I’m going to be away from my computer for the next few days, so wanted to post my best wishes for the coming year to everyone before I go. 2009 was quite an adventure, travelling to various parts of the world with my pink film programme following the publication of Behind the Pink Curtain. I don’t think 2010 is going to be quite the same whirlwind of activity, which is something of a relief as I could do with some time to catch my breath, but there’s still plenty of exciting projects in the air at the moment, which of course I’ll be announcing on this website as and when I have news about them.

In the meantime, I just wanted to say a big thanks to all those who have supported me with their friendship and encouragement, and everyone who has bought my book and come to my film screenings. I would however like to say a big special thanks to Michelle Thomas, for her love and support, to Harvey Fenton, for publishing my book, to Tom Mes and the rest of the writers who’ve continued to make Midnight Eye such a success, to Tun and Fei, for creating this website, to Graham Humphreys for my wonderful portrait, and to the following who’ve invited and hosted me during my various jaunts across the world: Alex Zahlten, Holger Ziegler, Marion Klomfass and the rest of the folks at Nippon Connection in Frankfurt, as great this year as it’s ever been; Monika Haas at the Deutsches Filmmuseum for bravely hosting the pink retrospective there; everyone at Fantasia, but in particular Pierre Corbeil, Mitch Davis and Stephanie Trepanier; the lovely people at the Cinematheque Quebecois, especially Karine Boulanger; Chris Magee and James Heron, my partners in crime for the new Shinsedai Film Festival in Toronto, all the volunteers and staff of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre who made it such a success, and Polly for providing a cosy bed to stay in during my visit; Madam Miaow herself, Anna Chen; Lefteris Adamidis and everyone at Thessaloniki International Film Festival; all the Japanese guests who made Raindance such a pleasure this year, and all those labouring behind the scenes who made it happen – my endless thanks goes to Sayaka Smith for her delightful company and her selfless willingness as an interpreter; Junko Takekawa at the Japan Foundation UK (details of the 2010 touring season will be announced on this website soon); Al Cameron of the Arnolfini, host to the Bollywood for Beginners and Pigs, Eels & Insects: Reassessing the Legacy of Shohei Imamura seasons; Susie Evans at the Barbican; Mark and Maddie at the Watershed; Sarah Acton at the Cube Microplex; and all those in the Japanese film industry, sales agents, filmmakers, producers and everyone who helped bring Japanese cinema to the wide world – I’ll see you all when I’m in Tokyo sometime very soon.

I look forward to seeing all of you over the coming year, but for now, thanks again, and have a brilliant New Year’s Eve!

Posted at 9:04 on 31 December 2009 Filed under news.

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