Celebrating its 20th anniversary of presenting many of the best and most acclaimed cinematic gems from Japan this year, the Japanese Film Festival (JFF), widely known as EIGASAI, started off with an amazing spectacle with its Opening Night Gala last July 6, 2017 and the screening of Her Love Boils Bathwater (湯を沸かすほどの熱い愛 Yu o wakasu hodo no atsui ai) at the Shang Cineplex. Its director, Ryota Nakano, was this year’s special guest and made an appearance at the event, and also scheduled to hold talks for filmmakers and the general public during his stay in the Philippines about his career and the making of his successful first commercial film.
The Japan Foundation, Manila, celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Japanese Film Festival (JFF), widely known as EIGASAI, had announced the full lineup of films and special guests for JFF | EIGASAI 2017. Beginning July 1, in honor of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month, to August 29, 2017, 20 films of various genres selected for more than 100 screenings across six major cities nationwide, JFF | EIGASAI’s 20th anniversary edition is set to be the biggest and best yet.
The film festival opened Japanese style at Shangri-La Plaza Mall Main Atrium with a movie soundtrack DJ show and with a dance performance inspired by the opening film: Her Love Boils Bathwater.
After the opening remarks, Eigasai 2017 was officially opened with the kagami-biraki or sake barrel opening by the speakers, with everyone invited to a toast to the success of the festival.
Everyone was then asked to proceed to Shang Cineplex Cinema for the screening of the opening movie, Her Love Boils Bathwater, with director Ryota Nakano sharing some of the emotions, difficulties and triumphs he went through as he made the movie.
Our Correspondent Rica was there to take part in the event and got to enjoy the celebration.
To commemorate the anniversary, JFF | EIGASAI 2017 presents a retrospective showcase of films. There will be a special encore screening of DEPARTURES (おくりびと Okuribito), the 81st Academy Award for Best Foreign Language winner and one of the most well-received films in the history of EIGASAI. Two rare 16mm films screened at the first Japanese Film Festival in 1997: THE STING OF DEATH (死の棘 Shi no toge) directed by Kohei Oguri, the Grand Prix du Jury winner at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival, and MEMORIES OF YOU (ラブ・ストーリーを君に Love story wo kimi ni) directed by Shinichiro Sawai, will revive on July 1 at the birthplace of the Japanese Film Festival, CCP, serving as a prelude to the grand opening night on July 6 at the Shangri-La Plaza.
For the 20th edition, EIGASAI is part of the Japan Foundation Asia Center’s unified Japanese Film Festival held around Southeast Asia and the Pacific region, and together with the Japan Foundation, Manila, different genres of films from animation, drama, comedy, documentary, to horror, were curated with a total of 20 titles – 17 of which are
with English subtitles and three are dubbed in Tagalog, offering Japanese film lovers the chance to experience their favorite genre while discovering something new.
JFF | EIGASAI 2017 is generously supported by Shangri-La Plaza, Shang Cineplex, UP Film Institute, Cultural Center of the Philippines, SM Supermalls, SM City Baguio, SM City Bacolod, Film Development Council of the Philippines, Japanese Association of Northern Luzon, Sa Lubong-Baguio, Cordillera Green Network, JT International
(Philippines) Inc., Viva Communications Inc., Tagalized Movie Channel (TMC), Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., Akira, SumoSam and Richmonde Hotel Ortigas.
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