashing hotel detectives, and calculating masters of “corporate kabuki”.
Now in its eighth year, the 2019 Toronto Japanese Film Festival brings Toronto audiences 28 of the finest contemporary Japanese films recognized for excellence by Japanese audiences and critics, international film festival audiences and the Japanese Film Academy.
World Premiere of “Dance With Me”
Director Shinobu Yaguchi, Lead Actress Ayaka Miyoshi in attendance
Opening Night
North American Premiere of Masayuki Suzuki’s mystery thriller, “Masquerade Hotel“
Special Guests:
Star of “Love’s Twisting Path” – Mikako Tabe
Director of award-winning “Born Bone Born” – Comedian Toshiyuki Teruya “Gori”
Director Tatsushi Omori – “When My Mom Died, I Wanted to Eat Her Ashes” and “Every Day a Good Day”
Star of “The Gambler’s Odyssey 2020” – Takumi Saitoh
The samurai, of the cinematic variety, are set to descend on Toronto this summer. They are joined by reluctant sake brewers, yakuza assassins, tea ceremony sages, deadly mahjong-playing robots, dashing hotel detectives, and calculating masters of “corporate kabuki”.
Now in its eighth year, the 2019 Toronto Japanese Film Festival brings Toronto audiences 28 of the finest contemporary Japanese films recognized for excellence by Japanese audiences and critics, international film festival audiences and the Japanese Film Academy.
- 5/22/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Oahunov Nov 8-18, 2018
Kauainov Nov 15-18, 2018
Big Island & Maui Nov 29 -Dec 2, 2018
The 38th Hawaii International Film Festival is about to start and to continue the festival’s proud tradition of showcasing content and creatives from the Pacific, Asia and North America.
The festival this year features over 180 films, talks and events from 37 countries, with 47 Us, International and World Premieres across 32 sections. 2018 continues the tradition of programming a selection of critically-acclaimed and highly-anticipated films from Asia and around the world, while also giving a platform from emerging creative talents from across the Hawaii-Pacific region.
Outstanding films are accompanied by stars and filmmakers from around the world, connecting East and West through a dedication to discussion, diversity and creativity.
We have picked the Asian titles in the Programme and they are a lot!
Let’s have a look:
Shadow – Opening Night Film
China 2018 – Director: Zhang Yimou
50 First Kisses
Spotlight On Japan – Japan...
Kauainov Nov 15-18, 2018
Big Island & Maui Nov 29 -Dec 2, 2018
The 38th Hawaii International Film Festival is about to start and to continue the festival’s proud tradition of showcasing content and creatives from the Pacific, Asia and North America.
The festival this year features over 180 films, talks and events from 37 countries, with 47 Us, International and World Premieres across 32 sections. 2018 continues the tradition of programming a selection of critically-acclaimed and highly-anticipated films from Asia and around the world, while also giving a platform from emerging creative talents from across the Hawaii-Pacific region.
Outstanding films are accompanied by stars and filmmakers from around the world, connecting East and West through a dedication to discussion, diversity and creativity.
We have picked the Asian titles in the Programme and they are a lot!
Let’s have a look:
Shadow – Opening Night Film
China 2018 – Director: Zhang Yimou
50 First Kisses
Spotlight On Japan – Japan...
- 10/18/2018
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
After his endeavors in the samurai comedy, Katsuhide Motoki took a complete turn with his latest film, which is based on Jun Ikeibo’s novel “Soratobu Taiya” (which was also adapted into a TV series in 2009), and revolves around a “fight” between a medium-sized company and a large one.
Recall is screening at Camera Japan
Tokuro Akamatsu runs a transport company that has been handled to him by his father, along with his father’s long time associate, Naokichi . He treats his employees like family, with his approach extending to his clients, and despite some difficulties due to the size of his entrepreneurship, he manages to keep it afloat. However, when one of his drivers is involved in a freak accident, where a wheel is detached from the truck ending up killing a woman who was walking in the pavement with her son, all hell breaks loose. The already stretched...
Recall is screening at Camera Japan
Tokuro Akamatsu runs a transport company that has been handled to him by his father, along with his father’s long time associate, Naokichi . He treats his employees like family, with his approach extending to his clients, and despite some difficulties due to the size of his entrepreneurship, he manages to keep it afloat. However, when one of his drivers is involved in a freak accident, where a wheel is detached from the truck ending up killing a woman who was walking in the pavement with her son, all hell breaks loose. The already stretched...
- 9/30/2018
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
After his endeavors in the samurai comedy, Katsuhide Motoki took a complete turn with his latest film, which is based on Jun Ikeibo’s novel “Soratobu Taiya” (which was also adapted into a TV series in 2009), and revolves around a “fight” between a medium-sized company and a large one.
“Recall” is screening at the 19th Jeonju International Film Festival
Tokuro Akamatsu runs a transport company that has been handled to him by his father, along with his father’s long time associate, Naokichi . He treats his employees like family, with his approach extending to his clients, and despite some difficulties due to the size of his entrepreneurship, he manages to keep it afloat. However, when one of his drivers is involved in a freak accident, where a wheel is detached from the truck ending up killing a woman who was walking in the pavement with her son, all hell breaks loose.
“Recall” is screening at the 19th Jeonju International Film Festival
Tokuro Akamatsu runs a transport company that has been handled to him by his father, along with his father’s long time associate, Naokichi . He treats his employees like family, with his approach extending to his clients, and despite some difficulties due to the size of his entrepreneurship, he manages to keep it afloat. However, when one of his drivers is involved in a freak accident, where a wheel is detached from the truck ending up killing a woman who was walking in the pavement with her son, all hell breaks loose.
- 5/6/2018
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Last Monday night saw the closing of the 6th Okinawa International Movie Festival. Before the event officially closed with a fireworks display over its beach-side setting, the winners of this year's awards were announced.The jury, headed by veteran director, screenwriter and producer Nakajima Sadao along with Gary Tang, Narahashi Yoko, Higa Etsuko and LiLiCo, awarded the Special Jury Prize: Golden Shisa Award to Shinagawa Hiroshi's One Third (Check out James Marsh's review here). The main competition section of the festival is split into two separate categories, 'Laugh' and 'Peace' representing the main concept of the festival. Taking home the prize in the Laugh Category was Katsuhide Motoki for Ultrafast! Sankinkotai, the story of a feudal lord in ancient Japan who must make his way to...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 3/28/2014
- Screen Anarchy
Us distributor Viz Pictures will be releasing Katsuhide Motoki's Battle League Horumo on region 1 DVD in July. The film got its North American premiere at Fantasia 2009 and has subsequently been screened at Fantastic Fest, the Hawaii International Film Festival, and San Francisco's Viz Cinema.
Plot: After spending two long years cramming for his entrance exam, Akira Abe (Takayuki Yamada) finally gets accepted to Kyoto University. One day, he and his friend Takamura (Gaku Hamada) get invited to a party hosted by a club called "The Azure Dragons". They agree to attend for the free food, but it's at the party where Abe meets Kyoko Sawara (Sei Ashina) and instantly falls in love. Determined to get closer to Sawara, he decides to join the Dragons and convinces Kawamura to tag along.
What initially seems to be a typical university social club turns out to be part of a 1,000-year tradition...
Plot: After spending two long years cramming for his entrance exam, Akira Abe (Takayuki Yamada) finally gets accepted to Kyoto University. One day, he and his friend Takamura (Gaku Hamada) get invited to a party hosted by a club called "The Azure Dragons". They agree to attend for the free food, but it's at the party where Abe meets Kyoko Sawara (Sei Ashina) and instantly falls in love. Determined to get closer to Sawara, he decides to join the Dragons and convinces Kawamura to tag along.
What initially seems to be a typical university social club turns out to be part of a 1,000-year tradition...
- 5/8/2010
- Nippon Cinema
Director: Katsuhide Motoki. Review: Adam Wing. If you go down to the woods today, there’s a very good chance you’ll find me there too. It’s time to head back to Gegege Forest for the second feature length adaptation of Mizuki Shigeru's popular manga series. Kitaro and friends hopped aboard the magic carpet in 2007 with a blockbuster live-action movie that made over 2.3 billion yen (Us$25 million) at the box office. Kitaro and the Millennium Curse, once again directed by Motoki Katsuhide, followed close behind in 2008. Eiji Wentz reprises his role as half-human, half-yokai hero Kitaro, and the rest of the cast return too. Which means Catgirl (Rena Tanaka) is back to light up the screen with her feline ferocity, and we have to put up with even more of Ratman, but maybe he’s learnt a little something about restraint this time around. Then again maybe not, farting is still funny though,...
- 1/15/2010
- 24framespersecond.net
Director: Katsuhide Motoki. Review: Adam Wing. Take a seat class; it’s time for History 101. Yokai (apparitions, spirits or demons by any other name) are a class of obake, creatures in Japanese folklore that often possess part animal and part human features (e.g. Kappa and Tengu). Yokai generally have a sort of spiritual or supernatural power, which means encounters with human beings can be quite dangerous. Yokai also have different motives and agendas to humans, which are often completely incomprehensible. Incomprehensible, glad we cleared that up then. Kitaro is a film adaptation of the legendary manga and anime series, which stars pop star Eiji Wentz and Mao Inoue. Kitaro is a half-human/half yokai who takes on the responsibility of maintaining balance between the human world and the creatures that inhabit the forest of Gegege. His father is an eyeball, yes you read that right, his father is an eyeball.
- 1/9/2010
- 24framespersecond.net
I'm not sure how a movie about a secretive group of students competing in an underground fighting group where they control unseen God Spirits could be so merely passable, but after watching Kamogawa Horumo - Battle League in Kyoto, I at least know that it's possible. Akira Abe (Takayuki Yamada) foolishly joins a strange club in order to get closer to the beautiful Kyoko (Sei Ashina). They go rafting, throw parties, and have the ability to see and control Oni (the tiny demon trolls of Japanese lore) in epic battles. Apparently, Kyoto University doesn't have a football team. The film isn't all that bad. There are a lot of funny moments that translate beyond cultural borders - a hapless fool in love, a ridiculous sidekick character that gets stranger as time progresses, and the continual cute overload of the CGI Oni - and the characters are pretty likable. Sort of. Most...
- 9/25/2009
- by Dr. Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Film festivals are often a conumdrum for me because I sometimes wonder how they get started and, more to the point, who picks the films that get shown at them. My problem is that the films selected for many of the festivals don’t usually seem all that appealing (at least to me) and are often a collection of “art for art’s sake” films overwhelmed by their own sense of self-importance.
Fortunately, I don’t have this problem with the Fantastic Fest in Austin, which runs from September 24th to October 1st. The films selected for this festival represent an eclectic mix of genres and filmmakers and what I consider to be some of the most interesting, innovative and creative films being produced today. Sure, they’re not all potential Hollywood blockbusters, nor are they for everyone, but they are all pretty much guaranteed to be interesting, entertaining and in their own way,...
Fortunately, I don’t have this problem with the Fantastic Fest in Austin, which runs from September 24th to October 1st. The films selected for this festival represent an eclectic mix of genres and filmmakers and what I consider to be some of the most interesting, innovative and creative films being produced today. Sure, they’re not all potential Hollywood blockbusters, nor are they for everyone, but they are all pretty much guaranteed to be interesting, entertaining and in their own way,...
- 7/13/2009
- by Chris Ullrich
- The Flickcast
That's right, the first 32 titles have been announced for Austin's Fantastic Fest and the opening film will be the latest from Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) which stars Jemaine Clement (Eagle vs Shark)! I think I'm going this year!
Also playing will be the likes of...
Nicholas Refn's Bronson (review)
Pieter Van Hees Dirty Mind (review)
Esther Gronenborn's Kaifeck Murder (review coming shortly)
Lawrence Gough's Salvage (review)
Cory McAbee's Stingray Sam (review)
Full list of features and shorts after the break.
42nd Street Forever Volume 5: The Alamo Drafthouse Edition
The hugely popular Synapse trailer compilation series 42nd Street Forever is featuring the Alamo Film Archive for it's fifth volume. Here's your chance to check out a sneak preview screening of the actual 35mm trailers which are featured in the DVD compilation
Breathless
(dir. Yang Ik-june, 2009, South Korea)
Breathless is a foul-mouthed drama that delivers an unlikely mix of pathos,...
Also playing will be the likes of...
Nicholas Refn's Bronson (review)
Pieter Van Hees Dirty Mind (review)
Esther Gronenborn's Kaifeck Murder (review coming shortly)
Lawrence Gough's Salvage (review)
Cory McAbee's Stingray Sam (review)
Full list of features and shorts after the break.
42nd Street Forever Volume 5: The Alamo Drafthouse Edition
The hugely popular Synapse trailer compilation series 42nd Street Forever is featuring the Alamo Film Archive for it's fifth volume. Here's your chance to check out a sneak preview screening of the actual 35mm trailers which are featured in the DVD compilation
Breathless
(dir. Yang Ik-june, 2009, South Korea)
Breathless is a foul-mouthed drama that delivers an unlikely mix of pathos,...
- 7/13/2009
- QuietEarth.us
It is time boys and girls, the first wave lineup for Fantastic Fest 2009 has been announced, and we are bringing it to you right… now:
Also, Do Not forget to go buy your damn tickets!
Features:
42nd Street Forever Volume 5: The Alamo Drafthouse Edition. The hugely popular Synapse trailer compilation series 42nd Street Forever is featuring the Alamo Film Archive for it’s fifth volume. Here’s your chance to check out a sneak preview screening of the actual 35mm trailers which are featured in the DVD compilation.
Breathless
(dir. Yang Ik-june,
2009, South Korea)
Breathless is a foul-mouthed drama that delivers an unlikely mix of pathos, brutality and humor. First-time director Yang Ik-June plays an angry thug named who gets involved in a dysfunctional relationship with a high-school girl. It eventually becomes apparent that the pair are linked in ways that neither of them realize.
Bronson
(dir. Nicholas Winding Refn,...
Also, Do Not forget to go buy your damn tickets!
Features:
42nd Street Forever Volume 5: The Alamo Drafthouse Edition. The hugely popular Synapse trailer compilation series 42nd Street Forever is featuring the Alamo Film Archive for it’s fifth volume. Here’s your chance to check out a sneak preview screening of the actual 35mm trailers which are featured in the DVD compilation.
Breathless
(dir. Yang Ik-june,
2009, South Korea)
Breathless is a foul-mouthed drama that delivers an unlikely mix of pathos, brutality and humor. First-time director Yang Ik-June plays an angry thug named who gets involved in a dysfunctional relationship with a high-school girl. It eventually becomes apparent that the pair are linked in ways that neither of them realize.
Bronson
(dir. Nicholas Winding Refn,...
- 7/13/2009
- by Scott
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
We haven’t been entirely convinced with the first couple teasers from the upcoming pic Kamogawa Horumo - Battle League in Kyoto. After all, there wasn’t much to praise and this is coming from Katsuhide Motoki who directed Kitaro, a film I declined to write a review for because it is so awful. But, I will admit that after watching this new trailer that my tone has changed and you can consider my interest piqued.
The story is about a group of university students who inevitably gets involved in playing a game of “Horumo” - a combat match where you each manipulate 100 spirits (referred to as “oni”) to fight the opponent. Akira Abe, a freshman at Kyoto University student falls for his classmate Kyoko, and soon ends up at a mysterious club called “Kyoto University Azure Dragons”, which turns out to be one of the Horumo teams playing the...
The story is about a group of university students who inevitably gets involved in playing a game of “Horumo” - a combat match where you each manipulate 100 spirits (referred to as “oni”) to fight the opponent. Akira Abe, a freshman at Kyoto University student falls for his classmate Kyoko, and soon ends up at a mysterious club called “Kyoto University Azure Dragons”, which turns out to be one of the Horumo teams playing the...
- 2/13/2009
- by Mack
- Screen Anarchy
I’m feeling very mixed on Katsuhide Motoki’s upcoming fantasy-action-comedy Kamogawa Horumo. On the down side - and it’s a significant down - it’s a Katsuhide Motoki film, Motoki being the director of the hugely successful (in Japan) but generally considered horrible (everywhere else) live action adaptation of Kitaro. On the plus? The cast includes Chiaki Kuriyama and Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, it features effects work by Gonzo Digimation and features university students in a competitive battle league in which they duke it out with using hundreds of spirits, or oni.
The story is about a group of university students who inevitably gets involved in playing a game of “Horumo” - a combat match where each person manipulates 100 spirits (referred to as “oni") to fight the opponent. Akira Abe, a freshman at Kyoto University student falls for his classmate Kyoko, and soon ends up at a mysterious club called...
The story is about a group of university students who inevitably gets involved in playing a game of “Horumo” - a combat match where each person manipulates 100 spirits (referred to as “oni") to fight the opponent. Akira Abe, a freshman at Kyoto University student falls for his classmate Kyoko, and soon ends up at a mysterious club called...
- 12/20/2008
- by Todd Brown
- Screen Anarchy
Rome – Japanese animated film figure Kitaro will be the focus of a special section at the 61st Locarno Film Festival, organizers said Thursday.
Kitaro – a cult figure among Japanese animation enthusiasts – will be featured in two contemporary full-length feature adaptations of early Kitaro television programs, from 1959.
An additional television series featuring Kitaro – "Hakaba Kitaro" – will screen in Locarno in the original Japanese with subtitles. And two very early films from Japanese animation history including the feature length "Momotaro, umi no shinpei" (Momotaru, Sacred Sailors) from 1945, will unspool.
The contemporary films set to screen are "Gegege no Kitaro" (Kitaro) released in Japan last year, and this year's sequel "Gegege no Kitaro Sennen Noroi Uta" (Kitaro and the Millennium Curse), which will have its international premiere in Locarno. Both films were directed by Katsuhide Motoki.
This year's festival is set for Aug. 6-16.
Kitaro – a cult figure among Japanese animation enthusiasts – will be featured in two contemporary full-length feature adaptations of early Kitaro television programs, from 1959.
An additional television series featuring Kitaro – "Hakaba Kitaro" – will screen in Locarno in the original Japanese with subtitles. And two very early films from Japanese animation history including the feature length "Momotaro, umi no shinpei" (Momotaru, Sacred Sailors) from 1945, will unspool.
The contemporary films set to screen are "Gegege no Kitaro" (Kitaro) released in Japan last year, and this year's sequel "Gegege no Kitaro Sennen Noroi Uta" (Kitaro and the Millennium Curse), which will have its international premiere in Locarno. Both films were directed by Katsuhide Motoki.
This year's festival is set for Aug. 6-16.
- 8/5/2008
- by By Eric J. Lyman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TOKYO -- Japanese film and TV production house Shochiku said Friday that it has three projects in post-production and an animated television show for which promos will be screened at the American Film Market and the Tokyo Film Festival's market later this month.
"Zo no Senaka" stars Koji Yakusho, who appeared in "Babel", and tells the tale of a successful businessman who is told he only has six months to live. Directed by Satoshi Isaka, it is scheduled to be released in Japan later this year.
Yoji Yamada, fresh from his acclaimed samurai trilogy, is completing a World War II drama titled "Kabei" that is due to hit screens here in January 2008.
The quirkily named "10 Promises With My Dog" is directed by Katsuhide Motoki, who was also behind the camera for "Kitaro", which earned more than $25 million at the boxoffice. Starring Rene Tanaka, the film is slated to come out in the spring of 2008.
The fourth title is the animated television series "Sketchbook -- Blooming Colors", directed by Yoshimasa Hiraike and telling the tale of a high-school girl who loves to draw.
"Zo no Senaka" stars Koji Yakusho, who appeared in "Babel", and tells the tale of a successful businessman who is told he only has six months to live. Directed by Satoshi Isaka, it is scheduled to be released in Japan later this year.
Yoji Yamada, fresh from his acclaimed samurai trilogy, is completing a World War II drama titled "Kabei" that is due to hit screens here in January 2008.
The quirkily named "10 Promises With My Dog" is directed by Katsuhide Motoki, who was also behind the camera for "Kitaro", which earned more than $25 million at the boxoffice. Starring Rene Tanaka, the film is slated to come out in the spring of 2008.
The fourth title is the animated television series "Sketchbook -- Blooming Colors", directed by Yoshimasa Hiraike and telling the tale of a high-school girl who loves to draw.
- 10/13/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.