Women Directors at Nippon Connection 2017

Women Directors at Nippon Connection 2017

http://www.nipponconnection.com

Since 2010, I have made a point to watch all of the films directed by women at Nippon Connection.  This year’s programme includes feature films, documentaries and animation by women directors…. with women also featuring prominently behind the scenes in the areas of production and screenwriting.

Guests include the Japanese producer Yukie Kito (Tokyo Sonata, Sakebi), who is presenting the documentary Mifune: The Last Samurai (Steven Okazaki, 2015), Akiyo Fujimura will be on hand to present her feature debut Eriko, Pretended at its German premiere, and Tokyo University of the Arts student Rina Tanaka will present her directorial debut Snake Beneath the Flow at its international premiere.

Women are currently dominating the student population in animation courses across Japan, which is why this year’s Tokyo University of the Arts selection is predominately female directors.  There are two women in my selection Poetic Landscapes – Recent Gems in Japanese Indie Animation.  Eri Okazaki is a graduate of the Tama Art University (Tamabi) animation programme.  Kiyoko Nakai belongs to the art unit kesyuroom2013 (ケシュ#203)  with Minami Nakai. Both women are graduates of Film Studies at Waseda. 

Here is a quick overview of what to look out for:

NIPPON ANIMATION

A Silent Voice

映画 聲の形

Eiga koe no katachi

Director: Naoko YAMADA

Japan 2016, 129 min.

German premiere

Thursday, May 25, 12:00 Mousonturm Saal

Saturday, May 27, 13:30 Mal Seh’n Kino

Poetic Landscapes – Recent Gems in Japanese Indie Animation

in the presence of the curator Dr. Catherine Munroe Hotes and director Hayato Nove

Sunday, May 28, 17:15 Naxoshalle Kino

Tokyo University of the Arts: Animation

In the presence of Taruto FUYAMA

Thursday, May 25, 15:15 Naxoshalle Kino

NIPPON CINEMA

The Long Excuse

永い言い訳

Nagai Iiwake

Director & script: Miwa NISHIKAWA

Japan 2016, 124 min.

German premiere

Competition Nippon Cinema Award

Friday, May 26, 20:00 Mousonturm Saal

Sunday, May 28, 17:45 Mal Seh’n Kino

NIPPON VISIONS

95 and 6 to go

Director, camera & world sales: Kimi TAKESUE

USA 2016, 85 min.

German premiere

Wednesday, May 24, 15:00 Naxoshalle Kino

Eriko, Pretended

見栄を張る

Mie o haru

Director & script: Akiyo FUJIMURA

Japan 2016, 93 min.

German premiere in the presence of the director

Saturday, May 27, 17:15 Naxoshalle Kino

Parks

パークス

Director & script: Natsuki SETA

Japan 2017, 118 min.

International premiere

Thursday, May 25, 19:45 Naxoshalle Kino

Start Line

Director: Ayako IMAMURA

Japan 2016, Blu-ray, 112 min, Japanese with English subtitles

European premiere

Friday, May 26, 12:15 Naxoshalle Kino

Snake Beneath the Flower Petals

湖底の蛇

Kotei no ja

Director and script: Rina TANAKA

Japan 2016, 59 min.

International premiere in the presence of the director Rina TANAKA

Cathy Munroe Hotes 2017

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