Jun Ichikawa's How to Become Myself

Posting for the first time in 2010 from an icy, snowbound London, I wanted to pass on details about this year’s touring programme across the UK from the Japan Foundation, for which, as I have done for the past few years, I acted as advisor. This year’s selection of six films is themed ‘Girls on Film: Females in Contemporary Japanese Cinema’, and runs from 9 to 17 February at the ICA in London, before heading off to other venues, details of which I’m providing below. Copying the blurb about the tour from the JF UK’s website:

“The Japan Foundation’s 2010 touring film programme looks at contemporary Japanese cinema made for, about, and, in some cases, by women. Touring to five venues during February and March, the programme is composed of works from the past few years and showcases how Japanese contemporary filmmakers, from the very established, such as the late Jun Ichikawa, to young and promising filmmakers, like Satoko Yokohama, approach the issues facing women and adolescents. This season also includes works by female directors, reflecting the exciting trend of a marked increase in the number of female directors working in the Japanese film industry. This is a unique collection of films not to be missed!”

Naoko Ogigami's Kamome Diner

I’ll also be giving a talk at the London Office in Russell Square to introduce the season, at 6.30pm on 4 February 2010. It’s free (and usually a few drinks involved too), but you’ll need to book with the Japan Foundation first. More details here.

The tour line up is as follows:

Fourteen (Ju-yon-sai, Hiromasa HIROSUE, 2006)

German Plus Rain (German + Ame, Satoko YOKOHAMA, 2007)

How to Become Myself (Ashita no watashi no tsukurikata, Jun ICHIKAWA, 2007)

Kamome Diner (Kamome shokudo, Naoko OGIGAMI, 2006)

Non-ko (Nonko 36-sai, Kazuyoshi KUMAKIRI, 2009)

Asyl: Park and Love Hotel (Pâku ando rabuhoteru, Izuru KUMASAKA, 2007)

Izuru Kumasaka's Asyl: Park and Love Hotel

And the dates:

9 to 17 February – ICA, London

22 February to 4 March – Showroom, Sheffield

5 to 9 March – Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast (Except Non-ko)

10 to 14 March – Filmhouse, Edinburgh

18 to 21 March – Arnolfini, Bristol

I’ll no doubt be posting up reminders and more details, as they arrive, throughout this month. You can find out information on some of these titles on Midnight Eye of course. Anyway, for most of the films, this is the first time they’re playing in the UK, so I really hope to see you at the screenings or the introductory talk, and please, spread the word!

Kazuyoshi Kumakiri's Nonko

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