OPENING EVENT
Held September 15 (Thu.)
- The Indonesian film, “What’s With Love2” was shown for our Opening Film.
OPENING CEREMONY
Held September 15 (Thu.)
- Our specially designed ceremonial stage with a red carpet was constructed at Seiryu Park, on the western side of Canal City Hakata in Fukuoka City.
The ceremony was attended by approximately 40 stylish guests.
SHOWING OF OUR OFFICIAL LINE UP OF INVITED FILMS
Shown from September 16 (Fri.)-September 25 (Sun.)
- Motion pictures officially invited to our Film Festival consisted of 17 cinematic masterpieces from Asia. These film showings marked the world premiere for 1 film, and the Japanese premiere for 10 films.
SPECIAL FEATURE: VIETNAMES FILMS
Shown from September 16 (Fri.) -September 25 (Sun.)
- With the Japan Foundation Asian Center as our co-organizer, the Film Festival presented a special feature on Vietnamese films entitled, “Vietnamese Evolution: What is Happening to Vietnamese Films”. The special feature presented a total of 9 Vietnamese films including “Farewell, Berlin Wall”, an unconventional dark and cold romance drama, quite uncommon for Vietnam, from our Official Program of Invited Films. Our special feature also introduced 8 additional Vietnamese titles including a motion picture directed by Dang Nhat Minh, one of Vietnam’s maestro film directors as well as new films directed by young Vietnamese film directors.
In addition to the film showings, a symposium was held inviting guests from these films who addressed the Vietnamese film industry and its newest trends, a film industry, which has undergone big changes in the last 20 years, including the participation of its private sector in its filmmaking.
Furthermore, a “Vietnam Culture Day” was organized in conjunction with the special feature, where special booths sold Vietnamese cuisine, ethnic attire, such as “Aodai” and other miscellaneous merchandise. Additionally, panels were exhibited introducing Vietnamese tourist sites and Vietnamese festivals. Vietnam Airlines held visual presentations and distributed pamphlets.
Symposium: “What’s Up with Southeast Asian Films: The Changing Faces of Art and Landscape.”
Held September 17(Sat.)
- Three films directors from Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines, who directed films included in our Official Program of Invited Films, participated in a symposium, addressing challenges to Southeast Asian films which are facing rapid changes in culture and landscape.
“FUKUOKA PANORAMA”
Held September 24 (Sat.)
- Labeling the works of creative artists active in Fukuoka as “Fukuoka Panorama”, a special feature was shown covering productions shot totally in Fukuoka as well as animation works and short films.
SPECIAL SCREENING COMMEMORATING THE FUKUOKA PRIZE LAUREATE
Held September 17 (Sat.) and 21 (Wed.)
- We put on special film exhibitions of “Muhammad, the Messenger of God”, the newest film directed by Majid Majidi, in commemoration of A. R. Rahman, this year’s Fukuoka Prize laureate who was in charge of the film’s music. Mr. Rahman is also known for the music to such films as “Slumdog Millionaire”.
SPECIAL EXHIBITION TO ASSIST IN THE KUMAMOTO EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY EFFORT
Held September 25 (Sun.)
- As a special exhibition to assist in the Kumamoto earthquake recovery effort we showed “Utsukushii Hito” a medium length film made by the “Kumamoto Film Project”, which strives to revitalize the Kumamoto region.
A Talk Event was held by inviting film director Isao Yukisada and Kenjiro Fukamachi, representing Fukuoka Music Month. After the film exhibition, a Q&A was held with the film director.
NEO CINEMAP FUKUOKA
Held September 20 (Tue.)-September 21 (Wed.)
- NEO CINEMAP FUKUOKA is a film and visual content market of Asian countries and regions. Asian producers with rights to motion pictures and visual content centered on titles from the Film Festival’s Official Program of Invited Films and its special features were invited to meet with Japanese distributors, software companies, on-line distributors and television broadcasters under NEO CINEMAP FUKUOKA’s aim of shouldering the role in providing Asian producers with a footing to future development in Japan.
57 firms from 12 countries participated in the two day event of active negotiations on 126 titles which were entered into the event. A “Project Market” with a purpose of creating joint productions and other projects, was also held.
BARRIER FREE SCREENINGS
Held September 22 (Thu.)
- With the cooperation of the Fukuoka City Volunteer Liaison Council, we were able to screen “Hana’s Miso Soup” and “A Brand New Life” with Japanese subtitles for the disadvantaged and special commentary using supplementary sound channels for people with visual disabilities. We also held a Talk Show with the director of “Hana’s Miso Soup”, a film supported by the Fukuoka Film Commission.