OPENING　EVENT

Our opening event was held on September 14 (Fri.)

OPENING CEREMONY

• This year, approximately 50 guests made their stylish appearance under the autumn night sky as they walked on the red carpet of our specially designed outdoor stage set at the Sun Plaza Stage of the Canal City Hakata complex.
  Mr. Osugi, a film critic active locally in Fukuoka joined Mayor Soichiro Takashima of Fukuoka City on stage as the two addressed the audience on the status of Japanese films which are now attracting attention by virtue of having won such awards as the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Additionally, film director YUKISADA Isao and starring actress KURASHINA Kana of “Itchon sukan”, the motion picture made to assist the Kumamoto earthquake recovery relief effort, also appeared on stage making way for a stylish and impressive Opening Ceremony for the Focus on Asia Fukuoka International Film Festival.

OPENING FILM
Screened on September 15 (Sat.)

• Our Opening Film “Nervous Translation” directed by Shireen SENO (2017/Philippines), was screened in Japan for the very first time. The film director arrived in Fukuoka with her producer, John TORRES, who is also her husband. Shireen SENO lived in Japan as child which may be why she was in such a genial atmosphere from start to finish during her greetings from the cinema stage, an event she brought her infant daughter to.

SCREENINGS INCLUDING “NEW AND MUCH TALKED ABOUT FILMS FROM ASIA”

September 15 (Sat.) ~ September 23 (Sun.)

• 15 Asian masterpieces were screened as part of our “New and Much Talked about Films from Asia” program. After the film screenings, Question and Answer sessions were held with the participation of our Festival guests. These were followed by “autograph sessions.”

THE FUKUOKA AUDIENCE AWARD CEREMONY

September 18 (Tue.)

• Votes from the audience were tabulated to determine the winners to the Fukuoka Audience Award and its follow-up award, the Kumamoto City Award. The Fukuoka Audience Award went to “Concerto of the Bully” (Hong Kong) while “Guang” (Malaysia) picked up the Kumamoto City Award. After the ceremony, there was a special screening of “Hot Ashes” (Japan), a film which received assistance from the Fukuoka Film Commission.

SPECIAL FEATURE: FILMS FROM THE PHILIPPINES

Under the co-organization of the Japan Foundation Asia Center and the support of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, we presented a special feature which consisted of a collection of films from the Philippines. Under the title of “Drawn and Fascinated by the Sacred Chaos”, we screened 5 films (1 motion picture was part of our official lineup of invited films) which were previously never shown in Japan before. Stage greetings, Question and Answer and autograph sessions were organized to create interaction with the audience.

PHILIPPINE PANEL EXHIBITION

• With the cooperation of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, booths related to visual images of the Philippines were set up within the theaters to introduce trends and organize symposiums.

SPECIAL FEATURE ON JAPANESE FILMS

September 19 (Wed.) ~ September 23 (Sun.)

• Under the title “Looking at the “Family” as Fragile and Breakable”, 5 motion pictures were specially screened, which depicted the Japanese family on the verge of collapse.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

①Special Exhibition for the Kumamoto Earthquake Recovery Assistance Effort
September 15 (Fri.)

• There was a screening of the motion picture “Itchon sukan”, a film produced as a Kumamoto Earthquake Recovery Assistance Effort Program.

②Barrier-Free Screening
September 23 (Sun.)

• A motion picture was screened with audio guidance using FM radio, Japanese subtitles and supplementary sound channels assistance.

SYMPOSIUMS

With the participation of invited film directors and film festival related individuals, a total of three symposiums were organized, namely “Restoration Asia VI”, “International Co-Production without Losing Identity” and “Regionally Based International Film Festivals.”

FILMS SUPPORTED BY THE FUKUOKA FILM COMMISSION

There were special screenings of films which received cooperation from the Fukuoka Film Commission during their filming. This year “Hot Ashes” (Japan), directed by KOJIMA Junji, was screened after the Fukuoka Audience Award Ceremony.

PROMOTION OF CREATIVE RELATED INDUSTRIES

September 21 (Fri.), September 22 (Sat.)

• Works by visual creators active in Fukuoka, works set in Fukuoka and works with Fukuoka as their main key word were screened all together as “FUKUOKA PANORAMA.” A program of human resource development where rich, individualistic talent shouldering the next generation can be enjoyed on the big screen.

NEO CINEMAP FUKUOKA

September 18 (Tue.) and September 19 (Wed.)

• “Neo Cinemap Fukuoka”, our Asian film and video content market, was held in a hotel near the Film Festival, affording both buyers and sellers with a high sense of location convenience to conduct business meetings. “Neo Cinemap Fukuoka” attracted 110 individuals representing 62 companies from 10 countries.

RELATED EVENTS

August 27 (Mon.)
PRESS BRIEFING

• A press briefing was organized prior to start of film festival at the Ajibi Hall of the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum. Trailers to the films to be screened this year were shown and the Festival Director, himself, talked about the highlights of the Festival. In addition, organizers of related events to the Film Festival were able to promote their events.

POSTER EXHIBITION

• Posters to the films to be shown this year were exhibited within the exhibition space of the Fukuoka City Public Library. In addition to providing information on the motion pictures, the films were promoted by informing library visitors with film highlights.

SPECIAL SCREENING OF AN ASIAN FILM FOR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
September 26 (Thu.)

• This is a project designed to provide junior high school students with wide-range opportunities to see Asian films, which are shown infrequently. This fiscal year we invited 280 junior high school students to the Aeon Cinema (Kitakyushu City) for a special screening of “Guang.”