7 titles Programmed by Third Window Films and 5 Directors Coming from Japan Source: Third Window Films Official Site: raindancefestival.org Special Thanks to Adam Torel Third Window Films are pleased to have taken on board a big chunk of programming of the Way Out East Strand of the 21st Raindance Film Festival, one of the largest independent film festivals in the world! Running September 25th-October 6th in central London (Piccadilly Circus), this year`s festival will have a special focus on Japanese independent cinema with a strand called Way Out East featuring 13 films, of which 7 were programmed by Third Window Films. There will be UK premiers of Third Window`s latest acquisitions: SAKE-BOMB and SHADY. They will also be bringing over 5 directors from Japan to represent their latest works, so Raindance will surely be THE PLACE to be in the UK for catching the latest and best independent cinema from Japan!
SAKE-BOMB (2013) International Premiere with Q&A from director JUNYA SAKINO at both screenings September 28th at 2:30pm October 3rd at 3:45pm Country: USA, Japan Runtime: 82` Director: Junya Sakino Writer: Jeff Mizushima Producer: Hiromitsu Senoo, Junya Sakino DOP: Sam K. Yano Cast: Gaku Hamada, Eugene Kim, Marlane Barnes Print Source: Adam Torel, Third Window Films Original Format: DCP A sarcastic and self-deprecating Asian-American must take his naive Japanese cousin on a road trip along the California coast to find his ex-girlfriend.
SHADY (?????????????, Kashkoi Inu wa Hoezuni Warau, 2012) NOMINATED FOR BEST DEBUT FEATURE! September 28th at 2:30pm October 3rd at 3:45pm Country: Japan Runtime: 94` Director: Ryohei Watanabe Writer: Ryohei Watanabe Producer: Ryohei Watanabe DOP: Katsuki Tsuji Cast: Izumi Okamura, mimpi*?, Ikuma Sato Print Source: Adam Torel, Third Window Films Original Format: HD Winner of the Entertainment Award at the PIA Film Festival, Ryohei Watanabe’s debut film tells the tale of a dark relationship between two very different girls.
COURT OF ZEUS (??????, Zeus no Hotei, 2013) World Premiere with Q&A from director GEN TAKAHASHI (CONFESSIONS OF A DOG) September 29th at 4:45pm Country: Japan Runtime: 136` Director: Gen Takahashi Writer: Gen Takahashi Producer: Gen Takahashi DOP: Ryuji Ishikura Cast: Hijiri Kojima, Hironobu Nomura, Jun Kawamoto Print Source: Gen Takahashi, Grand Kafe Pictures Original Format: 35mm Courtroom thriller exposing the corruption that pervades the Japanese justice system.
THE KIRISHIMA THING (???????????, Kirishima, Bukatsu Yamerutteyo, 2012) UK Premiere with Q&A from director DAIHACHI YOSHIDA (FUNUKE) October 2nd at 9pm (Director in attendance) October 4th at 12:45pm Country: Japan Runtime: 103` Director: Daihachi Yoshida Writers: Kohei Kiyasu, Daihachi Yoshida Producers: Yoko Edami, Kazuhisa Kitajima, Takahiro Sato DOP: Ryuto Kondo Cast: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Ai Hashimoto, Suzuka Ohgo Print Source: Asuka Kimura, Nippon Television Network Corporation Original Format: 35mm Winner of the Best Film and Best Director awards at the Japanese Academy Awards, THE KIRISHIMA THING tells the story of two high school students who cross social boundaries between the elite and lower classes at their school.
A2-B-C (2012) UK Premiere with Q&A from director IAN THOMAS ASH at both screenings October 1st at 6:15pm October 2nd at 12:30pm Country: Japan Runtime: 71` Director: Ian Thomas Ash Producer: Ian Thomas Ash DOP: Ian Thomas Ash Print Source: Ian Thomas Ash Original Format: HD Eighteen months after the nuclear meltdown, children in Fukushima suffer from severe nose bleeds and are developing skin rashes and thyroid cysts.
REMIGES (???, Kazakiriba, 2013) European Premiere with Q&A from director MASATO OZAWA October 5th at 6:45pm Country: Japan Runtime: 88` Director: Masato Ozawa Writer: Masato Ozawa Producer: Hiroshi Chikasada DOP: Ken-ichi Aikawa Cast: Mika Akizuki, Junki Tozuka, Maiko Kawakami Original Format: HD Dark tale of the lonely, troubled Sayako who, wandering the streets at night meets another lost soul, Kenta.
SOUL FLOWER TRAIN (?????????????, Souru Furawa Torein, 2013) UK Premiere September 27th at 8:30pm Country: Japan Runtime: 97` Director: Hiroshi Nishio Writers: Hiroshi Nishio, Miyuki Uehara Producers: Kazutoshi Maeda, Hayama Masaki DOP: Futa Takagi Cast: Mitsuru Hirata, Marin, Sayoko Print Source: Hayama Masaki Original Format: HD Amamoto travels from his small village to Osaka to find his estranged daughter. When he meets a friendly young woman, she gives him a unique guide of the big city and helps him in his search.
There are also many other Japanese films programmed by the Raindance team...
THE BLACK SQUARE (???, Kuroi Shikaku, 2012) UK Premiere September 28th 5:30pm Country: China, Japan Runtime: 144` Director: Hiroshi Okuhara Writer: Hiroshi Okuhara Producers: Li Rui, Tomoko Okuhara DOP: Kenji Maki Cast: Hideo Nakaizumi, Dan Hong, Chen Xixu Print Source: Andy Lung Original Format: HDCAM-SR A strange object hovers in the Beijing sky, directly above a man without memories who may hold the key to the past and the future.
© 2013FRIENDSHIP (??, Tomodachi, 2013) World Premiere with Q&A from director MIKIHIRO ENDO October 5th 2:15pm Country: Japan Runtime: 75` Director: Mikihiro Endo Writers: Hiroshi Okada, Mikihiro Endo Producer: Ryuichi Ogata DOP: Erika Shimizu Cast: Takeshi Yamamoto, Hana Matsumoto, Yusuke Oba Print Source: Mikihiro Endo Original Format: DCP A failing actor takes on a corporate job where he will assume the role of any person requested by the customer. GREATFUL DEAD (?????????, Gureitofuru Deddo, 2013) European Premiere September 26th 8:15pm September 27th 3:15pm Country: Japan Runtime: 97` Director: Eiji Uchida Writers: Eiji Uchida, Etsuo Hiratani Producers: Tomoharu Kusunoki, Houka Kinoshita DOP: Shinya Kimura Cast: Kumi Takiuchi, Takashi Sasano, Kkobbi Kim Print Source: Tomoharu Kusunoki, ARK Entertainment, Inc. Original Format: 2k Nami`s family dissolved around her whilst she grew up. Now she spies on lonely people, relishing in their pain and suffering. KU_ON (???, 2013) World Premiere with Q&A from director TAKAYUKI HATAMURA September 26th 3:45pm Country: Japan Runtime: 78` Director: Takayuki Hatamura Writer: Takayuki Hatamura Producer: Chikara Ito DOP: Kosuke Matsuishi Cast: Hidemasa Shiozawa, Yusei Tajima, Sou Sato Print Source: Ikki Ginoza Original Format: HDV An ordinary office worker, Hiroyuki Sano, suddenly begins to exhibit extraordinary powers. Then a man who claims to have the same powers as him appears before him... SATOKO YOKOHAMA SHORT FILMS Q&A with director SATOKO YOKOHAMA September 28th 4:45pm Country: Japan Runtime: 115` Director: Satoko Yokohama Writer: Satoko Yokohama Original Format: Digital Compilation of Satoko Yokohama`s 3 short films. SHINDO – THE BEAT KNOCKS HER WORLD (??, Shindou, 2013) International Premiere with Q&A from director TAKUYA MATSUNAGA October 4th 9:15pm Country: Japan Runtime: 74` Director: Asami Hirano Writer: Asami Hirano Producer: Asami Hirano DOP: Satoshi Ichiki Cast: Syumpei Kawagoishi, Kana Kita, Takuya Matsunaga Print Source: Asami Hirano Original Format: 1920×1080 In a foster home, Haruki has been taking care of his only friend Nao, a young deaf girl, as if she was his own sister. When his classmates ask him to join a band, he becomes deeply involved and Nao begins to feel left behind.
About Third Window Films
The Third Window Films brand was born in 2005 when its film-loving founders grew bored of the stream of worn-out shock horror vehicles from the Far East. Third Window Films works hard to bring you the wonderful world beyond long-haired ghost films and mindless Hollywood action copies, sourcing the finest works in new Far Eastern cinema. We strive to represent a rich variety of film genres, be they dramas, comedies, political satires, action or anything else in between. Expect everything from the unknown and cult to the off-beat and even the occasional mainstream masterpiece... or expect nothing but quality Asian cinema! Let Third Window Films be your window to the East!
About Raindance
Raindance Film Festival is Europe’s leading independent film festival. Listed by Variety as one of the world’s top 50 ‘unmissable film festivals’, Raindance aims to nurture, support and promote independent films and filmmakers from the UK and around the world. Over the years, the festival has hosted such guests and filmmakers as Christopher Nolan, Shane Meadows, Ken Loach, Marky Ramone, Iggy Pop, Anton Corbijn, Quentin Tarantino, Faye Dunaway and Lou Reed. Over the last few years our international Jury has included Lemmy, Charles Saatchi, Armando Iannucci and Tom Waits.