2008 Japan Film Festival - Bigger and Better than Ever!

2008 Japan Film Festival - Bigger and Better than Ever!

LOS ANGELES, March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The newly revamped Japan Film Festival (http://www.jffla.org/) will return April 11- 17 with a brand new home at the ImaginAsian Center in Downtown Los Angeles and a slew of films from some of Japan's most prolific writers and directors in a variety of genres sure to mesmerize movie-goers of all tastes. The second round will take place in Irvine, at the Starplex Cinemas, April 18-20. From anime to award-winning films to Kurosawa classics, the 2008 Japan Film Festival is a prime example of the true versatility and vivacity of Japan's film industry.

Among the list of feature films to be presented are: the award-winning and internationally acclaimed "Hula Girls" (directed by Sang-il Lee); the live action adaptation of writer Fumiyo Kono's award-winning manga "Yunagi no machi, Sakura no kuni" "Yunagi City, Sakura Country" (directed by Kiyoshi Sasabe); "Always: Sunset on Third Street" (directed by Takashi Yamazaki) nominated in three categories at the 2008 Asian Film Awards; winner of the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival's Netpac Award "Faces of a Fig Tree" [Ichijiku no Kao] (Directed/Written by Kaori Momoi) ... and many more!

For those diehard Kurosawa fans we will also be showing two award-winning films, "The Hidden Fortress" and "Sanjuro" in all their black and white splendor.

Japanese animation fans will also be able to get their fix with "Atagoal Cat's Magical Forest" [Atagoal wa Neko no Mori]; Writer Masamune Shirow's much-anticipated "Appleseed: ExMachina"; and the just-released "One Piece - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta." Plus, a collection of never-seen-before shorts from independent animation promotion company "Anime Innovation Tokyo."

In addition to the feature films, the 2008 Japan Film Festival has opened its doors to young filmmakers in Japan as well as in the US to submit their films to be screened at our independent showcase during the weeklong Festival.

Cinema is the bridge that connects us all! We are convinced that through this festival, we can help strengthen the understanding of contemporary Japanese culture within American shores as well as encourage communication and the exchange of ideas between Japan and the U.S.

   -- The ImaginAsian Center: 251 South Main Street Los Angeles, California      90012; Tel : 213-617-1033   -- Starplex Cinemas: 4626 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, CA 92604; Tel :      +1-949-733-3795  

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Source: Japan Film Festival

CONTACT: Makoto Takahashi, +1-213-814-4188, contact@jffla.org, for Japan
Film Festival

Web site: http://www.jffla.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment