JAPAN SOCIETY ANNOUNCES THE FULL 2008 SCHEDULE FOR NORTH AMERICA`S ONLY LARGE-SCALE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW JAPANESE FILMS Source: Japan Society Special Thanks to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

JAPAN CUTS

17 Feature Premieres, 4 Guest Filmmakers and over 50 screenings in 12 days July 2-13, 2008 at Japan Society 333 East 47th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues) New York, NY 10017 Box Office: (212) 715-1258, Monday - Friday, 10 am - 4:45 pm

Offering 12 days celebrating the latest films from Japan, Japan Society confirms the schedule for its second annual JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film. Running Wednesday, July 2 through Sunday, July 13, 2008 at Japan Society, JAPAN CUTS presents 17 U.S., New York and International feature film premieres ranging from blockbusters and art-house hits to documentaries and cutting-edge independents; over 60 short films, most never-before seen in New York; a free feature film screening for the NYC community; exclusive Q&A`s with filmmakers and other special events. In its second year of collaboration with the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), JAPAN CUTS co-presents nine films running July 3-6. JAPAN CUTS` Long Cuts series offers 18 feature length films in total. The festival opens with THE MOURNING FOREST, winner of the Grand Prix at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, with director Naomi Kawase in attendance. Highlights also include cult director Takashi Miike`s SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO, guest starring Quentin Tarantino; the electrifying political docudrama UNITED RED ARMY from radical Japanese new-wave director Koji Wakamatsu; the highly controversial documentary Yasukuni (Li Ying); the lush period drama SAKURAN (Mika Ninagawa); DAINIPPONJIN by Japan`s superstar comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto; a rare insider`s look into the life of wildly charismatic artist Yayoi Kusama in NEAR EQUAL KUSAMA YAYOI: I ADORE MYSELF; and the comic thriller KISARAGI (Yuichi Sato), which closes the festival.

To commemorate Kon Ichikawa, one of Japan`s most influential directors, who recently passed away, the festival presents the first-ever screening with digital English subtitles of his classic blockbuster mystery-thriller, THE INUGAMI FAMILY (1976); the New York premiere screening of Ichikawa`s own re-make of The Inugami Family, MURDER OF THE INUGAMI CLAN (2006); and FILMFUL LIFE, an affectionate documentary on Ichikawa by director Shunji Iwai. The Short Cuts series presents over 60 short films from the forefront of Japan`s emerging independent filmmakers, video artists, and a special highlight on acclaimed director Naomi Kawase. MEET Cuts brings in special guest artists to present their films including Kawase, director of THE MOURNING FOREST; Masayuki Kakegawa, screenwriter of UNITED RED ARMY and its director, Koji Wakamatsu (live from Japan via a high-speed, high-def digital network); and Takako Matsumoto, director of NEAR EQUAL KUSAMA YAYOI: I ADORE MYSELF. Finally, for Turtle Bay Cuts, Nobuhiro Yamashita`s award-winning A GENTLE BREEZE IN THE VILLAGE receives its New York Premiere with a free screening for the Turtle Bay and NYC communities. Japanese cinema today is reaching new heights of critical and popular success, in one of the most dynamic and thriving film industries outside of Hollywood. Since 2006 over 400 Japanese films have been released theatrically in Japan every year (as reported by The Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan), with domestic films taking in 50% of Japan`s box office revenues. JAPAN CUTS promises U.S. audiences their first taste of the most talked about Japanese films from 2007 and 2008. Unless otherwise noted, tickets for Long Cuts screenings are $11/ $7 Japan Society members and seniors. The Short Cuts programming is free admission and available on a first-come-first-served basis. Films are in Japanese with English subtitles unless otherwise noted.

LONG CUTS

ACCURACY OF DEATH (Shinigami no seido) Thurs. 7/3, 8:45 pm; Fri. 7/4, 12:15 pm 2008, 113 min., 35mm. Directed by Masaya Kakei. With Takeshi Kaneshiro, Manami Konishi and Sumiko Fuji. Co-presented with the New York Asian Film Festival. New York Premiere. The charming, handsome Grim Reaper, played by heartthrob Takeshi Kaneshiro, visits this world to observe assigned targets for seven days before deciding their fate. When assigned to depressed and lonely Kazue, he develops a special relationship with her that lasts longer than expected. Kaneshiro, star of CHUNGKING EXPRESS and HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS returns to Japanese cinema after a five-year absence. Based on Japan`s bestselling novel by Kotaro Isaka. ADRIFT IN TOKYO (Tenten) Thurs. 7/3, 4:20 pm 2007, 101 min, 35mm. Directed by Satoshi Miki. With Tomokazu Miura and Joe Odagiri. Co-presented with the New York Asian Film Festival. U.S. Premiere. When Fumiya, a law student, cannot pay off his debts, collecting agent Aiichiro bullies him into taking a leisurely stroll through Tokyo`s back allies, shrines, parks and restaurants where his deepest memories are kept. Director Satoshi Miki weaves this strange journey of two men into a heartwarming comedy with a phenomenal ensemble cast. Best Supporting Actor for Tomokazu Miura in the 2007 Kinema Junpo Award.

ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- 2 (Always-Zoku San-Chome no Yuhi) Sat. 7/5, 1 pm; Sun. 7/6, 8:15 pm 2007, 146 min., 35mm. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki. With Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shinichi Tsutsumi and Koyuki. Co-presented with the New York Asian Film Festival. New York Premiere. ALWAYS (2006) won 13 of Japan`s 14 Academy Awards and the NYAFF Audience Award. Featuring the same cast, the beloved characters return to the visually lavish, magical world of Third Street. The story, set in nostalgic 1959 Tokyo continues with struggling writer Chagawa, his ward Junnosuke, the elusive beauty Hiromi, the Suzuki family, and Junnosukue`s sinister biological father. "While many sequels only evoke nostalgia for their predecessors, ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- 2shines brighter on almost all fronts... and eclipses the first outing`s already impressive visual effects to create a more vivid embrace of the charming ensemble" (Russell Ewards, Variety). ALWAYS 2 won Best Supporting Actor for Tomokazu Miura, Kinema Junpo Awards 2008 (together with ADRIFT IN TOKYO); Picture of the Year, and winner, Best Actor Hidetaka Yoshioka, Best Sound recording, 31st Japan Academy Prize. It was the third highest-grossing Japanese film in Japan for 2007.

DAINIPPONJIN (Big Man Japan) Fri. 7/4, 2:30 pm 2007, 113 min., 35mm. Directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto. With Hitoshi Matsumoto, Riki Takeuchi and UA. Co-presented with the New York Asian Film Festival. New York Premiere. When big trouble arises, Daisato steps into a pair of oversized purple briefs and is electrocuted to become a "Dai-Nipponjin", a giant Japanese superhero. The last in a long line of revered Dainipponjin, Daisato attacks horrifying monsters through the cities of Japan, armed with nothing more than a stick. But unlike the glory days of past Dainipponjin superheros, Daisato is ridiculed and taunted by present-day society as a nuisance. Japan`s most popular comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto stars in and directs this whacky kaiju spoof about the perils of so-called heroism and celebrity. Directors` Fortnight, Cannes 2007. A Magnolia Pictures release, opening fall 2008.

FILMFUL LIFE (Ichikawa Kon monogatari) Fri. 7/11, 6:30 pm 2006, 83 min., digital video. Directed by Shunji Iwai. Presented in conjunction with the Tribute to Kon Ichikawa. U.S. Premiere. A master of love stories, director Shunji Iwai (All About Lili Chou Chou) recounts Kon Ichikawa`s prolific filmmaking career (FIRES ON THE PLAIN, THE INUGAMI FAMILY, THE BURMESE HARP), particularly focusing on his close romantic and creative partnership with his wife, writer Natto Wada. Iwai`s personal admiration for the director shines throughout the documentary as he commemorates the making of MURDER OF THE INUGAMI CLAN (2006), Ichikawa`s final film when he passed away in February 2008. FINE, TOTALLY FINE (Zenzen daijobu) Thurs. 7/3, 6:30 pm; Sat. 7/5, 6:30 pm 2007, 110 min., 35 mm. Directed by Yosuke Fujita. With Yoshiyoshi Araki, Yoshino Kimura and Yoshinori Okada. Co-presented with the New York Asian Film Festival. U.S. Premiere. By day, Teruo works at his family`s used bookstore--by night, he works on creating the world`s scariest haunted house. When pretty but clumsy Akari begins working at the shop, both Teruo and his friend vow to capture her heart. Silly, jealous rivalry ensues in this hilarious, offbeat comedy. Winner of the Grand Prize at the Nippon Connection Film Festival.

A GENTLE BREEZE IN THE VILLAGE (Tennen kokekko) Sun. 7/13, 3 pm 2007, 121 minutes, 35mm. Directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita. With Kaho and Masaki Okada. New York Premiere. Based on a popular manga, A GENTLE BREEZE is a tender coming-of-age love story by director Nobuhiro Yamashita (LINDA LINDA LINDA). When eighth grade cool guy Hiromi transfers from Tokyo to a small elementary/middle school with only six kids enrolled, wholesome and honest Soyo becomes enthralled by his sophisticated world. Yamashita`s 2006 film MATSUGANE POTSHOT AFFAIR premiered at last year`s JAPAN CUTS festival. 2007 Kinema Junpo Best Ten Films of the Year. As part of the Turtle Bay Cuts series, admission is FREE. GUMMI, CHOCOLATE, PINE Thurs. 7/10, 9 pm; Sat. 7/12, 3:15 pm 2007, 127 min., digital video. Directed by Keralino Sandorovich. With Takuya Ishida, Mei Kurokawa and Nao Omori. International Premiere. In an eccentric story of high school love, sexual fantasies-turned-frustrations and 1980s guitar rock, GUMMI, CHOCOLATE, PINE recounts the charm of teenage awkwardness and failed adult ambitions. Based on the bestselling novel by indie rock star Kenji Otsuki, this is the third feature film by Sandorovich, aka Kera, one of the most sought-after theater writer/directors in Japan today. KISARAGI Wed. 7/9, 8:45 pm; Sun. 7/13, 5:30 pm 2007, 108 min., 35mm. Directed by Yuichi Sato. With Shun Oguri, Yusuke Santamaria, Keisuke Koide, Teruyuki Kagawa and Takeo Tsukachi. With live English subtitle projection. U.S. Premiere. JAPAN CUTS Closing Film. When five members of pop star Miki Kisaragi`s online fan club meets for the first time to honor the one-year anniversary of her suicide, what starts out as a cheerful party turns into a terrifying who-done-it, as each man is accused of the gruesome death of their darling. As clues to each man`s relationship are slowly revealed, Kisaragi cleverly keeps everyone guessing until the very end. With a special cameo appearance by A Colt is My Passport`s Joe Shishido. Film of the Year at the 31st Awards of the Japanese Academy.

THE MOURNING FOREST (Mogari no mori) Wed. 7/2, 6:30 pm; Mon. 7/7, 6:30 pm 2007, 97 min., 35mm. Directed by Naomi Kawase. With Shigeki Uda and Machiko Ono. New York Premiere. JAPAN CUTS Opening Film. Unable to forget the death of her young son, Machiko moves to the back roads of Nara. She takes employment at a home for the elderly, where she meets Shigeki, who has been suffering from the loss of his wife for many years. One day, they wander deep into the forest together, hoping to locate her grave. When they lose their way, the two embark upon an unexpected journey through devastating memories and grief, fueled by the forceful energy of the midsummer mountainside. Grand Prix at Cannes 2007. Preceded by a screening of TARACHIME (2006, 39 min., digital video), Kawase`s documentary of the birth and upbringing of her own son, as the great aunt who raised her, now 92, suffers from senile dementia and slowly approaches death. Q&A with director Naomi Kawase following the 7/2 screening of THE MOURNING FOREST and 7/3 screening of THE ORIGIN OF NAOMI KAWASE, featured in Short Cuts. NEAR EQUAL KUSAMA YAYOI: I ADORE MYSELF (Near equal Kusama Yayoi--watashi daisuki) Sat. 7/12, 12:45pm 2008, 108 min., digital video. Directed by Takako Matsumoto. U.S. Premiere. This highly anticipated documentary captures the wildly charismatic artist Yayoi Kusama (born 1929) in recent years as she passionately works on a large series of 50 drawings, makes cameo appearances on TV, and attends her gallery opening in New York City, where she lived from 1957-1973. The film reveals Kusama`s eccentricities, self-obsession and intense dedication to her art. Q&A with director Takako Matsumoto.

SAD VACATION Sun 7/6, 1:15 pm 2007, 136 min., 35mm. Directed by Shinji Aoyama. With Tadanobu Asano, Eri Ishida and Yu Aoi. Co-presented with the New York Asian Film Festival. New York Premiere. Kenji, played by superstar Tadanobu Asano, swears revenge when he unexpectedly finds his mother, who had abandoned him as a child, now living with a new husband and son. In this sequel to HELPLESS (1996) and EUREKA (2000, winner at Cannes), director Aoyama completes this trilogy with the powerful story of a man who tries to stand against his fate and rejects the blood ties that keep coming back to haunt him. Official Selection, Venice Film Festival 2007. 2007 Kinema Junpo Best Ten Films of the Year. SAKURAN Sat. 7/12, 8:30 pm; Sun, 7/13, 12:45 pm 2007, 111 min., 35mm. Directed by Mika Ninagawa. With Anna Tsuchiya, Masanobu Ando and Miho Kanno. New York Premiere. Sold into the red light district as a young girl during the Edo period, foul-mouthed, spunky Kiyoha climbs the ladder to become the oiran (head courtesan) after failing to escape from her brothel. In her directorial debut, young, best-selling art photographer Mika Ninagawa brings this popular Japanese manga to the screen with lavish and vibrant period costumes and gorgeous candy-colored sets. Official Selection, Berlin Film Festival 2007. The Sat 7/12, 8:30 pm screening is followed by Red Light Party (special ticket price of $15/$12 members).

SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO Sat. 7/5, 9 pm 2007, 98 min., 35mm. Directed by Takashi Miike. With Hideaki Ito, Yusuke Iseya and Yoshino Kimura. In English. Co-presented with the New York Asian Film Festival. New York Premiere. Takashi Miike, director of ICHI THE KILLER and AUDITION, is back with this homage to the Spaghetti Western. When a mysterious gunman rides into Nebada (Nevada), he finds the peaceful town filled with bloody corpses left behind from the Genji and Heike, warring clans in search of a hidden treasure. Highly sought after for his splendid quick draw, the gunman vacillates between the two clans, concealing his true identity. Guest-starring Quentin Tarantino, this outrageous English-language "Eastern Western" is jam packed with samurai sword-swinging, gun-slinging and Shakespeare-quoting cowboys. Miike`s 2006 film, BIG BANG LOVE, JUVENILE A, premiered at last year`s JAPAN CUTS festival. In Competition, Venice Film Festival 2007. A First Look Studios release, opening August 28, 2008. Screening followed by Sukiyaki Western Party (special ticket price of $15/$12 members).

UNITED RED ARMY (Jitsuroku rengosekigun- asama sanso e no michi) Sun. 7/6, 4 pm; Tues. 7/8, 7:30 pm 2008, 190 min., 35mm. Directed by Koji Wakamatsu. With Go Jibiki, Aie Namiki and Maki Sakai. Music by Jim O`Rourke. Co-presented with the New York Asian Film Festival. U.S. Premiere. Wakamatsu pushes the boundaries of filmmaking to recapture the historical events that led up to what is now infamously known as the "Asama Mountain Lodge Incident" of 1972. In this gut-wrenching docudrama, Wakamatsu portrays the political unrest of 1960s Japan, when student uprisings erupted throughout the country, eventually dovetailing into extreme violence by the United Red Army (URA) in the 1970s. With most of the members of the defiant left arrested, the remaining factions unite to form the URA, and hide out in the mountains for guerilla training. As they continue the purification process called "self-criticism," what had started out ideologically escalates into torture and eventually the execution of fellow comrades. Winner of Netpac, C.I.C.A.E. Awards, Berlin Film Festival 2008. Following the 7/6 screening, provocative director Koji Wakamatsu joins the festival for Q&A live and in real time from Tokyo, Japan, via Keio University`s high-speed, high-def digital video network specially installed at Japan Society. Pre-screening talk with screenwriter Masayuki Kakegawa on the political and social background of United Red Army and writing its screenplay on 7/6 at 3 pm and 7/8 at 6:30 pm.

YASUKUNI Sat. 7/5, 4 pm; Tues. 7/8, 7:30 pm 2008, 123 min., format TBD. Directed by Li Ying. Co-presented with the New York Asian Film Festival. New York Premiere. Thousands of people pour into Yasukuni Shrine each year on August 15, where the war dead, including WWII war criminals, are enshrined. Shot over the course of 10 years, director Li Ying tirelessly documents those who visit the Shrine from various backgrounds and perspectives: patriotic veterans, extreme nationalists, and angry protestors from China and Korea. Ying, born in China and based in Japan, dares to tackle this controversial subject, as he interviews a man who made holy Yasukuni swords during WWII. The film juxtaposes the man`s hesitancy to speak about Yasukuni with the chaos and rage that mounts at the Shrine every year. Many theaters in Japan canceled the initial engagements of this film, causing a huge controversy on self-censorship in fear of right-wing interventions. Winner of the Hong Kong Film Festival.

Inugami X 2: A Tribute to Kon Ichikawa

To commemorate the death of Kon Ichikawa in February 2008 at the age of 92, JAPAN CUTS proudly presents the first-ever subtitled screening of Ichikawa`s THE INUGAMI FAMILY from 1976, a monumental mystery-thriller classic that has influenced numerous film directors in Japan. This tribute also includes his own remake of the film, MURDER OF THE INUGAMI CLAN from 2006, the final film in his prolific career.

THE INUGAMI FAMILY Fri. 7/11, 8:30 pm 1976, 146 min., 35mm. With live English subtitle projections. With Koji Ishizaka, Mieko Takamine and Yoko Shimada. International Premiere. Plot details are the same as MURDER OF THE INUGAMI CLAN below. MURDER OF THE INUGAMI CLAN Sat. 7/12, 5:45 pm 2006, 135 min., 35mm. With Koji Ishizaka, Nanako Matsushima and Kyoko Fukada. When the wealthy Inugami patriarch dies leaving a huge estate, their lawyer hires detective Kindaichi as a series of mysterious murders befalls the family--from attempted drownings and poisonings to beheadings. A web of deceit, adultery and greed is revealed as the family gathers for the reading of the will, and the race for the inheritance turns even deadlier. Based on the bestselling novel by Seishi Yokomizo, which has been made into three films and five TV series.

About JAPAN CUTS` Special Guest Artists

As part of the festival series MEET Cuts, several filmmakers featured in JAPAN CUTS introduce and/or discuss their work. Born in 1951 in Yokohama, Japan, Masayuki Kakegawa began staff writing for the weekly magazine Shukan Hoseki in 1981. He has traveled to more than 50 countries, covering stories on the Yugoslavian civil war, the collapse of the Soviet Union, Palestine, the Republic of Zaire (present Congo) and others. After becoming a freelance journalist, he wrote for magazines such as Focus, Weekly Asahi and Forbes Japan. He also edited Wakamatsu`s autobiography Jiko-nashi, while working closely with Wakamatsu on UNITED RED ARMY as a screenwriter. He is a member of the Japan P.E.N. Club. Born in 1969 in Nara, Japan, critically acclaimed director Naomi Kawase is winner of numerous international film awards. A graduate of the Osaka School of Photography (now called the School of Visual Arts), she is known for chronicling her own personal growth and pain through themes of family, abandonment, and the cycles life and death. Her short documentaries EMBRACING (1992) and its sequel KATASUMORI (1994) have been praised at numerous domestic and international film festivals, including the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival. She became the youngest winner of the Camera d`Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 with her feature debut film, SUZAKU (1996). SHARASOJYU (2003) was in competition at Cannes 2003. Her fourth feature film, THE MOURNING FOREST won the Grand Prix at Cannes 2007. Her upcoming feature film NANAYOMACHI will be released in Japan this year. Born in Kanagawa, Japan, Takako Matsumoto has produced numerous documentary programs for television as a freelance director. Her film project at Tokai University Cinema Study Group, CHAKO`S APA-TORU STORY was selected at the 6th Pia Film Festival. Matsumoto began developing a documentary on Kusama after meeting the artist in 1996. In 1999, she worked on the NHK TV special, ARTIST KUSAMA YAYOI`S FANTASY WORLD OF DARKNESS OF THE HEART, which led her to start filming Kusama privately. Near NEAR EQUAL KUSAMA YAYOI: I ADORE MYSELF is Matsumoto`s theatrical feature debut. Born in 1947 in Miyagi, Japan, Koji Wakamatsu was suspended from his high school three times and moved to Tokyo at the age of 17. He entered filmmaking while a security guard on location and made his feature directorial debut in 1963 with the pink film (erotic cinema) SWEET TRAP. Wakamatsu`s pink films in the 60s and 70s carried strong political views, and were widely supported, especially among students. With a 40-year career and 100 films to his credit, Wakamatsu is praised in international film festivals such as Berlin, Vienna and Jeonju, yet is unable to enter the U.S. due to the close affiliation he had with Japanese left wing militants. Wakamatsu joins JAPAN CUTS for Q&A on his film UNITED RED ARMY live and in real time from Tokyo, Japan, via Keio University`s high-speed, high-def digital video network specially installed at Japan Society.

SHORT CUTS

THE ORIGIN OF NAOMI KAWASE In these short documentaries, Naomi Kawase establishes her own language to express a world filled with isolation that plays a fundamental role in her filmmaking today. Director Naomi Kawase will attend the 7/3 screening of THE ORIGIN OF NAOMI KAWASE. Part 1: EMBRACING & KyaKaRaBaA Thur. 7/3, 6:15 pm; Sat. 7/12, 3:30 pm In EMBRACING, Kawase searches for her unseen father who abandoned her. Eight years later, she tries to make a sequel but discovers her father is already dead in KyaKaRaBaA. She pushes herself to the edge of sanity, slowly driving the film to merge with a fictional world. Films include EMBRACING (Nitsutsumarete), 1992, 40 min., digital video; and KyaKaRaBaA 2001, 50 min., digital video. Total running time approximately 90 min. Part 2: GRANDMOTHER TRILOGY Thur. 7/3, 8 pm; Sat, 7/12, 5:30 pm Kawase affectionately films the daily life of the great aunt who raised her, growing vegetables and flowers in the garden as a way to reassure her of their relationship as a family. Films include KATATSUMORI, 1994, 40 min., digital video; SEE HEAVEN, 1995, 10 min., digital video; and HI WA KATABUKI 1996, 45 min., digital video. Total running time approximately 100 min. A GIRL IN THE SUNSET Sun. 7/13, 1 pm Based on four early novellas by Noble Prize winner Yasunari Kawabata, this omnibus of four short films are by emerging directors from the second graduating class of the new Graduate School of Film and New Media at Japan`s top art school, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music (Tokyo Geidai), where famed directors Takeshi Kitano and Kiyoshi Kurosawa teach. Total running time 100 min. NIPPON CONNECTION FESTIVAL ON TOUR Since 2000, Nippon Connection has presented new Japanese films to the European community in its film festival in Frankfurt, fast becoming one of the leading festivals devoted to contemporary Japanese films. JAPAN CUTS presents this compilation of digital videos from 2008. Nippon Connection Festival on Tour was compiled by Nippon Connection, the Japanese film festival in Frankfurt, Germany. Thematic screenings include: JVC TOKYO VIDEO FESTIVAL Sun. 7/6, 6 pm; Sat. 7/12, 1:15 pm Founded in 1978, the JVC-sponsored Tokyo Video Festival (TVF) is now the largest international video competition in Japan, gathering 40,000 works from 90 countries worldwide. The festival is open to amateurs and professionals for short and feature films, documentaries and fiction. This is a selection of 4 films from TVF 2008. Total running time 90 min. DIGISTA Vol. VI Sat. 7/5, 1:45 pm; Mon. 7/7, 6:45 pm Digista (Digital Stadium) is a show on the Japanese television network, NHK, where artists and filmmakers compete for their work to be aired. Over the years, it has grown into a multimedia platform dedicated to the discovery of innovative new talents in the field of digital visual media. This is a selection of works compiled from Digista 2007. Total running time 67 min. PLANET+1 SELECTION: IMMORAL FILMS Sat. 7/5, 6:45 pm; Thurs. 7/10, 8:15 pm Talented young directors in Tokyo contribute their films to the Immoral Film Festival, presented by the independent distributor Image Rings. The results are some of the most intriguing films of recent years--provocative, perplexing and always throttling the border between fiction and reality. Total running time 70 min. OPEN ART ANIMATION Sat. 7/5, 8:15 pm; Thurs., 7/10, 6:45 pm Open Art is an online archive, distribution matrix and a tireless promoter of short films. Founded in 1999, it has collected over 1,000 films. This is a selection of 9 of the best animated films in recent years. Total running time 72 min. VORTEX AND OTHERS--5 SHORT WORKS BY YOSHIHIRO ITO Tues. 7/8; 6:45 pm; Sat. 7/12, 7:30 pm One of the most astonishing talents to emerge from the independent scene in recent years, Yoshihiro Ito`s film cycle revolves around the topic of love and creates a magical space where the subtle meets the bizarre and profound. Total running time 98 min. 893239 (YAKUZA SHORT FILMS) Tues. 7/8, 8:45 pm; Sun. 7/13, 5:15 pm 893239 is a collection of yakuza themed films. All episodes are shot by different directors and crews with a budget limit of $1,000 (Â¥100.000) per film, resulting in comedy, drama, music video and mockumentary. This is a selection of 8 episodes. Total running time 86 min. Lazarus--The House of the Rising Sun Sun. 7/6, 4:15 pm; Sun. 7/13, 3:15 pm Japan 2007, 81 min. Directed by Kishu Izuchi. Mayumi is ambivalent when her frustrated sister Naoko returns to their economically declining hometown. After small disagreements they appear to reconcile until Naoko provokes a catastrophe. Shadow of Sand Sat. 7/5, 3:15 pm; Mon. 7/7, 8:15 pm 2007, 76 min. Directed by Yusuke Kaida. Yukie has an idyllic relationship with her boyfriend Tamagawa, but her behavior at work is increasingly bizarre. Majima, an outsider, tries befriending her but senses a dark secret. Off Highway 20 Sat. 7/5, 5 pm; Fri. 7/11, 8:15 pm 2007, 77 min. Directed by Katsuya Tomita. Glue-sniffing, pachinko-playing Hisashi hangs out while his debts rise. An old biker pal takes him into the provincial underbelly along Route 20 for a high-tension spin through a very different Japan. A Permanent Part-Timer in Distress Sun. 7/6. 7:45pm; Fri. 7/11, 6:45pm 2007, 67 min. Directed by Hiroki Iwabuchi. Iwabuchi documents his bizarre situation and contradictory feelings as a part-timer with bitter but hilarious irony.

About the New York Asian Film Festival

The New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), North America`s leading festival of popular Asian films, runs June 20-July 6, 2008. Films are co-presented with Japan Society`s JAPAN CUTS from July 3-6, during the opening weekend of JAPAN CUTS. To learn more, visit Subway Cinema.

About Japan Society`s Film Program

The Japan Society Film Program offers a diverse selection of Japanese films, from classics to contemporary independent productions. The Program has produced retrospectives of seminal directors, thematic series and special screenings of international, U.S. and NY premieres. Several original film series curated by Japan Society have traveled to other U.S. venues in tours organized by the Film Program. The Film Program has provided English subtitles for films which have never been screened outside of Japan. Accompanying lectures help place the films in their aesthetic and social contexts, and filmmakers often introduce and discuss their work. For the second consecutive summer, Japan Society`s Film Program brings a sizable slice of Japan`s dynamic contemporary film culture to New York City with JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film, the first and only large-scale annual film festival in North America celebrating the latest films from Japan. Launched in Summer 2007 to celebrate Japan Society`s centennial, the first annual JAPAN CUTS festival was one of the most successful single events in Japan Society`s 2007-08 centennial celebration. Noted for its "rich and varied selection of recent Japanese films" (David Kehr, The New York Times), the festival attracted nearly 5,000 audience members and screened over 80 feature length films and shorts of various genres. Five of Japan`s leading directors Shusuke Kaneko, Sion Sono, Miwa Nishikawa, Naoko Ogigami and Yasuo Kurita attended the festival; and Tetsuya Nakashima`s Memories of Matsuko garnered the JAPAN CUTS audience award. The 2008 JAPAN CUTS will follow this precedent in scale and variety.

About Japan Society

Founded in 1907 by prominent New York City business people and philanthropists, Japan Society has evolved over 100 years into an internationally recognized nonprofit organization presenting a full range of programs within arts and culture, business, education, and public policy. Through over 100 events annually, the Society creates rich encounters and exchanges that offer opportunities to experience Japanese culture; foster sustained and open dialogue on issues important to the U.S., Japan, and East Asia; and improve access to information on Japan.

Location & Ticket Information

JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film takes place July 2-13. Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street, between First and Second Avenues (accessible by the 4/5/6 at 42nd Street-Grand Central Station or the E and V at Lexington Avenue and 53rd St.) For tickets or more information, visit the Japan Society website or call the box office at 212-715-1258. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 6, 2008. Feature-length films in the Long Cuts series are $11 general/$7 Japan Society members & seniors. Screenings in the Short Cuts series are free with seats available on a first-come-first-served basis. Special ticket prices are $15/$12 Japan Society members for the 7/5, 9 pm screening of SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO, followed by the Sukiyaki Party; and the 7/12, 8:30 pm screening of SAKURAN, followed by the Red Light Party. JAPAN CUTS is funded by grants from The Japan Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts, a State agency. Additional support is provided by Sapporo USA, Inc. Transportation assistance is provided by All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. Japan Society`s 2008-2009 Film Programs are generously supported by The Lila Wallace-Reader`s Digest Endowment Fund. Festival trailer and logo by Motomichi.

JAPAN CUTS SCHEDULE:

LC: Long Cuts ($11/$7 members and seniors unless otherwise noted) SC: Short Cuts (free) * Director introduction and/or Q&A ** Screening followed by party for special ticket price of $15/$12 members

7/2 Wed 6:30pm TARACHIME and THE MOURNING FOREST * (LC) [Japan Cuts Lounge open until 12am] 7/3 Thu 4:20pm ADRIFT IN TOKYO (LC) 6:15pm THE ORIGIN OF NAOMI KAWASE Part 1* (SC) 6:30pm FINE, TOTALLY FINE (LC) 8:00pm THE ORIGIN OF NAOMI KAWASE Part 2* (SC) 8:45pm ACCURACY OF DEATH (LC) 7/4 Fri 12:15pm ACCURACY OF DEATH (LC) 2:30pm DAINIPPONJIN (LC) [Japan Cuts Lounge open until 12am] 7/5 Sat 1:00pm ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- 2 (LC) 1:45pm DIGISTA Vol. VI (SC) 3:15pm Shadow of Sand (SC) 4:00pm YASUKUNI (LC) 5:00pm Off Highway 20 (SC) 6:30pm FINE, TOTALLY FINE (LC) 6:45pm PLANET+1 SELECTION: IMMORAL FILMS (SC) 8:15pm OPEN ART ANIMATION (SC) 9:00pm SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO** (LC) [Japan Cuts Lounge open until 12am]

7/6 Sun 1:15pm SAD VACATION (LC) 3:00pm Pre-screening talk on UNITED RED ARMY* 4:00pm UNITED RED ARMY with post-screening discussion* (LC) 6:00pm JVC Tokyo Video Festival (SC) 7:45pm A Permanent Part-Timer in Distress (SC) 8:15pm ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- 2 (LC) 8:15pm Lazarus- The House of the Rising Sun (SC) 7/7 Mon 6:30pm TARACHIME (LC) 6:45pm DIGISTA Volume VI (SC) 7:30pm THE MOURNING FOREST* (LC) 8:15pm Shadow of Sand (SC) 7/8 Tue 6:45pm VORTEX AND OTHERS–5 SHORT WORKS BY YOSHIHIRO ITO (SC) 7:30pm UNITED RED ARMY * (LC) 8:45 pm 893239 (SC)

7/9 Wed 8:45pm KISARAGI (LC) [Japan Cuts Lounge open until 12am] 7/10 Thu 6:30pm YASUKUNI (LC) 8:15pm PLANET+1 SELECTION: IMMORAL FILMS (SC) 6:45pm OPEN ART ANIMATION (SC) 9:00pm GUMMI, CHOCOLATE, PINE (LC) [Japan Cuts Lounge open until 12am] 7/11 Fri 6:30pm FILMFUL LIFE (LC) 6:45pm A Permanent Part-Timer in Distress (SC) 8:15pm Off Highway 20 (SC) 8:30pm THE INUGAMI FAMILY- 1976 (LC) [Japan Cuts Lounge open until 12am] 7/12 Sat 12:45pm NEAR EQUAL KUSAMA YAYOI: I ADORE MYSELF (LC) 1:15pm JVC TOKYO VIDEO FESTIVAL (SC) 3:15pm GUMMI, CHOCOLATE, PINE (LC) 3:30pm THE ORIGIN OF NAOMI KAWASE Part 1 (SC) 5:30pm THE ORIGIN OF NAOMI KAWASE Part 2 (SC) 5:45pm MURDER OF THE INUGAMI CLAN- 2006 (LC) 7:30pm VORTEX AND OTHERS–5 SHORT WORKS BY YOSHIHIRO ITO (SC) 8:30pm SAKURAN (LC) 7/13 Sun 12:45pm SAKURAN (LC) 1:00pm A GIRL IN THE SUNSET (SC) 3:00pm AA GENTLE BREEZE IN THE VILLAGE (LC) 3:15pm Lazarus- The House of the Rising Sun (SC) 5:15pm 893239 (SC) 5:30pm KISARAGI (LC)