• Dance on Camera Festival in NYC is a Treat for Dance Lovers, Unveils 2018 Lineup

    [caption id="attachment_30160" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]American Tap American Tap[/caption] With a wide-ranging selection of 16 programs over five days, the 46th edition of the Dance on Camera Festival, July 20-24 in NYC, is a treat for dance lovers of all stripes, offering everything from tap to classical ballet to mime. Bookending the festival on opening and closing night are two exciting world premieres: Mark Wilkinson’s American Tap, an in-depth documentary about the history and resurgence of the vibrant dance style, and Maia Wechsler and Lise Friedman’s If the Dancer Dances, which follows the restaging of iconic choreographer Merce Cunningham’s RainForest for a new dance company and a new generation. Dance on Camera also presents two Special Screenings: Steven Cantor’s Ballet Now, which screens on opening day of the festival and follows New York City Ballet prima ballerina Tiler Peck as she pursues her dream to connect international dancers through an exhilarating fusion of dance forms; and a program of Spike Jonze dance shorts curated by the maverick himself, featuring never-before-seen footage. Additional highlights include unearthed curio The Mime Marcel Marceau, which debuts footage of the famed artist shot in 1964 but rights-locked until now; and the world premieres of Marie-Hélène Rebois’s Lucinda Childs, Great Fugue by Beethoven, in which the modern dance legend takes on the master composer; and Trey McIntyre’s self-reflective doc Gravity Hero, filmed after the sudden decision to shut down his celebrated dance company. The festival also boasts a number of free screenings and events, including panel discussions with artists and filmmakers; a Francisco Graciano photography exhibition spanning his career in the Paul Taylor Dance Company; a work-in-progress screening of Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters, chronicling the history and legacy of one of Jones’s most admired works; and more.

    FILMS AND DESCRIPTIONS

    Screenings held at the Walter Reade Theater (165 West 65th Street)

    Opening Night

    American Tap Mark Wilkinson, USA, 2018, 90m World Premiere The history of tap is an ever-evolving panorama of inclusion, adversity, and reinvention. This in-depth documentary is an absorbing narrative about a quintessentially American dance form—from its origins, to the historic and cultural events that shaped it, to its present day rebirth as a vibrant art form. Featuring archival footage of classic tap stars and highlighting the new generation of emerging talent, and commentary from historians, choreographers, and hoofers, this chronicle inspires and enlightens. [caption id="attachment_30159" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]Lil Buck with Icons of Modern Art Lil Buck with Icons of Modern Art[/caption] Preceded by Lil Buck with Icons of Modern Art Andrew Margetson, UK, 2016, 4m New York Premiere Chicago-born dancer Lil Buck takes London-based filmmaker Margetson on a light-footed tour through the halls of the Frank Gehry-designed Fondation Louis Vuitton.

    Closing Night

    If the Dancer Dances Maia Wechsler, with Lise Friedman, USA, 2018, 83m World Premiere Dance is unlike any other art. If a dance is not danced, it vanishes. Former Cunningham dancer Lise Friedman and director Maia Wechsler follow a group of New York City’s top modern dancers as they reconstruct RainForest, an iconic work by the legendary Merce Cunningham. Viewers are invited into the poetic, tactile world of the dance studio, where former Cunningham dancers teach RainForest to the Stephen Petronio Company, breathing new life into this enigmatic work. Timed to coincide with Cunningham’s centenary in 2019, the film throws light on the mysteries of dance-making, revealing what it takes to keep a dance alive. Preceded by Diptych Kiira Benzing, USA, 2018, 12m World Premiere Movement and art blend in this film about dreams, memories, painting, and the imagining of a new dance in homage to esteemed artist practitioners.

    Special Screening

    Ballet Now Steven Cantor, USA, 2018, 75m New York Premiere Ballet Now provides a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the world of ballet and what it takes to create a one-of-a-kind dance extravaganza. Featuring New York City Ballet’s Prima Ballerina Tiler Peck—the first ever woman to be asked to curate the L.A. Music Center’s famed BalletNOW™ program—and a diverse cast of world-class dancers from around the globe, the film follows Tiler as she tries to execute her groundbreaking vision of mashing together tap, hip-hop, ballet and even clown artistry. With less than a week to pull it all off, Tiler faces the mounting pressures of not only dancing in multiple pieces but also producing and directing this high-profile event. The success of the performances rests squarely on her shoulders. Will she pull it off? The film is produced by Elisabeth Moss, Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Productions, and Stick Figure Studios. A Hulu Documentary. Preceded by: Makers Who Inspire: Lauren Lovette Henry Thong, Australia, 2018, 7m As a principal dancer at one of the world’s most elite dance institutions and one of the only female choreographers to establish a significant presence at a major ballet company, New York City Ballet’s Lauren Lovette discusses her creative process, her love for her art, and what inspires her as a choreographer.

    Special Screening

    Spike Jonze Is a Dancer, USA, 2018, 60m World Premiere Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Jonze is renowned for such feature films as Her and Being John Malkovich, but he is equally beloved for his collaborations with music and dance artists, and for his work with brands—most recently, the Apple HomePod ad featuring F.K.A. Twigs. This special program features Jonze as choreographer, filmmaker, and dance storyteller, presenting several of his greatest hits on a big screen, as well as a dance-themed montage created specially for this event, including never-before-seen footage that, per Jonze “spans the past 300 years”, displaying a unique side of this visionary artist. A Man of Dance (Un homme de danse) Marie Brodeur, Canada, 2016, 84m New York Premiere English and French with subtitles An artist touched by history, Vincent Warren danced under the baton of Igor Stravinsky; collaborated on a film with Norman McLaren; and had love poems dedicated to him by Frank O’Hara. This film makes a valuable contribution by documenting his unusual life, from its start in New York’s buzzing 1960s art and dance scene, to an illustrious career as a principal dancer with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. An irrepressible raconteur in both English and French, Warren narrates his picaresque adventures, which are interspersed with archival material that reveals both his charisma as a solo performer and his generosity as a dance partner. Preceded by: Scalamare Jiri Kylian, Netherlands, 2017, 10m U.S. Premiere In 2015, Jiri Kylian was inspired by a visit to the Ancona War Memorial and its impressive staircase leading to the Adriatic. Thus, a simple narrative was born: an elderly couple celebrate the anniversary of their honeymoon, which began on these very steps. Many years later they are here, looking back on their lives and looking forward to an uncertain future. Kylian’s choreography is characterized by unexpected movements and gestures that border on the surreal, tinged with melancholy and a touch of the divine. Bournonville Legacy: Three Short Films Photographer and filmmaker Signe Roderik sets out to honor the legacy of visionary ballet master August Bournonville (1805-1879) with three short films that illuminate aspects of his famed Danish School, which produced such brilliant artists as Erik Bruhn and Peter Martins. All films in Danish with English subtitles. Featuring: Bournonville Today Signe Roderik, Denmark, 28min U.S. Premiere Excerpts from Romantic Era ballets, including some rarities, combine with commentary by dance critics Deborah Jowitt, Alastair Macaulay, and others. The Art of Silence Signe Roderik, Denmark, 27m New York Premiere An examination of character dance as a key element in classical story ballets, with leading exponent Morten Eggert as guide. When I Dance Signe Roderik, Denmark, 35m World Premiere The Royal Danish Ballet’s training, as seen through the eyes of pre-teens Ella and Sylvester, two of the school’s rising stars. Fire and Ashes, Making the Ballet RAkU Shirley Sun, USA, 2017, 60m New York Premiere Set in historic Kyoto, the fictional story of RAkU is based on a true event, the burning of a sacred temple by a deranged monk. Yuri Possokhov’s choreography for prima ballerina Yuan Yuan Tan mingles Japanese Noh theater and elements of Butoh with classical and contemporary ballet styles to create powerful dance drama. The film begins with Russian-born Possokhov and his team making plans over vodka and borscht, then moves into an intense rehearsal process, and culminates in a breathtaking performance by Yuan Yuan and her male partners—Damian Smith and Pascal Molat—as they enact this passionate tale of love and revenge. Preceded by: Birds in the Earth Marja Helander, Finland, 2018, 11m Young ballet students Birit and Katja Haarla move as regal birds through a beautiful but contested area of Scandinavia, where the indigenous Sami people may be under siege. The film, simultaneously humorous and melancholy, hints at ideas of land misappropriation and fading traditional customs. Gravity Hero Trey McIntyre, USA, 2018, 70m World Premiere In 2014, after ten years of building his dance company in Boise, Idaho, to great acclaim, Trey McIntyre shut it down. Its sudden and mysterious end is the backdrop of McIntyre’s introspective documentary, which explores themes of creativity, loss, and transformation embodied in the dances choreographed during the company’s life. Excerpts from some of his best known dances include “Ma Maison,” inspired by his encounters with the New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band; “Mercury Half Life,” set to the music of Queen; and the elegiac “Bad Winter.” McIntyre displays a remarkable ability to create work both idiosyncratic and accessible. Preceded by: Between Yourself and Me Lucas Smith, USA, 2017, 28m World Premiere This film explores the world of Third Rail Projects, the critically acclaimed company behind the long-running hit Then She Fell, as well as the methods of its artistic directors Zach Morris, Tom Pearson and Jennine Willett. Included are never-before-seen excerpts from that show as well as others, all interspersed with interviews of experts in the field, to offer a look at the flourishing world of immersive theater. Her Magnum Opus Marta Renzi, USA, 2017, 61m New York Premiere A group of friends gather to celebrate the teacher who has been a constant in their lives and whose little country house had been a refuge for them over the years. Choreographer Renzi, a prolific director of shorts, makes an auspicious feature debut using a versatile cast culled from the worlds of film, Broadway, and dance, creating a dreamlike story of friendship told almost entirely through movement. New York theater and dance performer Aileen Passloff appears as a version of herself. Preceded by: Rhizophora Julia Metzger-Traber and Davide De Lillis, Germany, 2015, 17m New York Premiere Forty years after the end of the Vietnam War, its damaging effects remain. The film follows a group of Vietnamese youths with disabilities as they work with a Berlin-based performing duo to create a performance that testifies to the human ability to flourish even under the most toxic circumstances. Lucinda Childs, Great Fugue by Beethoven Marie-Hélène Rebois, France, 2017, 80m World Premiere English and French with English subtitles Beethoven’s Great Fugue may not be an obvious choice for postmodern dance. But Lucinda Childs, known for her cool minimalist approach, choreographed it for the Lyon Opera Ballet in 2016. The filmmaker Marie-Hélène Rebois, who has a knack for getting inside a choreographic process, was there to document the rehearsals and performance. Through this film, one gets a sense of how Childs builds the dance sequences architecturally and spatially, how she communicates with her dancers in informal exchanges, and how she stays above the fray, at once distant and fully present. Preceded by: Bhairava Marlene Millar and Philip Szporer, Canada, 2017, 14m New York Premiere Dancer-choreographer Shantala Shivalingappa evokes the duality of the powerful deity Shiva as both destroyer and protector as she performs a symbolic dance that combines gesture and abstract body language to a rhythmic musical score against the backdrop of the spectacular ancient ruins of a South Indian village. Maurice Béjart, The Soul of Dance Henri de Gerlache and Jean de Garrigues, Belgium, 2018, 53m French with English subtitles U.S. Premiere This is a detailed portrait of the famous French-born dancer-choreographer (1927-2007), who brought a distinctive theatrical flair to his ballet and opera productions. Best known for his sensual tabletop ballet set to Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero,” Béjart connected with audiences through a diverse blend of traditions. The filmmakers explore his life and creative output via dance excerpts, which include a glimpse of the young Suzanne Farrell; archival material of his family; and recent interviews with dancers and co-workers. Preceded by: The Mime Marcel Marceau Dominique Delouche, France, 2018, 52m World Premiere Filmmaker Dominique Delouche shot this footage of the famous mime in 1964, but it was not until 2017 that he was able to acquire the image rights to edit and digitalize the film. Marceau (1923-2017) brought the art of mime from its roots in kabuki and commedia dell’arte to a level of brilliance previously unrealized. The film is composed of brief sketches shot during Marceau’s lifetime: his iconic creation “Bip,” always on the run from cops; the Mask Merchant; and the Seven Deadly Sins. Inspired by Chaplin, Marceau in turn inspired Michael Jackson, who makes a cameo appearance. NY Export: Opus Jazz Henry Joost and Jody Lee Lipes, USA, 2010, 60m In 1958, Jerome Robbins’s “ballet in sneakers” became a hit and toured the world. In 2010, New York City Ballet dancers Ellen Bar and Sean Suozzi reimagined the Robbins choreography for the screen, taking a new generation of City Ballet dancers—Robert Fairchild and Tiler Peck among the group—to various locations around the city where these character-driven interludes take place. With its jazzy score and urban vibe, the film moves with the rhythms of the city that so often inspired Robbins. A brief documentary about the making of Opus Jazz will also be included in the program. Q&A with dancers Georgina Pazcoguin (featured in the film) and dancer-actress Sondra Lee Perfectly Normal for Me Catherine Tambini, USA, 2017, 60m In this intimate documentary, a group of kids from ages 5 to 15 reveal what it’s like to live with a variety of physical and developmental challenges. Alexandria, Jake, Caitlin, and Veronica demand to be included in a world that largely avoids them. As this moving narrative unfolds, the kids’ devoted parents seek out opportunities for them to feel valued, including a unique after school dance program in Queens, which is the focus of much of the film’s action. There, the kids join a team of dancers, helpers, and teen volunteers with an ambitious goal: a spring recital. Preceded by: Gulliver, a Giant in the Bijlmer U.S. Premiere Juliette Stevens, Netherlands, 2018, 26m Dutch with English subtitles A group of primary school pupils from the Bijlmer, an enormous housing project in Amsterdam, participate in an innovative dance program in which they share their dreams of an ideal living environment against the background of an unruly reality.

    Special Programs

    DFA Global—Three Short Films Dance Films Association launches DFA Global, an international program that provides a platform of support and dialogue with global screen dance partners and producers, and which extends the festival’s commitment to screening films from all over the world. The inaugural selections hail from Canada, China, and Brazil. An Improbable Dream Lionel Chetwynd, USA, 2016, 44m Using archival footage and personal recollection, this documentary offers a no-holds-barred picture of the rigorous training demanded of youngsters who dreamed of becoming ballet dancers at the famed National Ballet of Canada in the era of founder-director Betty Oliphant. The film focuses on the academy’s 1981 alumni, which range from the internationally known (Rex Harrington) to those whose who did not continue their training. Recalling their experience as a time of anxiety mixed with hope, they are today confident people who have found their place in the world. Screening with: Fate (Nuo) Xiaojao Hu, China, 2017, 28m U.S. Premiere Chinese with English subtitles An exploration of the origins of the Chinese traditional “mask dance,” this film features works created by Professor Guo Lei, President of the Beijing Dance Academy. He draws on the characteristic features of traditional folk dance from his home province of Jiangxi, focusing on head and hand gestures and weaving the traditional form with contemporary choreography and performance. Screening with: 20 Years of Sun (20 anos de sol) Carlos Mach and Ariela Dorf, Brazil, 2018, 3m Dance, music, and fashion combine to create irresistible magic in this short film produced by FARM, a women’s wear company based in Rio de Janeiro, as part of a dance-infused media campaign celebrating its 20th anniversary.

    Shorts Program: Narrative

    (TRT: 68min) Apache Crew Yuriy Semenyuk, USA, 2017, 10m A Ukrainian dance team performs at Coney Island in this one-take black-and-white dazzler. Cold Sven Niemeyer, Germany, 2017, 6m New York Premiere A mother’s love turns cold in the struggle to care for her child. Competing for Sunlight: Ash Dagmar Dachauer, Austria, 2017, 5m New York Premiere A melancholy ode to an endangered species set to music by Tom Waits. Hypra Tim Jockel, Germany, 2018, 3m U.S. Premiere Dance and digital art merge in this lyrical solo performance. Impetu’s: Flamenco’s Driving Force Lulo Rivero, 2017, 5m New York Premiere Jesus Carmona tells a story with his own brand of flamenco, filmed in various Miami locations. In the Space Between Herve Cohen, USA, 2017, 6m New York Premiere Two strangers meet on a subway and embark on a journey, real or imagined. This is a project of San Francisco Dance Film Festival’s Co-Laboratory, in which filmmakers and choreographers are paired together and given one week to make a film. Jelanii’s Dance Maggie Piazza Carroll, USA, 2017, 4m Jelanii has been through tough times, but she bursts through the screen with a tenacity and drive that prove she is a survivor. Night Dancing Barney Cokeliss, UK, 2016, 6m Nightly, Bob sees a beautiful young woman dancing outside his window. He is transfixed and wonders if she is real. Then things get complicated. Oh! Million Fist! Hugo Cho, Hong Kong, 2017, 8m U.S. Premiere Using the techniques of action moviemaking, martial arts dancer Cho collaborates with fight director Master Yuen Fai to create original choreography based on fight scenarios. Sweet in the Morning Andree Ljutica, USA, 2016, 5m New York Premiere This dance journey to reconnect with loved ones who have passed away was filmed at the Angel Orensanz Center on the Lower East side, an ecstatic solo danced in a cathedral-like setting by Darrell Payne and choreographed by the late Leni Wylliams to a rendition by vocal virtuoso Bobby McFerrin. The Icons Mitchell Rose, United States, 2017, 4m New York Premiere Alternative interpretations of signage from America’s favorite generic couple, The Icons. Uthica Baruq Gibran Seth, Mexico, 2017, 8m U.S. Premiere Like actors in a Buñuelian action-adventure, a couple, masked and bizarrely costumed, perform a violent acrobatic duet that suggests a breakup. They enter a dream world of surreal characters and moving objects and eventually re-emerge restored. Vola Ned Farr, United States, 2017, 6m New York Premiere A young dancer remembers and relives her struggle for perfection. Shot at Teatro di Torino in Italy with two Italian dancers whose minimal dialogue needs no translation.

    Shorts Program: Experimental

    (TRT: 67min) Alien Threads Eva Ingolf, USA, 2018, 6m New York Premiere An original animation about spiders, webs, and DNA, inspired by a viewing of Louise Bourgeois’s sculptures at MoMA. Battle Shelley Lewis, USA, 2017, 4m New York Premiere Film meets music video as two dancers engage in a duel of escalating weaponry that turns dark and humorous. Black Out Philippe Saire, Switzerland, 2017, 17m New York Premiere Three dancers and three towels lie in neat squares as if on a beach. The placid scene is disrupted by falling black pigment. The floor turns into a canvas and the bodies into brushes. Bleeding and Burning Guillaume Marin, Canada, 2017, 2m New York Premiere An eerie encounter between a malleable human form and a galaxy unknown. Digital Afterlives Richard James Allen and Karen Pearlman, Australia, 2017, 5m New York Premiere A witty, whimsical meditation on free will, identity, and the afterlife with a touch of Franz Liszt. Palace of the Infinite Kathy Rose, USA, 2018, 4m New York Premiere Rose’s mesmerizing encounter with a variety of orchid beings and her own unstoppable imagination. Sculpt the Motion Devis Venturelli, Italy, 2017, 6m U.S. Premiere Art and architecture unite in this performance of shifting metallic shapes that skim the ground like futuristic sculptures on parade. Solitude Sue Healey, Australia, 2017, 10m World Premiere In a confined space, a woman in evident distress breaks free to “caper like a wild thing” in a series of riveting vignettes enacted by choreographer-performer Anca Frankenhaeuser. Stopgap in Stop Motion Stephen Featherstone, UK, 2016, 5m New York Premiere Photographs of performers in a disabled and non-disabled dance company come to life.The individual artists dance out of the photos and across table tops until the whole company meets to perform in unison. Time Reversal Symmetry Evann Siebens, USA, Canada, 2018, 8m World Premiere This project is a collaboration between artists and scientists at TRIUMF, Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics. It’s not as daunting as it sounds: as playful as a vaudeville sketch, the piece uses pedestrian movement and references artists who have worked with the body and media—predominantly Yvonne Rainer, Trisha Brown, and Bruce Nauman.

    Free Panels and Events

    Work-in-Progress Screening Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters We’re pleased to present a work-in-progress screening of Rosalynde LeBlanc and Tom Hurwitz’s documentary film about art resurrecting life. Can You Bring It traces the remarkable history and legacy of one of the most important works of art to come out of the AIDS era: Bill T. Jones’s tour de force ballet D-Man in the Waters. Using an extraordinary series of interviews and archival material, and featuring powerful cinematography, this lyrical film documents the making of the dance in 1989, and follows the journey of a group of young dancers learning it in 2016. #mydancefilm In order to spread the word about the new summer dates for Dance on Camera Festival, DFA has launched an invitation to demonstrate the impact and power of social media on dance film distribution. Responding to an opportunity for filmmakers to get their work seen—and screened —hundreds of films were posted using the hashtags #mydancefilm and #DOCF20thru24July, adding @dancefilms to flag our attention. A few of the exceptional entries will screen at this event, followed by a dialogue among filmmakers and followers. Meet the Artist: Karen Pearlman Meet the director of Woman with an Editing Bench, a biopic about Russian film editor Elizaveta Svilova, unsung creative collaborator on Dziga Vertov’s classic Man with a Movie Camera (1929). Dr. Pearlman is also the author of Cutting Rhythms, Shaping the Film Edit, which derives from her career as a professional dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and articulates her ideas about rhythm in film. She applies her scholarly understanding of kinesthetic empathy to a choreographic sensibility, editing screen dance works made by The Physical TV Company, which she codirects with Richard James Allen. Capturing Motion: Screening and Jury Discussion Now in its sixth year, Capturing Motion is a competition in which high school students are invited by Dance Films Association to submit films between one and five minutes in length. This free program will feature a screening of the top five juried films and a conversation with the student filmmakers. The winning work will be screened in the Walter Reade Theater on closing night of the festival. Moderated by Capturing Motion workshop leader and DFA Board member Shawn Bible. DFA Global Exchange This informal roundtable discussion will focus on film production as practiced by a wide variety of perspectives across arts organizations, film festivals, and independent producers. Guests will include producers of the Co-Lab of San Francisco Dance Film Festival, the founder of 24fps Dance+Film Weekend Project, the director of Experimental Film Virginia, and others. Join this open exchange about how projects get off the ground, who sits at the table, and what obstacles and opportunities arise. Moderated by Ron Honsa, Chairman of DFA Productions, whose Between Yourself and Me has its premiere at the festival. Photography Exhibition Francisco Graciano: Angels in Human Form This exhibit functions as a fragmented timeline spanning 13 years of the photographer’s life as a dancer in the Paul Taylor Dance Company. For him, the drama unfolding in the wings during a performance often rivaled any virtuosity happening onstage: a superb dancer, minutes ago an angel, soaking wet and freshly birthed from the stage into this private offstage limbo, is now human in form—wounded, flawed, and somehow even more sublime than any onstage perfection.

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  • Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival Announces Complete 2018 Lineup

    ,
    [caption id="attachment_26747" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Forrest Goodluck, Sasha Lane and Chloë Grace Moretz appear in The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Desiree Akhavan, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2018 Sundance FIlm Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Jeong Park. Forrest Goodluck, Sasha Lane and Chloë Grace Moretz appear in The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Desiree Akhavan.[/caption] The 2018 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival, taking place July 12-22, 2018, announce the complete programming lineup, with two thirds of this year’s content directed by women, people of color and trans filmmakers. As previously announced, the 2018 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival opens at the Orpheum Theatre with Kino Lorber’s “Studio 54,” Matt Tyrnauer’s vibrantly nostalgic documentary; and closes with FilmRise’s “The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” Desiree Akhavan’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner starring Chloë Grace Moretz. The festival features five world premieres including the deeply felt film from Taiwan, “Bao Bao”; “Bright Colors and Bold Patterns” directed by Michael Urie with a hilarious performance from Drew Droege; Laura Madalinski’s “Two in the Bush: A Love Story” a polyamorous love story; Jamie Patterson’s new feature film “Tucked” about two drag performers connecting across generations; and “Room to Grow” a documentary looking at the lives of queer teenagers today. As well as North American and US Premieres, “Eva & Candela,” “Sodom,” “Canary,” “Cola De Mono,” and “Daddy Issues.” Outfest Los Angeles’ documentary section shines a light on UNSUNG communities, including Alina Skrzesewska’s “Game Girls” which follows a couple as they struggle to navigate life in Los Angeles’ Skid Row, to the much anticipated SXSW Audience Award winner “Transmilitary” about those fighting for an equal chance to service their country. The proactive experimental film section, Platinum, continues to highlight boundary-pushing work with Myyki Blanco and SSION teaming up to create a new short film “No Leash” and a feature documentary by performance artist, Narcissister, in “Narcissister Organ Player.” The infamous Alchemy Party returns, this year at Navel, with 13 performers including Dorian Electra, Saturn Rising, and Slather Factory’s Bebe Huxley, and The Uhuruverse who will stretch your musical imagination. The 2018 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival will also return to The Ford Theatres. These screenings will kick off on July 18 with a screening of “Bad Reputation,” a documentary about Joan Jett; then Documentary Centerpiece, “When the Beat Drops,” followed by “Postcards from London” and concluding with “Wild Nights with Emily” featuring Molly Shannon. The Closing Night Gala “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” will screen at The Theatre at Ace Hotel. Special events include the 2nd Annual Trans Summit with Oscar nominated and Emmy Award-winning director and producer Yance Ford as the keynote speaker; the Focus On Taiwan event showcasing a collection of Taiwanese films including “Bao Bao” and “Alifu, The Prince/ss”; free screenings of films “Believer,” a documentary from Imagine Dragons frontman, Dan Reynolds, “They,” a family drama from director Anahita Ghazvinizadeh and Showtime’s “Beyond The Opposite Sex”, the long-awaited sequel to groundbreaking film, “The Opposite Sex.” Lastly, OutSet: The Young Filmmakers Project from Los Angeles LGBT Center and Outfest, will be premiering five new shorts on Sunday, July 22nd. Now in its sixth year, the OutSet program empowers youth ages 16-24 to share their stories though film.

    2018 OUTFEST LOS ANGELES LGBT FILM FESTIVAL LINE-UP

    GALA FILMS:

    STUDIO 54 – Opening Night Gala Dir: Matt Tyrnauer, USA, 2018, 98 min OUR FUTURE ENDS – Platinum Centerpiece, Co-Presented by Some Serious Business Dir: Clement Hil Goldberg, USA, 2018, 50 min WE THE ANIMALS – U.S. Centerpiece Dir: Jeremiah Zagar, USA, 2018, 93 min REINVENTING MARVIN – International Centerpiece Dir: Anne Fontaine, France, 2017, 115 min WHEN THE BEAT DROPS – Documentary Centerpiece Dir: Jamal Sims, USA, 2018, 87 min THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST – Closing Night Gala Dir: Desiree Akhavan, USA, 2018, 90 min

    DRAMATIC FEATURES

    1985 Dir: Yen Tan, USA, 2018, 85 min ANCHOR AND HOPE Dir: Carlos Marques-Marcet, Spain, 2017, 113 min BITTER MELON Dir: H.P. Mendoza, USA, 2018, 100 min BRIGHT COLORS AND BOLD PATTERNS – World Premiere Dir: Michael Urie (For the Stage) & David Horn (For the Screen), USA, 2018, 89 min CANARY (KANARIE) – North American Premiere Dir: Christiaan Olwagen, South Africa, 2018, 120 min COLA DE MONO – US Premiere Dir: Alberto Fuguet, Chile, 2017, 102 min CUERNAVACA Dir: Alejandro Andrade Pease, Mexico, 2017, 89 min DADDY ISSUES – US Premiere Dir: Amara Cash, USA, 2018, 88 min EVA & CANDELA (¿CÓMO TE LLAMAS?) – North American Premiere Dir: Ruth Caudeli, Colombia, 2018, 90 min EVENING SHADOWS Dir: Sridhar Rangayan, India, 2018, 102 min HARD PAINT (TINTA BRUTA) Dir: Filipe Matzembacher & Marcio Reolon, Brazil, 2018, 118 min I MISS YOU WHEN I SEE YOU Dir: Simon Chung, Hong Kong, 2018, 93 min MALILA: THE FAREWELL FLOWER Dir: Anucha Boonyawatana, Thailand, 2017, 96 min MAPPLETHORPE Dir: Ondi Timoner, USA, 2018, 102 min MONTANA Dir: Limor Shmila, Israel, 2017, 79 min PORCUPINE LAKE Dir: Ingrid Veninger, Canada, 2017, 84 min POSTCARDS FROM LONDON Dir: Steve McLean, United Kingdom, 2018, 87 min RIOT Dir: Jeffrey Walker, Australia, 2017, 106 min SKATE KITCHEN Dir: Crystal Moselle, USA, 2018, 105 min SODOM – North American Premiere Dir: Mark Wilshin, United Kingdom, 2017, 94 min THAT NIGHT OF NOVEMBER (NOVE DE NOVEMBRO) Dir: Lázaro Louzao, Spain, 2018, 84 min TUCKED – World Premiere Dir: Jamie Patterson, United Kingdom, 2017, 80 min TWO IN THE BUSH: A LOVE STORY – World Premiere Dir: Laura Madalinski, USA, 2017, 97 min WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY Dir: Madeleine Olnek, USA, 2018, 84 min

    DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

    BAD REPUTATION Dir: Kevin Kerslake, USA, 2018, 98 min CALL HER GANDA Dir: PJ Raval, Philippines/USA, 2018, 93 min CONVERSATIONS WITH GAY ELDERS: KERBY LAUDERDALE Dir: David Weissman, USA, 2017, 69 min DYKES, CAMERA, ACTION! Dir: Caroline Berler, USA, 2018, 58 min EVERY ACT OF LIFE Dir: Jeff Kaufman, USA, 2017, 92 min GAME GIRLS Dir: Alina Skrzeszewska, France/Germany, 2018, 90 min GOSPEL OF EUREKA Dir: Michael Palmieri & Donal Mosher, USA, 2018, 75 min THE ICE KING Dir: James Erskine, United Kingdom, 2018, 89 min LEITIS IN WAITING Dir: Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson & Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Tonga/USA, 2018, 72 min LOOKING FOR? Dir: Tung-Yen Chou, Taiwan, 2017, 60 min MAN MADE Dir: T Cooper, USA, 2018, 97 min MR. GAY SYRIA Dir: Ay?e Toprak, Turkey/France/Germany, 2017, 87 min ROOM TO GROW (World Premiere) Dir: Matt Alber & Jon Garcia, USA, 2018, 89 min SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD Dir: Matt Tyrnauer, USA, 2017, 98 min SHAKEDOWN Dir: Leilah Weinraub, USA, 2018, 82 min TRANSMILITARY Dir: Gabriel Silverman & Fiona Dawson, USA, 2018, 93 min

    EPISODIC PROGRAMS

    BONDING Created by: Rightor Doyle, USA, 2018, 108 min Two high school BFFS reunite and find they’re different as adults: he’s a newly-out gay man and she’s a dominatrix who’s going to tie him into her UNDERGROUND world of BDSM. VIDA Created by: Tanya Saracho, USA, 2018, 30 min “Vida” is a new Starz Original series about two Mexican-American sisters from the Eastside of Los Angeles who couldn’t be more different or distanced from each other. Circumstances force them to return to their old neighborhood, where they are confronted by the past and surprising truth about their mother’s identity. STRANGERS & FÉMININ/FÉMININ Created by: Mia Lidofsky (Strangers), USA, 2017, 52 min Created by: Chloé Robichaud & Florence Gagnon (Féminin/Féminin), Canada, 2017, 43 min Queer women are finding love and themselves in the second seasons of two of our favorite series from either side of the US/Canada border.

    EPISODIC SHOWCASE

    From the gay mafia to polyamory to queer and trans realities, this sampler of seven new independent series contemplates where our LGBTQ identities intersect, and how we can move forward together as a movement. RILEY PARRA Created by: Christin Baker, USA, 2018, 48 min Lesbian detective Riley discovers the city’s mean streets are actually a centuries-old battleground between angels and demons. THE FINDING HOME SERIES: LGBT IMMIGRANTS & ASYLUM SEEKERS Dir. Abraham Troen, USA, 2017, 63 min Explore the journeys of three queer immigrants in L.A. who have escaped persecution and violence in their native countries.

    PLATINUM SECTION: EXPERIMENTAL FILMS & LIVE EVENTS

    THE WILD BOYS (LES GARÇONS SAUVAGES) Dir: Bertrand Mandico, France, 2017, 110 min NARCISSISTER ORGAN PLAYER Dir: Narcissister, USA, 2017, 91 min BIXA TRAVESTY Dir: Claudia Priscilla & Kiko Goifman, Brazil, 2018, 75 min

    SHORTS SHOWCASE

    Dir: Multiple, UK, USA, Mexico, Canada, 2018, 100 min ALCHEMY PARTY Bae Bae, Bebe Huxley, Dorian Electra, London Jade, Lulo, Luna Lovebad, Mood Killer, Weston Allen, The Uhuruverse, Narcissister, Nebulae Cult, Saturn Rising

    SPECIAL EVENTS

    THEY Dir. Anahita Ghazvinizadeh, USA, 2017, 81 min After two years of taking hormone blockers to postpone puberty, a non-binary 14-year-old considers whether to transition and where to find their place in the world. BEYOND THE OPPOSITE SEX sponsored by Showtime Networks Dir. Emily Abt & Bruce Hensel, USA, 2018, 89 min In this sequel to Showtime’s The Opposite Sex, Rene and Jamie find that LIFE AFTER gender confirmation surgery comes with its own set of challenges. THE CARMILLA MOVIE sponsored by Shaftesbury Dir. Spencer Maybee, Canada, 2018, 94 min Laura and Carmilla’s domestic bliss is threatened by an unknown evil forcing the “Scooby gang” to team up once more to save their humanity. PROFESSOR MARSTON AND THE WONDER WOMEN sponsored by Annapurna Pictures Dir: Angela Robinson, USA, 2017, 108 min Angela Robinson introduces her latest feature about what inspired Harvard psychologist Dr. Marston (Luke Evans) to create the iconic Wonder Woman character. ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: THE DARE PROJECT & CLAY FARMERS Dir: Adam Salky, USA, 2005 & 2018, 33 min Revisit two Outfest classics, including the story of a gay theatre kid and a curious jock reconnecting as adults, and the 30-year anniversary of a moving rural drama reminiscent of Brokeback Mountain. THE ADVOCATE CELEBRATES 50 YEARS: A LONG ROAD TO FREEDOM sponsored by here TV & The Advocate Dir: William Clift, USA, 2018, 105 min Over the course of five decades, The Advocate has reported the breaking news and ongoing challenges of the LGBTQ community. BELIEVER sponsored by HBO Dir. Don Argott, USA, 2018, 101 min Imagine Dragons’ frontman Dan Reynolds makes it his mission to foster acceptance toward LGBTQ members of the Mormon Church by crafting an unforgettable rock festival. ALONE IN THE GAME sponsored by AT&T Entertainment Group Dir. Natalie Metzger & Michael Rohrbaugh, USA, 2018, 95 min This documentary chronicles the challenges and triumphs of LGBTQ athletes in sports today, featuring Robbie Rogers, Gus Kenworthy, Layana White and Megan Rapinoe. BAO BAO – World Premiere – sponsored by Taiwan Academy & Taiwan Ministry of Culture Dir. Guang-cheng Shie, Taiwan, 2018, 97 min A married lesbian couple’s relationship is challenged after one of the women promises their unborn child to another couple. ALIFU, THE PRINCE/SS sponsored by Taiwan Academy & Taiwan Ministry of Culture Dir. Wang Yu-Lin, Taiwan, 2017, 91 min The intersection of several individuals in present-day Taiwan creates a colorful tapestry of LGBTQ lives, including Alifu, a young hairdresser who longs for a sex-change operation. QUEEROES Jill Soloway, Lena Waithe and Tanya Saracho introduce an innovative new mentorship model to elevate queer, trans and POC storytelling. ONE MINUTE MOVIE CONTEST A selection of the work submitted to this year’s Outfest Fusion One Minute Movie Contest, on the topic of Keeping Silent / Speaking Truth. AIDS DIVA: THE LEGEND OF CONNIE NORMAN (Sneak Preview) Dir. Dante Alencastre, USA, 2018, 45 min Seizing her power as she confronts her mortality, trailblazing trans activist Connie Norman evolves as an irrepressible, challenging and soulful voice for the AIDS and queer communities of early 90’s Los Angeles.

    Panels & Workshops:

    MAKE THEM HEAR YOU: THE TRUTH ABOUT CONTENT BY & FOR LGBTQ+ WOMEN Sponsored by AT&T Hello Lab LGBTQ+ women have been at the forefront of many movements throughout history. However, in Hollywood, queer women remain the least represented community in front of and behind the camera. This discussion will explore the past, present, and future LGBTQ+ women in entertainment, bringing together trailblazers who are leading the charge for a more inclusive and multi-dimensional landscape. TRANS SUMMIT Whether you’re an actor, artist, activist or academic, you’re welcomed here. The afternoon will begin with our Academy Award-nominated keynote speaker Yance Ford (Strong Island), followed by three compelling case studies focused on specific areas of need in media representation. THE ROOM will then come together for an unedited, organic, and dynamic conversation about issues relating to the trans and non-binary experience, moderated by the LA Times’ award-winning reporter Tre’vell Anderson. BI IN THE BIZ sponsored by SAG-AFTRA and SAGIndie While the L, G and T communities have made great strides toward visibility in the culture, the B’s still remain relatively hidden, even in the entertainment industry. This panel will feature out bisexual actors and entertainment industry professionals discussing the specific challenges and opportunities for film, TV and online performers who identify as such. Break out of the bi closet as we explore the politics and the pragmatism of actors living out in the open. THE NEW AIDS NARRATIVE PANEL Nearly 30 years since the first films about the HIV/AIDS epidemic hit the big screen, a new wave of scripted dramas is emerging. Join Outfest and GLAAD for a discussion of the history of HIV/AIDS representation in cinema, and what the arrival of films like BPM (Beats Per Minute), 1985 and Bohemian Rhapsodymeans with regards to telling HIV/AIDS stories to a new generation.

    OUTFEST FORWARD

    SCREENWRITING LAB: LIVE READING Outfest’s annual live reading of scenes from the five scripts chosen for the 2018 Outfest Screenwriting Lab.

    OUTSET SHORTS SCREENING

    VICTORY BOULEVARD Dir/Scr: Jonny Alvarez, Producer: Ash Lavacca, Production Designers: Tristin Brown & Juliet Delgado, Mentor: Henry Alberto BLESS THE USA Dir/Scr: Sebastian Vergara, Co-Dir/Producer: Anthony Rizo, Production Design Mentor: Haharhel Valencia, Mentor: Marcos Davalos SIGNOURNEY WEAVER Dir/Scr: Andrea Ngeleka, Producer: Tiffany Patterson, Production Designer: Hesed Kim, Mentors: Doendray Gossfield & Quincy LeNear Gossfield THE CURSE Dir/Scr: Dave Berenato, Producer: Moira McFadden, Production Designer: Juliet Delgado, Mentors: Coley Sohn & Leanna Creel FLAMERS:BOTTOMS IN A BRUSHFIRE Dir/Scr: Capucine Berney, Producer: Alfredo Hernandez, Production Designer: Tristin Brown, Mentor: Assaad Yacoub.

    OUTFEST UCLA LEGACY PROJECT

    BUDDIES Dir: Arthur J. Bressan Jr., USA, 1985, 81 min DUCK SEASON (TEMPORADA DE PATOS) Dir: Fernando Eimbcke, Mexico, 2004, 90 min SHOPPING FOR FANGS Dir: Quentin Lee & Justin Lin, USA, 1997, 90 min SHOW ME LOVE (FUCKING ÅMÅL) Dir. Lukas Moodysson, Sweden, 1998, 89 min

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  • THE CIRCUS Coming to PBS, Documentary to Premiere on American Experience in October [Trailer]

    The Circus The four-hour, two-part documentary “The Circus,”, explores the colorful history of this popular, influential and distinctly American form of entertainment, from the first one-ring show at the end of the 18th century to 1956, when the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey big top was pulled down for the last time. Written, directed and produced by Sharon Grimberg and executive produced by Mark Samels, “The Circus” premieres on American Experience Monday and Tuesday, October 8-9, 2018, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS. A transformative place for reinvention, where young women could become lion tamers and young men traveled the world as roustabouts, the circus allowed people to be liberated from the roles assigned by society and find an accepting community that had eluded them elsewhere. Drawing upon a vast and richly visual archive and featuring a host of performers, historians and aficionados, “The Circus” brings to life an era when Circus Day would shut down a town, its stars were among the most famous people in the country, and multitudes of Americans gathered to see the improbable and the impossible, the exotic and the spectacular. “There’s nothing in the world like a circus,” said ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson. “You cannot come to a circus and still believe as you previously did. Circus is a peek into what we could be, how great we could be, how beautiful our world could be. It’s about making your own miracles, conjuring your own miracles. We’re coming for the transcendent.” Through the intertwined stories of several of the most innovative and influential impresarios of the late 19th century, including P.T. Barnum, James Bailey, and the five Ringling Brothers, the series reveals the circus as a uniquely American phenomenon created by a rapidly expanding and increasingly industrialized nation. It explores how its “dangerous” and “exotic” attractions revealed the country’s notions about race and Western dominance and shows how the circus subverted prevailing standards of “respectability” with its unconventional, titillating and “freakish” entertainments. “The tented traveling circus is an American creation,” said Mark Samels, executive producer of American Experience. “Appealing to both urban and rural parts of the country, and to people from all walks of life, the circus helped forge a common American culture and identity. It was an unprecedented combination of cutting-edge marketing, military-like organization and supreme artistry. The circus was where you could reinvent yourself, which is why so many ran away to join it. With the recent closing of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the series offers a fascinating look back at this distinctly American entertainment.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-14W2o49kA4

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  • JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film Unveils 2018 Lineup of 30+ Films

    [caption id="attachment_30145" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Ramen Shop Ramen Shop[/caption] JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film returns for the 12th edition at NYC’s Japan Society from July 19 through July 29; and will feature 28 feature-length films and 9 short films across the Feature Slate, Classics: Rediscoveries and Restorations, Documentary Focus, and Experimental Spotlight sections. For its tentpole Opening Film selection, JAPAN CUTS hosts the North American Premiere of Ramen Shop, a moving Japan/Singapore/France co-produced drama directed by Eric Khoo in which secret family recipes help bridge generations and cultures. Khoo and the film’s star Takumi Saitoh appear in-person for the July 19 screening, which is followed by an opening night party. The Centerpiece Presentation is the North American Premiere of Shuichi Okita’s Mori, The Artist’s Habitat, a fictionalized biopic centered on a single day in the life of reclusive Tokyo artist Morikazu Kumagai and his wife Hideko. The screening is preceded by the CUT ABOVE Award ceremony and is followed by a Q&A with star Kirin Kiki and post-screening party. Finally, the Closing Film is the epic Hanagatami, a meditation on youth and love amidst the backdrop of war, directed by pioneering filmmaker Nobuhiko Obayashi, best-known for his cult classic House (1977). A Q&A with star Shunsuke Kubozuka follows the U.S. Premiere screening. The festival will honor the beloved actress Kirin Kiki with this year’s CUT ABOVE Award for Outstanding Performance in Film. An industry veteran with over 50 years of screen credits behind her, Kiki is recognized today as one of her generation’s leading talents. She is best known internationally as a frequent collaborator of renowned auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda (After the Storm), with whom she worked this year on the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or-winning Shoplifters (alongside actors Sakura Ando and Lily Franky, two previous recipients of the CUT ABOVE Award). In addition to the Centerpiece Presentation title Mori, The Artist’s Habitat, Kiki is featured in this year’s JAPAN CUTS with a 10th Anniversary 35mm screening of Kore-eda’s landmark family drama Still Walking.

    JAPAN CUTS 2018 FULL LINEUP

    All films screen at NYC’s Japan Society (333 E. 47th St., New York, NY 10017) and are presented in Japanese with English subtitles, unless otherwise noted.

    Opening Film

    Ramen Shop (North American Premiere) Dir. Eric Khoo. With Takumi Saitoh, Seiko Matsuda, Mark Lee, Jeanette Aw. 2018, 89 min., Drama. In English, Japanese, Mandarin, and Cantonese with English subtitles. Masato (Takumi Saitoh) helps run a ramen shop in Takasaki, Japan with his emotionally distant father. Upon his father’s sudden death, a suitcase of old family photographs and journals that belonged to his long-deceased Singaporean mother motivates Takumi to learn about his roots and the mystery of his parents’ relationship in Singapore. With the help of a Japanese expat food blogger (pop idol Seiko Matsuda) and his maternal uncle (comedian Mark Lee), Masato undergoes a journey of discovery that unlocks secret family recipes, reveals painful pasts and begins a process of reconciliation that bridges national histories and generations. Filled with delectable scenes featuring Singaporean cuisine, this moving drama by Singapore’s leading auteur Eric Khoo celebrates the power of love, family and good food. Intro and Q&A with director Eric Khoo and star Takumi Saitoh. Followed by the Opening Night Party.

    Centerpiece Presentation

    Mori, The Artist’s Habitat (North American Premiere) Dir. Shuichi Okita. With Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kirin Kiki, Ryo Kase, Ken Mitsuishi. 2018, 99 min., Comedy. In the last 30 years of of his long life, reclusive artist Morikazu Kumagai (1880-1977), aka Mori, almost never left his Ikebukuro home. Instead, he took pleasure in a daily routine of observing the cats, fish, birds and insects living in his luxuriant garden for hours, eventually rendering them into his distinct paintings. Featuring a colorful cast headlined by screen legends Tsutomu Yamazaki (Tampopo) and Kirin Kiki (Still Walking), this delightful, offbeat comedy directed by Shuichi Okita (Mohican Comes Home) imagines a day in the life of Mori and Hideko, his wife of over 50 years, as they entertain a throng of welcome and unwelcome visitors, including a pair of condo developers whose encroaching presence signals the end of an era. Intro and Q&A with star Kirin Kiki, with CUT ABOVE Award ceremony. Followed by the Centerpiece Party.

    Closing Film

    Hanagatami (U.S. Premiere) Dir. Nobuhiko Obayashi. With Shunsuke Kubozuka, Takako Tokiwa, Mugi Kadowaki, Shinnosuke Mitsushima. 2017, 169 min., Drama. A passion project that was in gestation even before his legendary debut House (1977), veteran director Nobuhiko Obayashi’s follow-up to Seven Weeks (JAPAN CUTS 2015) is an adaptation of Kazuo Dan’s 1937 novella about a group of teenagers living in the coastal town of Karatsu as the Pacific War creeps ever closer. An ensemble cast of Japanese cinema’s rising stars plays out Obayashi’s fever dream of youth, desire and romance within an extravagantly stylized cinematic hyperreality full of his signature green screen composites, elaborate lighting and dizzying editing. With the horror of war in view, the doomed characters burn with desire to live their lives to the fullest, suggesting both a warning and a call for compassion and peace from the 80-year-old director. Intro and Q&A with star Shunsuke Kubozuka. Preceded by Short Film: “How Can You Know Where to Go If You Do Not Know Where You Have Been” Dir. Mizuki Toriya, 2018, 6 min, Animation/Documentary. In this tender and inspired short, the director sets delicate sand imagery to a conversation with her grandmother who experienced WWII in Kobe.

    Feature Slate

    In Alphabetical Order Amiko (U.S. Premiere) Dir. Yoko Yamanaka. With Aira Sunohara, Hiroto Oshita, Maiko Mineo, Ayu Hasegawa. 2017, 66 min., Drama/Comedy. 16-year-old Amiko is bored by her mundane life as a high schooler in Nagano until she meets Aomi, a classmate on the soccer team who shares her cynical point of view (and love of Radiohead), and develops a major crush. Though she doesn’t speak to him for months, when Aomi suddenly drops out of school and moves to Tokyo with a former student who represents everything she loathes, Amiko takes off after him to make sense of the betrayal. Shot and edited with a bold, unpredictable style that matches its title character’s rebellious playfulness, this invigorating micro-budget debut by 20-year-old director Yoko Yamanaka successfully avoids coming-of-age clichés to offer a wholly original take on the messy contradictions and yearnings of youth. Intro and Q&A with director Yoko Yamanaka. Preceded by Short Film: “NAGISA” (New York Premiere) Dir. Takeshi Kogahara, 2017, 18 min, Drama. A single poolside conversation with a classmate lingers on in the memory of a high school boy. blank 13 (New York Premiere) Dir. Takumi Saitoh. With Issei Takahashi, Mayu Matsuoka, Takumi Saitoh, Lily Franky. 2018, 70 min., Drama. Thirteen years after abandoning his wife and two sons by stepping out for a pack of cigarettes and never returning, deadbeat gambler Masato (Lily Franky) dies of stomach cancer. At his funeral, a motley crew of fellow mahjong players, pachinko parlor employees and former drinking buddies gather to pay their respects and tell stories, revealing aspects of Masato’s life that complicate his sons’ resentment towards him. Based on the childhood experiences of screenwriter Koji Hashimoto, this directorial debut by popular actor Takumi Saitoh takes a unique approach to the dysfunctional family drama and funeral comedy, effectively utilizing flashbacks and unexpected shifts in tone to explore what it means to be part of someone’s life, for better or worse. Intro and Q&A with director/star Takumi Saitoh. BLEACH (U.S. Premiere) Dir. Shinsuke Sato. With Sota Fukushi, Hana Sugisaki, Ryo Yoshizawa, Taichi Saotome, MIYAVI. 2018, 108 min., Action. The highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the mega popular Tite Kubo manga and anime series about the adventures of supernaturally gifted, orange-haired teenager Ichigo Kurosaki (Sota Fukushi). Capable of seeing spirits, Ichigo meets a “Soul Reaper” (shinigami) by the name of Rukia Kuchiki (Hana Sugisaki), who transfers her powers to him after being injured by an evil spirit known as a “Hollow.” Under Rukia’s guidance, Ichigo trains to harness his newfound Soul Reaper abilities in the battle against Hollows while Rukia does her best to fit in as a human high school girl. Skillfully directed by Shinsuke Sato (I Am a Hero, Gantz) with state-of-the-art CGI and a stellar cast, BLEACH raises the bar high for live-action manga adaptations. Co-presented with AnimeNYC. Intro and Q&A with director Shinsuke Sato. Born Bone Born (North American Premiere) Dir. Toshiyuki Teruya. With Ayame Misaki, Eiji Okuda, Michitaka Tsutsui, Yoko Oshima. 2018, 111 min., Comedy. This second feature by Okinawan comedian Toshiyuki Teruya, a.k.a. Gori (one half of the popular comedy duo Garage Sale) is a sunny, humanistic comedy set in Aguni, a remote island of Okinawa. A visibly pregnant Yuko (Ayame Misaki, Radiance) returns home to find her family still grappling with the recent passing of her mother, Emiko, while her father (Eiji Okuda) becomes increasingly withdrawn and her older brother (Michitaka Tsutsui) hopelessly combative. When neighbors start to gossip about Yuko’s fatherless unborn child, the local matriarch comes to her defense alongside a childhood friend. Soon, it will be a year since Emiko’s passing, and time to exhume her and wash her bones as dictated by the island’s Senkotsu ritual. Call Boy (North American Premiere) Dir. Daisuke Miura. With Tori Matsuzaka, Sei Matobu, Ami Tomite, Yuki Sakurai, Kenta Izuka. 2018, 119 min., Erotic Drama. A bored university student (Tori Matsuzaka) with a penchant for Greek philosophy moonlighting as a Shimokitazawa bartender is picked up by a mysterious woman (Sei Matobu) who invites him to join her male escort service, launching a journey of self-discovery through the sexual satisfaction of a range of wealthy middle-aged clients. With nods to American Gigolo’s critical vision of ‘80s flash, director and playwright Daisuke Miura (Love’s Whirlpool) unabashedly embraces awkward erotic excess to reveal social fault lines through the subculture of sex work. The film’s ceaseless parade of customers’ kinks eventually flattens the shock of explicit onscreen acts, taking the intimate lives of its characters out from under the neon to the bright light of day. This film is unrated, but is not recommended for persons younger than 18 years of age due to strong sexual content. Dear Etranger (New York Premiere) Dir. Yukiko Mishima. With Tadanobu Asano, Rena Tanaka, Kankuro Kudo, Shinobu Terajima. 2017, 127 min., Drama. Career-oriented forty-something divorcees Makoto (Tadanobu Asano) and Yuka (Shinobu Terajima) have each remarried, Makoto living with the younger Nanae (Rena Tanaka) and her two daughters from a previous marriage, and Yuka with her second husband and Makoto’s daughter. When Nanae becomes pregnant and Yuka’s husband ill, each family member is forced to reconsider the bonds of family beyond bloodlines and normative tradition. Yukiko Mishima’s (A Stitch of Life) contemporary realization of Kiyoshi Shigematsu’s 1996 novel (with a screenplay adapted by Haruhiko Arai) is a moving new entry in Japan’s family drama genre. Giving each character complex weaknesses and desires, Mishima brings extraordinary performances from veteran cast and young newcomers Raiju Kamata and Sara Minami. Dream of Illumination (International Premiere) Dir. Thunder Sawada. With Sara Shida, Yuya Takagawa, Maho Yamada, Akira Hamada. 2017, 91 min., Drama. After moving place to place due to her divorcé father Ueda’s (Yuya Takagawa) work as a real estate agent, high school senior Nana (Sara Shida) has spent the most time in the small town of Rokujo. Facilitating the purchase of low-value land by foreign buyers for development, Ueda is the scorn of the dwindling population of farmers stuck in debt and harboring provincial attitudes toward outsiders. As Nana considers her next step, her father reveals the secret trauma linking him to this land and its people. Writer/director Thunder Sawada’s critical examination of the precarity of rural life and inevitability of change boasts a warmly authentic cast, gorgeous B&W cinematography by Mizuki Nishida, and a trembling, moody score by Kenji Kariu. Intro and Q&A with director Thunder Sawada, star Yuya Takagawa, and producer Kazuyuki Kitaki. KUSHINA, what will you be (International Premiere) Dir. Moët Hayami. With Miyuki Ono, Tomona Hirota, Yayoi Inamoto, Ikumi Satake. 2018, 68 min., Drama. A meditation on youth, separatist politics and the rejection of patriarchy, Moët Hayami’s remarkable debut feature tells the story of Onikuma (Miyuki Ono, Evil Dead Trap, Black Rain), who founds an independent community of women in the mountain woods. Her daughter Kagu (Tomona Hirota, “YEAH”) was 14-years-old and pregnant with child when they first escaped modern society. Now that daughter, Kushina (Ikumi Satake), is reaching the same age and wondering about the world beyond the mountain. When a well-meaning anthropologist (Yayoi Inamoto) and her male assistant (Suguru Onuma) enter this precarious utopia, Onikuma is prepared to take all necessary steps to protect it, even if it means threatening the future Kushina might imagine for herself. Intro and Q&A with director Moët Hayami and star Tomona Hirota. Last Winter, We Parted (North American Premiere) Dir. Tomoyuki Takimoto. With Takanori Iwata, Takumi Saitoh, Mizuki Yamamoto, Kazuki Kitamura, Reina Asami. 2018, 118 min., Mystery/Suspense. An ambitious, young freelance journalist (Takanori Iwata) takes on the closed case of a famous fine arts photographer (Takumi Saitoh) whose beautiful female subject died on set in a gruesome fire. As details of the artist’s eery fascinations with physical mortality emerge, the writer pitches the increasingly salacious story to a skeptical editor (Kazuki Kitamura) just as it takes a dangerous turn. Directed by Tomoyuki Takimoto (Brain Candy), this exceptional mystery/thriller features a top-notch cast, skillfully employing noir genre conventions as alternating protagonists adopt the film’s investigation. With shades of Blow Up, thematic focus on visual control and manipulation causes the lurid narrative of erotic obsession to turn in on itself, even as the plot twists toward its conclusion. Based on the novel by award-winning author Fuminori Nakamura. Night is Short, Walk On Girl (East Coast Premiere) Dir. Masaaki Yuasa. With Gen Hoshino, Kana Hanazawa, Hiroshi Kamiya, Ryuji Akiyama. 2017, 93 min., Animation. Spunky college student Otome embarks on a booze-soaked romp through Kyoto in search of a book from her childhood. As the night stretches on for what seems like years, her quest takes on epic, hallucinatory proportions–starring a fanged god of used books, a guerilla theater troupe, a committee of crab-dancing philosophers, and love-inducing carp that fall from the sky. Meanwhile, an upperclassman at her university (voiced by pop star Gen Hoshino) undergoes a series of equally improbable misadventures in his attempts to win her heart. Adapted from the award-winning novel by Tomihiko Morimi, acclaimed animation director Masaaki Yuasa’s first feature in a decade is a delightful trip down the rabbit hole into questions of fate and interconnectedness, rendered in an astounding visual style. Preceded by Short Film: “DREAMLAND” (New York Premiere) Dir. Mirai Mizue, 2018, 5 min, Animation. Simple rectilinear figures assemble into surprisingly complex “cities” that pulse along to Scarlatti Goes Electro’s hyperkinetic score. Outrage Coda (New York Premiere) Dir. Takeshi Kitano. With “Beat” Takeshi Kitano, Toshiyuki Nishida, Ren Osugi, Tatsuo Nadaka, Ken Mitsuishi. 2017, 104 min., Action. The third entry in the Outrage yakuza series finds Takeshi Kitano’s Otomo on South Korea’s idyllic Jeju island running enforcement for Chang (Tokio Kaneda) in regional organized crime. The heap of bodies Otomo left on mainland Japan created an opening for the Hanabishi clan to preside over an uneasy union of yakuza syndicates, led by ex-stock trader Nomura (Ren Osugi), now purging old school gangsterism for slick corporate corruption. Interrupting Otomo’s semi-retirement, Hanabishi-kai lieutenant Hanada (Pierre Taki) makes a stir at a Jeju resort, causing Otomo to seek Chang’s retribution and settle his own score. Kitano relishes knotting crime world bureaucracy into a ball of double-crosses with stylish momentum, displaying the absurdity of toxic masculinity and emptiness of violence. This film is unrated, but is not recommended for persons younger than 18 years of age due to excessive violence. Passage of Life (North American Premiere) Dir. Akio Fujimoto. With Issace, Htet Myat Naing, Niina Kuromiya, Kaung Myat Thu. 2017, 99 min., Drama. Years after fleeing Myanmar and settling in Japan, an undocumented Burmese family faces an uncertain future as their application for political refugee status gets rejected. Khine and her husband Issace debate the dangers of going back to their home country while their Japan-raised sons, 7-year-old Kaung and 5-year-old Htet, struggle to connect with their Burmese identity despite Khine’s attempts to keep them linked through language lessons. Working with a cast of mostly non-actors, whose real-life experiences inform the narrative, first time director Akio Fujimoto constructs a remarkably affecting social realist drama that conveys the emotional stresses and socioeconomic struggles of life as a refugee in Japan with sensitivity, empathy and a documentary-like sense of immediacy. Intro and Q&A with director Akio Fujimoto. Radiance (New York Premiere) Dir. Naomi Kawase. With Masatoshi Nagase, Ayame Misaki, Chihiro Ohtsuka, Noémie Nakai. 2017, 101 min., Drama. Misako Ozaki (Ayame Misaki, Born Bone Born) is enthusiastically learning the craft of creating audio descriptions at a company producing soundtracks for visually impaired cinemagoers. Collaborating with a group of consultants with limited eyesight, she struggles to balance accuracy with space for visual imagination, clashing with Masaya Nakamori (Masatoshi Nagase, Electric Dragon 80.000 V, Mystery Train), a celebrated photographer with deteriorating vision. Together they learn to open their senses to the world around them. Approaching her subject with characteristic sincerity and sensuality, Naomi Kawase (Sweet Bean, The Mourning Forest) harnesses playful metafilmic devices from documentary style to a film-within-a-film featuring Tatsuya Fuji and Misuzu Kanno. Lensed by photographer Arata Dodo and featuring a vibrant score by Ibrahim Maalouf. Preceded by Short Film: “Across the water” (World Premiere) Dir. Nao Yoshigai, 2018, 9 min, Avant-Garde/Performance. A misty body of water holds the moving human form, flesh, glass, and fabric placed in iridescent relation. Side Job. (U.S. Premiere) Dir. Ryuichi Hiroki. With Kumi Takiuchi, Ken Mitsuishi, Kengo Kora, Tokio Emoto, Atsushi Shinohara. 2017, 119 min., Drama. Living in temporary housing following the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear catastrophe of March 11, 2011, Miyuki (Kumi Takiuchi, Greatful Dead) works as a clerk for Iwaki city. Her father (Ken Mitsuishi, Outrage Coda) lost his wife as well as his livelihood of farming in the disaster, and spends his days in pachinko parlors slipping further into depressive alcoholism. On weekends, under the pretense of English courses, she takes the express bus to forgetful Tokyo and adopts her alter ego as a hotel call girl. Fukushima native Ryuichi Hiroki, known for gritty romantic indies (Vibrator) and studio genre crowd pleasers (Her Granddaughter), adapts his own novel in one of the most earnest and poignant dramatic treatments of the long aftermath of 3/11. This film is unrated, but is not recommended for persons younger than 18 years of age due to strong sexual content. Thicker Than Water (North American Premiere) Dir. Keisuke Yoshida. With Masataka Kubota, Hirofumi Arai, Keiko Enoue, Miwako Kakei. 2018, 103 min., Drama/Comedy. Hard-working Yuria (Keiko Enoue) runs a small printing company. Despite her best efforts, she can’t seem to attract the attention of Kazunari (Masataka Kubota), a polite yet aloof client who is more interested in flirting with Mako (Miwako Kakei), Yuria’s ditzy younger sister and employee. Meanwhile, Kazunari has his hands full with Takuji (Hirofumi Arai), his rough-hewn brother who was recently released from prison and is crashing at his apartment. With perceptive insight, director Keisuke Yoshida (Himeanole, My Little Sweet Pea) highlights the comedic heights and dramatic lows of these impossibly mismatched but mutually dependent sibling pairs as they deal with familial duties, business dealings and matters of the heart. Featuring a stellar breakout performance by manzai comic Keiko Enoue. Intro and Q&A with director Keisuke Yoshida. TOURISM (International Premiere) Dir. Daisuke Miyazaki. With Nina Endo, Sumire, Takayuki Yanagi. 2018, 77 min., Drama. In Japanese, English, and Malay with English subtitles. When Nina (Nina Endo) wins free airline tickets, she leaves her dingy apartment and part-time factory job in Yamato City, Japan for Singapore with her friend Su (Sumire). Wandering aimlessly through the tourist district, they are underwhelmed by national monuments and return to the familiarity of giant shopping malls, selfie stick in hand. But when Nina loses track of both Su and her smartphone, she stumbles into a more unmediated experience with Singapore’s streets, food and people. Director Daisuke Miyazaki’s follow-up to Yamato (California) (JAPAN CUTS 2017) is a pleasantly lowkey riff on alienation and materialism within a globalizing society shot in pseudo-documentary style, replete with quirky dance sequences, Snapchat filters, ghosts and a mysterious child narrator. Tremble All You Want (U.S. Premiere) Dir. Akiko Ohku. With Mayu Matsuoka, Daichi Watanabe, Anna Ishibashi, Takumi Kitamura. 2017, 117 min., Romantic Comedy. Yoshika (Mayu Matsuoka) has had a crush on Ichimiya (Takumi Kitamura), whom she calls “Ichi” (One), since she was in middle school. Now a 24-year-old salarywoman, her all-consuming fixation has prevented her from even considering another candidate for boyfriend until an office colleague, whom she dubs “Ni” (Two), asks her out. As she sorts out her Ichi vs. Ni predicament through mile-a-minute monologues spoken to a cast of regular characters and aloud to herself, Yoshika gradually reveals the depths of her obsessions, which become increasingly troubling as her fantasy life and reality start to collapse into each other. Adapted from the novel by award-winning author Risa Wataya, director Akiko Ohku’s delightfully off-kilter romcom offers a refreshing twist on a familiar genre. Violence Voyager (U.S. Premiere) Dir. Ujicha. With Aoi Yuki, Naoki Tanaka, Shigeo Takahashi, Tomorowo Taguchi. 2018, 84 min., Animation. An American boy named Bobby and his friend Akkun set out for the mountains to build a secret hideout. On their way, they stumble upon a mysterious amusement park called “Violence Voyager.” It doesn’t take long for things to get weird as the boys discover a group of scared children who can’t seem to escape and soon find themselves under attack by robot-like humanoids. For his three years in the making follow-up to The Burning Buddha Man (2013) director Ujicha again employs a blend of animation and manga called “geki-mation,” creating grotesque body horror nightmare imagery from painstakingly detailed, hand-painted paper cutouts. Chock-full of B-horror, sci-fi and kaiju film references, this blood-soaked late-night flick is not for the kiddies. This film is unrated, but is not recommended for persons younger than 18 years of age due to disturbing content. We Make Antiques! (East Coast Premiere) Dir. Masaharu Take. With Kiichi Nakai, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Tomochika, Aoi Morikawa. 2018, 110 min., Comedy. A whip smart, laugh out loud buddy comedy that gently satirizes the antiques trade, directed by Masaharu Take (100 Yen Love). Toshio (Kiichi Nakai), a smooth-talking antiques dealer with a keen eye but perpetual bad luck, finally strikes gold when he finds a tea bowl with a letter written by 16th century tea master Sen no Rikyu. Or at least he thinks he does. When it’s revealed that he was actually sold immaculate fakes made by a group of conmen led by disgraced potter Sasuke (Kuranosuke Sasaki), Toshio sees another opportunity and decides to go in with them to pull off an elaborate heist. Their plan: create a priceless Rikyu bowl and reap the massive rewards. Yocho (Foreboding) (U.S. Premiere) Dir. Kiyoshi Kurosawa. With Kaho, Shota Sometani, Masahiro Higashide, Ren Osugi. 2017, 140 min., Sci-Fi. When people around her start going mad, Etsuko (Kaho, Our Little Sister) finds the cause of their affliction in the hospital where her husband Tatsuo (Shota Sometani, Himizu) works with the mysterious Dr. Makabe (Masahiro Higashide, Asako I & II). What she discovers are extraterrestrials in human form that are capable of removing “concepts” from people with the touch of a hand and are prepping for an invasion. Etsuko, however, also finds she is immune to their powers. Featuring his flair for depicting modern alienation while utilizing ingenious scene set ups and subtle humor, Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Journey to the Shore, Cure) returns with this lo-fi sci-fi steeped in the body snatcher genre that expands on the world of Before We Vanish (2017).

    Classics: Rediscoveries and Restorations

    In Alphabetical Order Abnormal Family (North American Premiere) Dir. Masayuki Suo. With Kaoru Kaze, Miki Yamaji, Usagi Aso, Ren Osugi. 1984, 63 min., Softcore “Pink Film.” Before going on to win Japan Academy Prizes for Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t (1992) and his international hit comedy Shall We Dance? (1996), director Masayuki Suo began his filmmaking career in the softcore pink film genre with this playful, erotic homage and parody of Yasujiro Ozu’s family dramas. Utilizing a Tokyo Story-like premise about a buxom daughter-in-law’s relationship with her husband’s nuclear family and a father’s feeling of isolation from his children, Abnormal Family is full of nods to Ozu’s cinematic universe that will delight (or deeply offend) fans of the Japanese cinema master—including tatami-level medium close-ups, stilted dialogue, and an uncanny Chishu Ryu impression by Ren Osugi—while also fulfilling the requisite number of sex scenes. New 4K restoration by Rapid Eye Lab. This film is unrated, but is not recommended for persons younger than 18 years of age due to strong sexual content. Still Walking (10th Anniversary Screening) Dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda. With Hiroshi Abe, Yui Natsukawa, You, Kirin Kiki. 2008, 114 min., Drama. The Yokoyama family gathers for an annual commemoration of the eldest son Junpei, who drowned fifteen years ago while saving someone’s life. Over the course of the day, suppressed tensions and resentments are gradually revealed amidst forced pleasantries and shared meals as second son Ryo (Hiroshi Abe) endures feelings of inferiority in front of his curmudgeon father (Yoshio Harada) and passively judgmental mother (Kirin Kiki), both of whom disapprove of his recent marriage to a widow (Yui Natsukawa) with a 10-year-old son. Dedicated to his late mother, Hirokazu Kore-eda’s 2008 drama is among his most personal films—a masterfully directed, emotionally nuanced expression of the love, heartbreak and comfort within family relationships—and a modern classic of Japanese cinema.

    Documentary Focus

    In Alphabetical Order Of Love & Law (East Coast Premiere) Dir. Hikaru Toda. With Kazuyuki Minami, Masafumi Yoshida, Yae Minami, Kazuma Tsujitani. 2017, 94 min., Documentary/LGBT. An artist named Rokudenashiko charged with violating Japan’s obscenity law through her vagina-themed artworks. A teacher fired for not singing the national anthem at graduation. People denied legal status due to being born outside the rigid family registration structure. These are some of the cases taken up by Japan’s first law firm founded by an openly gay couple, Masafumi Yoshida and Kazuyuki Minami. Hikaru Toda’s rousing and urgent crowdsource-funded documentary captures Fumi and Kazu’s professional and personal lives at their Osaka-based office representing marginalized individuals who challenge the status quo of a nation projecting homogeneity, while they themselves reflect on their desire to be parents, and love and care for each other amidst their dedicated work. Intro and Q&A with director Hikaru Toda. Sennan Asbestos Disaster (North American Premiere) Dir. Kazuo Hara. With Yoko Okada, Kazuyoshi Yuoka, Kazuko Minami, Miyoko Sato, Chiuko Ishikawa. 2017, 215 min., Documentary/Environmental. Beginning in the 1970s Kazuo Hara (The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches On) developed the iconoclastic “action documentary” style breaking ethical norms of nonfiction filmmaking to follow a protagonist collapsing personal boundaries in pursuit of political truths in disability rights, queer self-determination, or wartime atrocity. Ten years in the making, the epic Sennan Asbestos Disaster builds on this method, joining citizens of Sennan, Osaka seeking legal reparations from the government for exposing their working class community to asbestos factories’ deadly toxins. A powerful ensemble piece gaining strength from the warmth of everyday people standing up to the state for their rights, this radical film analyzes collective action and its limits, locating poisonous threats in self-regulating social mores as much as environmental pollution. Intro and Q&A with director Kazuo Hara, producer Sachiko Kobayashi, and film participants. Toward a Common Tenderness (North American Premiere) Dir. Kaori Oda. 2017, 63 min., Documentary/Political/LGBT. In Japanese and Bosnian with English subtitles. Produced between Japan and Bosnia-Herzegovina, this entrancing essay film contends with the essential questions of documentary cinema: representing an other with their own emotions and inner life, whether a family member or a person from another culture. Kaori Oda (Aragane) knits together unused personal footage from her experiences home in Japan and studies with Béla Tarr at his Film Factory in Sarajevo from 2013-2016. Becoming a masterclass in the art and ethics of filmmaking, the film powerfully engages questions of queer identity, cross-cultural communication, representing poverty and labor, and the power of the camera. A poetic wonder, effortlessly lifting up epiphanies coalesced in images of the everyday. Intro and Q&A with director Kaori Oda.

    Experimental Spotlight

    In Screening Order Empty Orchestras and the Speed of Your Voice The human voice exhibits new texture when housed in the audiovisual containers of cinema. These works let the oral utterance sail while the image plays along, whether sounding out non-verbal affect, revealing the architecture of breath, reciting historical fantasy, or following a whistle into the sky, and scream through the night. Total running time is approximately 87 minutes. Intro and Q&A with director Nao Yoshigai, director Yohei Suzuki and actress Elisa Yanagi. Films: “WAAAH” (New York Premiere) Dir. Sawako Kabuki, 2018, 1 min. A baby’s wail reverberates through life and its wrenching physical sensations. “Breathing House” (World Premiere) Dir. Nao Yoshigai, 2017, 12 min. Last gasps of the Seiza-sha house in Kyoto devoted to Torajiro Okada’s still-sitting meditation method from the late-Meiji era’s intercultural ferment. “Bivalvia: Act I” (U.S. Premiere) Dir. Yu Araki, 2017, 20 min. Songs reverberate between mollusc shells, karaoke lyrics guiding a history of seaborn tragic lovers from different shores. “Stories floating on the wind” (World Premiere) Dir. Nao Yoshigai, 2018, 9 min. Along with vegetable and sea life, the camera is but one element of a sensual ride along a coastal road and playground in this masterful short. “YEAH” (North American Premiere) Dir. Yohei Suzuki, 2018, 45 min. From the director of OW (2015), “YEAH” finds a young woman (Elisa Yanagi) investigating the sonic properties of its titular exclamation and enigmatic qualities of artificial light.

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  • Watch New Trailer for Deliciously Scandalous SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD

    SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD The new trailer dropped today for the documentary Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood, the deliciously scandalous story of Scotty Bowers directed by Matt Tyrnauer. The film is based on the Book: “Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars,” by Scotty Bowers with Lionel Friedberg. Greenwich Entertainment will release Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood on July 27th at the Arclight Hollywood in LA, and on August 3rd at the IFC Center in NY. Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood is the deliciously scandalous story of ScottyBowers, a handsome ex-Marine who landed in Hollywood after World War II and became confidante, aide de camp and lover to many of Hollywood’s greatest male — and female — stars. In the 1940s and ’50s, Scotty ran a gas station in the shadow of the studio lots where he would connect his friends with actors and actresses who had to hide their true sexual identities for fear of police raids at gay bars, societal shunning and career suicide. An unsung Hollywood legend, Bowers would cater to the sexual appetites of celebrities – straight and gay – for decades. In 2012, he finally spilled his secrets in the New York Times bestselling memoir “Full Service,” which revealed a dramatic, pre-Stonewall alternate history of Hollywood. While the studio PR machines were promoting their stars as wholesome and monogamous, Bowers was fulfilling the true desires of many of them. This cinema-vérité documentary tells his story, as well as presents eye-opening takes on icons from the Hollywood Golden Age including Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner and many more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qn6HxTJp0k

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  • IDEAL HOME Starring Steve Coogan and Paul Rudd as a Hilarious Gay Couple Opens June 29th [Trailer]

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    Ideal Home Ideal Home written and directed by Andrew Fleming (The Craft, Dick, Hamlet 2) and starring Steve Coogan, and Paul Rudd, as a hilarious bickering gay couple will open in theaters and VOD on June 29th.  The film also stars Jack Gore (Billions, Wonder Wheel), Jake McDorman (Lady Bird, CBS’s 2018 revival of Murphy Brown, Limitless the TV series, Shameless), and Alison Pill. Ideal Home is the touching and humorous story of Erasmus and Paul (Steve Coogan and Paul Rudd), a bickering gay couple whose life is turned inside out when a ten-year old boy shows up at their door claiming to be Erasmus’ grandson. Neither Paul, nor Erasmus, are ready to give up their extravagant lifestyles to be parents, but maybe this little kid has thing or two to teach them about the value of family. https://youtu.be/lK3qmEe2cJg

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  • ANIMAL WORLD Starring Michael Douglas to Open 21st Shanghai International Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_30109" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]ANIMAL WORLD ANIMAL WORLD[/caption] The Chinese film ANIMAL WORLD, directed by Han Yan and starring Li Yifeng and Michael Douglas, will be the opening film of the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival which will run from June 16th to 25th, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzMEV1UOtAE The first batch of 8 competition feature films for Golden Goblet Awards include: FRIDAY’S CHILD (USA) directed by A.J Edwards, HATTRICK (Iran) directed by Ramtin Lavafipour, A HOLE IN THE HEAD (Poland) directed by Piotr Subbotko, LOST, FOUND (China) directed by Lv Yue, OUT OF PARADISE (Switzerland/Mongolia) directed by Batbayar Chogsom, A TRANSLATOR (Cube/Canada) directed by Rodrigo Barriuso and Sebastian Barriuso, THE WAY TO MANDALAY (Denmark) directed by Ole Bornedal, and WHERE I’VE NEVER LIVED (Italy) directed by Paolo Franchi. The festival announced the full list of Golden Goblet Awards jury. The feature film unit jury is chaired by Chinese director and actor Jiang Wen and other jury members include Chang Chen (Chinese Taiwanese Actor), Ildiko Enyedi (Hungarian Director and Screenwriter), Semih Kaplanoglu (Turkish Director, Screenwriter and Producer), Naomi Kawase (Japanese Director, Screenwriter, Producer and Actress), David Permut (American Producer), and Qin Hailu (Chinese Actress, Screenwriter and Producer). The documentary unit jury is chaired by Finnish documentary director, photographer, screenwriter and producer Pirjo Honkasalo, and Israeli documentary director Yoav Shamir and Chinese documentary director Wu Wenguang serve as judges. The animation unit jury is chaired by French animation director Jacques-Remy Girerd, and Japanese animation director and screenwriter Sunao Katabuchi and Chinese animation scholar and director Sun Lijun serve as judges.

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  • Issa Lopez VUELVEN Win Top Awards at 10th HOLA Mexico Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_30106" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Vuelven Vuelven[/caption] At its 10th anniversary closing night gala HOLA Mexico Film Festival (HMFF) presented its Cinelatino & DishLATINO Audience Choice Award and Cinelatino Best Director Award to Issa Lopez for Vuelven. Hailed by Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro as one of the best Mexican films in recent years, Vuelven, a dark fantasy, is a heartfelt genre film that surpasses all expectations. Its protagonist, 10-year-old Estrella, has three wishes. The first one is for her missing mother to return. Her wish is granted, but her mother is dead and her ghost follows her everywhere. Terrified, Estrella tries to escape by joining a gang of orphan children, but she quickly discovers that in the real world, ghosts are never truly left behind, and that only the bravest survive the brutality and violence that surround her. In collaboration with UNAM and presented for the first time, the Cinelatino Tomorrow’s Filmmakers Today Short Award was presented to Jimmy Moreno for short film Embalmer. Embalmer follows the story of a veteran mortician who muses about life, death and the things one must do in preparation.

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  • LeBron James Exec-Produces Documentary STUDENT ATHLETE on ‘Uncompensated Athletes’

    [caption id="attachment_22914" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]LeBron James LeBron James[/caption] The HBO Sports documentary Student Athlete, illuminating the complex rules of amateur athletics in America and showing how they affect uncompensated athletes and their families, will debut on HBO on Tuseday, October  2 (10:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT). From LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Entertainment and Steve Stoute’s United Masters, the feature-length presentation is directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (HBO’s Oscar(R) winners “Saving Face” and “A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness”) and Trish Dalton (“Bordering on Treason”). Unpaid college athletes generate billions of dollars for their institutions every year. Student Athlete unveils the exploitative world of high-revenue college sports through the stories of four young men at different stages of their athletic careers, as well as a coach-turned-advocate and a whistle-blowing shoe rep who exposes the money trail. The documentary spotlights: former NCAA and NFL coach John Shoop; New Jersey high school basketball phenom Nick Richards, now at the University of Kentucky; Mike Shaw, who played at the University of Illinois and Bradley University; Shamar Graves, a former wide receiver at Rutgers University; and Silas Nacita, a walk-on who played at Baylor University. From high-school recruiting to post-graduation, the usefulness of athletes is tied to their ability to produce revenue. Once they can no longer do that, their participation in sport ends? – ?often abruptly? – ?with virtually nothing to show for their contributions. An audited financial disclosure from the NCAA in March 2018 revealed the association had close to $1.1 billion in revenue during 2017, a total that was unimaginable in 1964, when the NCAA coined the term “Student Athlete.” In July 2017, news reports confirmed that the Big Ten conference had reached agreement with three television partners on a six-year, $2.64 billion rights deal to carry conference athletic competition, primarily focused on football and men’s basketball. Other powerhouse conferences across the country have struck similar deals and some have even partnered with media companies to launch standalone conference network channels dedicated to increasing exposure and generating more revenue. Huffington Post wrote, “Big-time college sports look more like their professional counterparts than they ever have with one major exception: The NCAA has restrictive rules in place that prevent schools from compensating athletes beyond the full cost of attending.” Directors Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton say, “We embedded in the world of men’s college basketball and football, capturing athletes’ hopes and dreams being shattered by the harsh reality of what it means to be a ‘Student Athlete’ in a billion-dollar industry.” The production team is spearheaded by NBA superstar and three-time world champion LeBron James, one of today’s most socially responsible and community-minded athletes.

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  • Elaine McMillion Sheldon’ RECOVERY BOYS, An Intimate Look at Opioid Crisis, to Debut on Netflix [Trailer]

    Recovery Boys Four men attempt to reinvent their lives in the heart of America’s opioid crisis in the new Netflix original documentary Recovery Boys directed by Academy Award-Nominee Elaine McMillion Sheldon. Recovery Boys which had its World Premiere as an Official Selection of the 2018 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, will launch globally on Netflix June 29, 2018 and in NY at the Metrograph and in LA at Laemmle Music Hall. In the heart of America’s opioid epidemic, four men attempt to reinvent their lives and reenter society after years of drug abuse. Academy Award-nominated director Elaine McMillion Sheldon (Heroin(e)), returns to her native West Virginia for her feature film debut. Recovery Boys is an intimate look at the strength, brotherhood, and courage it takes to overcome addiction and lays bare the internal conflict of recovery. In an effort to break the cycle of generational addiction and trauma, four young men let go of painful pasts as they live in the present and build a new community in a farming-based rehab. After rehab, they experience life’s trials and tribulations sober but struggle to find their place and purpose in an often-unforgiving society. In today’s world, where shocking statistics about the opioid crisis make headlines daily, Recovery Boys offers a deeply personal look into the unseen lives of those working toward transformation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSS9kYipRLk

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  • PROFILE, BLACK MOTHER, MODEL HOME among First Wave of Films for 1st North Bend Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_30092" align="aligncenter" width="900"]MODEL HOME MODEL HOME[/caption] The North Bend Film Festival revealed the first wave of films and the haunting poster from Pacific Northwest artist Zachary Schomburg, featuring the region’s scenic slopes and ghostly pines, for its inaugural edition in North Bend, Washington, taking place from August 23rd to the 26th. Best known as the original shooting location for Twin Peaks, the festival will take place in the beautiful historic North Bend Theatre, embracing the classic diner and eerie woods that once gave David Lynch & Mark Frost so much inspiration, just a couple of miles away from the iconic Salish Lodge. The festival seeks to spotlight innovative means of storytelling, while exploring surrealism as well as highlighting multi-dimensional stories and one-of-a-kind experiences. Introducing a new structure in nonfiction form, Khalik Allah’s sophomore documentary BLACK MOTHER offers us insight into daily life in Jamaica, unfolding like a historical mixtape that immerses the audience in a sensorial journey in space, time and culture. Building from coinciding social constructs, Patrick Cunningham’s debut film MODEL HOME is a surreal, free-wheeling take on the ostracization of the lower middle class. Blurring the line between dreams and reality, Mitzi Peirone’s BRAID feels like a fever dream by way of Sofia Coppola. A classic at first glance and shocking with every twist, Timur Bekmambetov’s PROFILE uses a minimalist visual setting, a computer screen (familiar to Bekmambetov from 2014’s hit Unfriended, which he produced), to tell a larger than life story about an ISIS investigation gone too deep and too far, all based on true events. North Bend Film Festival’s focus on crossover storytelling includes the not-to-be-missed World Premiere of the immersive and intimate art performance from Ava Lee Scott (Sleep No More), ANNABELLEE, a mixed-media art experience using tarot reading, immersive theater and live-VR to enthrall and enchant. Navigating new ways of telling stories, the festival will also venture into linear virtual reality territory with five unique titles, each one bringing their own approach to molding new narratives. For its first year, the festival will host a short film program dedicated to exploring the inspiration behind David Lynch’s work as an artist and filmmaker, called “THE EXTRA ORDINARY,” for which Jonathan Marlow of Camera Obscura has curated four influential films that speak to Lynch and his work, ranging from 1966 to 2000. North Bend Film Festival 2018 Poster

    Profile (West Coast Premiere) Cyprus, Russian Federation, UK, USA | 2018 | 103 Min | Dir. Timur Bekmambetov

    Amy, a struggling freelance journalist looking for her next big story, pitches her editor on investigating the recruitment of European women by ISIS. Pretending to be recently converted to Islam and using an alias, she creates an incriminating Facebook profile where she begins to like and share posts themed around islamic extremism. It doesn’t take long for Bilel, a Jihad fighter in Syria, to set his eyes on this seemingly vulnerable prey.

    From the producers of UNFRIENDED, this breathtaking socio-political thriller takes place entirely through the perspective of a computer screen. Director Timur Bekmambetov transcends the format to create a sense of tension and suspense that even Hitchcock would admire. Sometimes we find vanguard filmmaking hidden in the simplest visual aesthetics; something that this sure-to-be iconic catfish thriller achieves tenfold. North Bend is proud to open with such a tour-de-force that pushes the boundaries of filmmaking in a powerfully topical and unique way.

    Black Mother (Pacific Northwest Premiere) USA | 2018 | 77 Min | Dir. Khalik Allah

    As BLACK MOTHER begins, like something out a dream, you’re thrust into some of the most intimate areas of Jamaica. What you’re met with volleys from educational to surreal. A large swath of folks ranging from religious leaders to sex workers and wide-eyed children engage with you directly; sonically, deeply introspective narrations from unidentified speakers are constant, with voices and unwieldy visuals sometimes totally out of sync with each other. Breathe easy, though: you’re in the hands of documentarian Khalik Allah, an emerging master of the form.

    Equal parts haunting travelogue and tone poem, BLACK MOTHER is a uniquely engrossing look at Jamaican culture and identity that no history book could ever deliver. It’s pure cinema. Inspired by Allah’s mother’s heritage, the director’s remarkable second feature, following his Harlem-focused 2015 debut FIELD NIGGAS and cinematography work for Beyoncé’s LEMONADE, is in a class all its own.

    Braid (West Coast Premiere) USA | 2018 | 82 Min | Dir. Mitzi Peirone

    Two fugitive women elude capture and seek refuge at the estate of their rich and very much psychotic childhood friend (an unhinged Madeline Brewer in peak form) where they enter a terror-fueled game of make believe in a bid to rob the woman’s safe. A candy colored and hallucinogen-fueled lunacy binge, writer-director Mitzi Peirone’s feature debut takes you on an entrancing journey of insanity through its gorgeously framed imagery, vibrant palette and cryptic narrative riddles. An absolute visual feast, this tale of nefarious women trapped in a spiraling nightmare, caught between reality and fantasy, deftly balances themes of childhood connection, experience and the inescapable circular nature of life, all from an exciting new voice in genre cinema.

    Model Home (World Premiere) USA | 2018 | 82 Minutes | Dir. Patrick Cunningham

    A deserted housing development post-market crash sets the stage for this unique thriller based around “live-in staging,” where developers hire low-income families to decorate and maintain properties to attract potential buyers. For a Latina single mother and her imaginative young son, being allowed to live in a dream house rent free seems too good to be true. As the cruel summer rages on and the mother’s obsessive and unstable mental state emerges, so too does living the American Dream devolve into a waking nightmare. An unusual mix of dark comedy, woman-on-the-edge tropes and a dash of Twin Peaks weirdness, director Patrick Cunningham’s fascinating debut uses a diverse cocktail of genres to tell a tragic and singular vision that speaks to Hispanic American identity.

    Experience mystification with “The Extra Ordinary” shorts block; a curation of films that speak to the work of David Lynch

    While countless writers have tried distilling David Lynch’s cinema into words, the man himself recently provided the ultimate case study of his structure-shattering, mind-warping brand of storytelling in less than an hour. “Gotta Light,” the incredible eighth episode of last year’s TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN, told a quasi-standalone anti-narrative about the Atomic Age, history’s imprints on the future, and cigarette-puffing hobo demons with apocalyptic intentions. Everything that is film’s greatest enigmatic auteur can be seen in “Gotta Light,” yet nothing is easily deciphered.

    Comprised of four short films that either influenced or take cues from Lynch, THE EXTRA ORDINARY is an alternate attempt to execute what “Gotta Light” so brilliantly does: convey the disorientation, intellectual stimulation, and formative experimentation that exemplify the TWIN PEAKS mastermind in one short burst. Provided by Jonathan Marlow of Camera Obscura, with contributions from Canyon Cinema and Zeitgeist Films, these works will mesmerize and perplex in equal measure—just as Mr. Lynch would like it.

    ALL MY LIFE (1966) dir. Bruce Baillie

    ALPSEE (1995) dir. Matthias Müller

    IN ABSENTIA (2000) dir. Stephen & Timothy Quay

    CROSSROADS (1976) dir. Bruce Conner

    Cross dimensions with Annabellee in a World Premiere immersive experience from Sleep No More performer Ava Lee Scott!

    In this multi-dimensional experience from the mind of NYC interactive theater veteran Ava Lee Scott (Sleep No More, Serenade), participants are invited to let go of their inhibitions and immerse themselves in a journey filled with magic, discovery and new truths. Once you welcome Annabellee into your world, there is no turning back.

    Annabellee is a soothsayer, who during a visit to Snoqualmie Falls, as part of her mission to find the most sacred places of creation, discovered a mystical root. Enchanted by the area and this strange gift from the earth, she has decided to set up camp in a curious cabin outside Snoqualmie.

    Legend has it that when a soothsayer arrives and reveals the secrets of the universe, you must make haste, seize the opportunity and track her down.

    Taking place throughout the festival weekend, audience members will meet Annabellee in different experiences, both virtually and, for a select, brave few, in person. Participants’ nerves will be tested as they venture deeper into her world. This experience is not for the faint-hearted.

    Immersive VR showcase

    [caption id="attachment_27430" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]The Caretaker The Caretaker[/caption] THE CARETAKER USA | 2018 | 13 Minutes | Project Creator: Jacob Wasserman, Nicolas Pesce, Adam Donald | Key Collaborators: Hidden Content, RealMotion VFX After a couple’s car breaks down on the side of the road, they are forced to seek refuge in an ominous hotel manned by an mysterious bellhop. As they explore the dark crevices and secrets of its halls, the girlfriend begins to feel that something is off. As she dives deeper into the darkness, she fears that there is more than just getting their car fixed at stake. DINNER PARTY Puerto Rico/USA | 2018 | 13 Minutes | Project Creators: Angel Manuel Soto, Charlotte Stoudt, Laura Wexler | Key Collaborators: Rachel Skidmore, Bryn Mooser, Erik Donley, Ryot Studios Based on true events, this experience tells the story of Barney and Betty Hill, an interracial couple who in 1961 broke national news as the first reported extraterrestrial abduction in history. Trying to cope with the residual scars of their experience, they unexpectedly decide to seek out answers from an old tape recorder while hosting a dinner party. MEETING A MONSTER USA | 2018 | 9 Minutes | Project Creator: Gabriela Arp | Key Collaborators: Oculus VR for Good, Life After Hate With a past steeped in hatred and prejudice, a former white supremacist journeys back in time and invites us to experience both the stereotypes and bigotry that lured her into the white power movement as well as the encounters that led her back out. Before she can help others change their ways, she must come to terms with a true monster: herself. MUSEUM OF SYMMETRY Canada | 2018 | 20 Minutes | Project Creator: Paloma Dawkins | Key Collaborator: Casa Rara Studio, National Film Board of Canada An absurdist mind-and-body romp through the highest clouds to the ocean deep, Museum of Symmetry is the explosive feel-good alter-universe of cartoonist and animator Paloma Dawkins—a room-scale VR experience with 2D animation in a 3D playground. THE ORACLE USA | 2018 | 15 Minutes | Project Creator: Ava Lee Scott | Key Collaborator: AltspaceVR In this social VR experience, users will discover the oracle of AltspaceVR: Annabellee. Each Querent will be invited to her sacred space where, through the Major Arcana Tarot cards, she will reveal their past, present and future. This VR experience is one branch on the tree of life that makes up the Annabellee Experience, taking place across the festival weekend. WE’RE STILL HERE USA | 2018 | 3 Minutes | Creator: Jesse Ayala | Key Collaborators: Oculus VR for Good, The Pride Foundation Struggling to preserve his cultural identity, an artist and historian from Boise, Idaho takes viewers on a journey to learn about what it means to be “Two Spirit,” a cultural term describing the fluidity of gender identity and sexuality with respect to traditional tribal roles across First Nations.

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  • “Dynamite Graffiti” “BuyBack” “Men on the Dragon” and more on 17th New York Asian Film Festival Lineup

    [caption id="attachment_30082" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Dynamite Graffiti Dynamite Graffiti[/caption] From vicious, life destroying phone scams to balletic battles between equally corrupt cops and yakuza, the 17th edition of the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), returns June 29 to July 15, 2018, with films that reflect on contemporary society while offering extreme genre pleasures. There are self referential takes on cinematic zombies, existential date nights, and teens finding their own corners of the world despite familial and societal expectations. After last year’s Sweet Sixteen, this year’s program is dubbed the Savage Seventeenth edition with four world premieres, three international premieres, 21 North American premieres, three U.S. premieres, and twelve New York premieres, showcasing the most exciting comedies, dramas, thrillers, romances, horrors and arthouse films from East Asia. Savage Seventeen: The festival has a rich history of presenting films that deal with the social issue of teenage bullying. Many of these have proven to be launching pads for some of Asia’s biggest stars, and the subject is at the root of such modern classics as All About Lily ChouChou, Whispering Corridors, and Confessions. In a year when youths in the U.S. are standing their ground and demanding political change, NYAFF presents the North American premieres of three films about teenagers who just won’t take it anymore: Kim Uiseok’s After My Death, Ogata Takaomi’s The Hungry Lion, and Naito Eisuke’s competition title Liverleaf. Opening Night is the North American premiere of Tominaga Masanori’s Dynamite Graffiti, an unorthodox and sprightly drama based on the life and times of Japanese porn mag king Suei Akira, who cultivated future artists such as Araki Nobuyoshi and Moriyama Daido. This spirited tale of sexual exploitation is an ode to free expression, proving that the so called “smut” of today might very well become the art of tomorrow. The film is a metaphor for the humble origins of the festival as a Chinatownborn grindhouse showcase introducing the works of Johnnie To and several of the modern masters of Korean cinema. [caption id="attachment_30085" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]BuyBust BuyBust[/caption] Closing Night is the world premiere of Erik Matti’s BuyBust from the Philippines. On the surface, it is structured like an action film in the vein of The Raid, with superstar Anne Curtis and MMA world champion Brandon Vera as narcs taking down a drug kingpin against insurmountable odds over one unrelenting rainy night. The film employed 309 stuntmen and features a wildly ambitious three minute, one cut action scene. Being a Matti film, it also offers a searing perspective on the ongoing drug war and broader issues of political corruption. The director and stars will attend the screening. [caption id="attachment_30086" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Men on the Dragon Men on the Dragon[/caption] The Centerpiece is the world premiere of Sunny Chan’s Men on the Dragon, starring Francis Ng and Jennifer Yu. Always central to the festival’s DNA, Hong Kong cinema demonstrates the resiliency of an industry whose identity is easily blurred with Mainland China, but on which it also exerts a considerable influence and provides storytelling expertise and craftsmanship. The film is a quintessential underdog story about a group of blue collar workers who reluctantly join their company’s dragon boat team. A directorial debut of a veteran Hong Kong screenwriter, Chan’s film is being presented one year after NYAFF had a special focus on firsttime directors from the territory. Chan and actress Jennifer Yu will be among the attending guests. Seven films will battle in the second edition of the festival’s relaunched Main Competition: Shiraishi Kazuya’s Blood of Wolves (Japan), Nam Ron’s Crossroads: One Two Jaga (Malaysia), Naito Eisuke’s Liverleaf (Japan), Dong Yue’s The Looming Storm (China), Sunny Chan’s Men on the Dragon (Hong Kong), Jeon Gowoon’s Microhabitat (South Korea), and Treb Monteras’s Respeto (Philippines). Six of the seven films are receiving their North American premieres at NYAFF, with one world premiere. Four of the competition titles are debut films, reflecting the festival’s ongoing support for new directors. This year, the festival presents two Star Asia Awards: South Korea’s Kim Yunseok is best known to North American audiences for his role as the grizzled excop in 2008 serial killer thriller The Chaser. A decade on, he stands firmly in the top tier of his country’s leading men. Like his contemporaries Song Kangho and Choi Minshik, he came late to movies after a background in theater. Jang Joonhwan’s powerful drama 1987: When the Day Comes screens, in which Kim plays the frightening head of South Korea’s anticommunist bureau, hellbent on holding back the country’s democracy movement. Chinese filmmaker Jiang Wu’s career has bridged independent cinema and mainstream success for 25 years. Two decades ago, he was at the forefront of a new populist independent cinema about big city life that transformed modern Chinese cinema with Zhang Yang’s Shower. He has worked with Zhang Yimou (To Live), Jiang Wen (Let the Bullets Fly), Jia Zhangke (A Touch of Sin), and Herman Yau (Shock Wave). Xin Yukun’s part noir, part western Wrath of Silence will screen in tribute, in which his terrifying nouveau riche mining magnate falls into a trap of his own design. The Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Japan’s Harada Masato, a former U.S.based film critic. He is most recognizable to Western viewers for his role as the villain Mr. Omura opposite Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai. Since his debut in 1979, he has positioned himself as one of Japan’s most unique and important directors. While he has worked in nearly every genre, he is best known for tackling societal issues such as teenage prostitution, illegal immigrants, and the role of the media. Screening in the festival are his dark classic gem Kamikaze Taxi on 35mm, the recent Kakekomi (2016), a period piece about female empowerment, and his most recent historical epic Sekigahara, about the oneday battle in 1600 that defined modern Japan. The Screen International Rising Star Asia Award recipient will be announced at a later date. The Hong Kong Panorama, backbone of the festival’s programming, returns with nine features, including two world premieres: Sunny Chan’s debut Men of the Dragon and Antony Chan’s comeback House of the Rising Sons. Antony Chan is an original member of The Wynners, the popular teenidol band of the 1970s that launched the careers of megastars Alan Tam and Kenny Bee. Chan, the band’s drummer, returns to the director’s chair after 26 years to present a vibrant biopic that avoids hagiography. Highlighting the miracles of motion and irresistible kinetic force that are the signature of Hong Kong cinema, is a threefilm Dante Lam tribute, and an actionpacked thriller run on July 4: Jonathan Li’s debut The Brink, Oxide Pang’s The Big Call, and Wilson Yip’s Paradox. Also screening is Chapman To’s family drama set in the world of karate, The Empty Hands starring Stephy Tang. The China section continues to take a more central role. One year ago, NYAFF committed to supporting the new generation of firsttime directors emerging in Asia with the Young Blood series, focusing on Hong Kong; this year the festival shifts to Mainland China. Once again, the films are heady and diverse in subject matter, including Hunanset, raindrenched serialkiller thriller The Looming Storm, Inner Mongoliaset sexagenarian drama Old Beast (produced by Chinese auteur Wang Xiaoshuai), and the razorsharp Northeastern comedy Looking for Lucky, which revolves around a man, his father, and a missing dog. The Chinese film industry is changing fast, and trends are best reflected in where new directors are taking it. We also present films about the shifting rules of romance: Dude’s Manual and The ExFiles 3: The Return of the Exes. The New Cinema from Japan lineup is represented by one of the festival’s largest contingents of directors yet. In addition to NYAFF’s tribute to veteran director Harada Masato, the festival is bringing a group that could be described as defining a “new wave” of Japanese cinema: Naito Eisuke with his circleofrevenge drama Liverleaf, Ogata Takaomi with experimental youth drama The Hungry Lion, Takeshita Masao with slowburn drama The Midnight Bus, and Kanata Wolf with his slacker debut Smokin’ on the Moon. Also attending is actor Emoto Tasuku who brings his mischievous charm to the protagonist of porn publishing odyssey Dynamite Graffiti. Other highlights include Sato Shinsuke’s crossgenerational superhero showdown Inuyashiki, Ueda Shinichiro’s meta zombie film homage One Cut of the Dead, and Yukisada Isao’s brutal youth drama River’s Edge. There are ten films in the South Korean Cinema section. This year, femaledirected titles represent almost half of the NYAFF selection. They include Jeon Gowoon’s competition title Microhabitat, Yim Soonrye’s Little Forest, and Jeong Gayoung’s Hit the Night. Actress and director Jeong’s positioning of herself as a female Hong Sangsoo—she recently starred in and directed Bitch on the Beach—is itself a critique of the macho posturing of much of South Korean cinema. The festival selected five films showcasing the uniqueness of Taiwan cinema and the strength of both its arthouse productions and its genre output. Of note is the North American premiere of gangster film Gatao 2: Rise of the King, poised comfortably between classic yakuza and triad movies from Japan and Hong Kong. In complete contrast is The Last Verse, which charts a romantic relationship through the turbulence of three presidential eras; it was directed by Tseng Yingting, one of Taiwan cinema’s freshest voices since Edward Yang. This year’s program features the largest Southeast Asian Vanguard selection yet, representing a fifth of the festival lineup. This region is one of the most creative corners of Asia, which NYAFF continues to champion in the film selection and guest lineup. Outside of Asia, arguably no other film event has so fully committed to exploring Southeast Asian cinema, which is at the heart of the festival’s future. Six films from the Philippines, three films from Thailand, two films from Malaysia, and one film from Indonesia will screen. The festival goes all in on the Philippines with the largest lineup in NYAFF since 2013. Three strong films examine the nation’s ongoing drug war: Mikhail Red’s Neomanila, about a “mother and son” death squad; Treb Monteras’ Respeto, set in the milieu of rap battles; and Erik Matti’s BuyBust. There will also be a special screening of Matti’s thriller On the Job. On opening night, NYAFF hosts the world premiere of Richard Somes’s brutal We Will Not Die Tonight, starring Erich Gonzales as a stuntwoman trying to survive a single night. On a lighter note, Irene Villamor’s blockbuster (anti)romance Sid & Aya (Not a Love Story) screens, also starring Anne Curtis from BuyBust. There has been a recent Malaysian New Wave reflecting the country’s societal and political changes, and it is only now reaching our cinema screens. NYAFF presents two films that would never have seen the light before 2018: police corruption thriller Crossroads: One Two Jaga and black magic thriller Dukun. The latter is the longburied debut of top Malaysian director Dain Said, screening twelve years after its shoot was completed. Together with Brutal/Jagat (NYAFF 2016), these films hint at why Malaysian cinema is a territory to watch. Southeast Asian Westerns: The links between the western genre and Japanese cinema are well documented, from remakes of Akira Kurosawa’s classics to Lee Sungil’s own remake of Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven. But the western was also a genre embraced in Southeast Asia for decades, most recently with two Indonesian films: Mouly Surya’s Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts (which opens in New York on June 22) and Mike Wiluan’s Buffalo Boys, which screens on the final day of the festival. Like their Northeast Asian counterparts (the Manchurian western), the genre offers tales of freedom and emancipation with Eastern heroes rising against their colonial oppressors. This year, Wisit Sasanatieng’s madcap Tears of the Black Tiger returns in a special 35mm screening.

    Young Art at NYAFF: “Safe Imagination Is Boring”

    “Safe Imagination Is Boring” is a group exhibition of 10 emerging artists who have created new work inspired by Asian cinema. The exhibition features Asian, secondgeneration AsianAmerican, and mixedrace artists.

    HBO® Free Talks at NYAFF

    This year, NYAFF presents several free talks, sponsored by HBO®, at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center’s Amphitheater. They include opportunities for NYAFF audiences to meet festival guests from Japan, China, and Southeast Asia and discuss their careers, trends, and regional genre cinema. Guest speakers include Harada Masato, Dong Yue, Xin Yukun, Erik Matti, and Mike Wiluan. The New York Asian Film Festival is copresented by Subway Cinema and the Film Society of Lincoln Center and takes place from June 29 to July 12 at the Film Society’s Walter Reade Theater (165 West 65th St), and July 13 to 15 at SVA Theatre (333 West 23rd St). It is curated by executive director Samuel Jamier, deputy director Stephen Cremin, programmers Claire Marty and David Wilentz, and associate programmers Karen Severns and Mori Koichi. New York Asian Film Festival 2018 Poster

    17th New York Asian Film Festival LINEUP

    CHINA

    Dude’s Manual (Kevin Ko, 2018) End of Summer (Zhou Quan, 2017) New York Premiere The ExFiles 3: The Return of the Exes (Tian Yusheng, 2017) Looking for Lucky (Jiang Jiachen, 2018) International Premiere The Looming Storm (Dong Yue, 2017) North American Premiere Old Beast (Zhou Ziyang, 2017) New York Premiere Wrath of Silence (Xin Yukun, 2017) New York Premiere

    HONG KONG PANORAMA

    Beast Stalker (Dante Lam, 2008) Tribute to Dante Lam The Big Call (Oxide Pang, 2017) North American Premiere The Brink (Jonathan Li, 2017) New York Premiere The Empty Hands (Chapman To, 2018) New York Premiere House of the Rising Sons (Antony Chan, 2018) World Premiere Men on the Dragon (Sunny Chan, 2018) World Premiere Operation Red Sea (Dante Lam, 2018) Tribute to Dante Lam Paradox (Wilson Yip, 2017) New York Premiere Unbeatable (Dante Lam, 2003) Tribute to Dante Lam

    INDONESIA

    Buffalo Boys (Mike Wiluan, 2018) US Premiere

    JAPAN

    Blood of Wolves (Shiraishi Kazuya, 2018) North American Premiere Dynamite Graffiti (Tominaga Masanori, 2018) North American Premiere The Hungry Lion (Ogata Takaomi, 2017) North American Premiere Inuyashiki (Sato Shinsuke, 2018) North American Premiere Kakekomi (Harada Masato, 2015) Tribute to Harada Masato, New York Premiere Kamikaze Taxi (Harada Masato, 1995) Tribute to Harada Masato Liverleaf (Naito Eisuke, 2018) North American Premiere Midnight Bus (Takeshita Masao, 2017) North American Premiere One Cut of the Dead (Ueda Shinichiro, 2018) North American Premiere River’s Edge (Yukisada Isao, 2018) North American Premiere The Scythian Lamb (Yoshida Daihachi, 2017) New York Premiere Sekigahara (Harada Masato, 2017) Tribute to Harada Masato, New York Premiere Smokin’ on the Moon (Kanata Wolf, 2017) International Premiere The Third Murder (Koreeda Hirokazu, 2017) New York Premiere

    MALAYSIA

    Crossroads: One Two Jaga (Nam Ron, 2018) North American Premiere Dukun (Dain Said, 2018) International Premiere

    PHILIPPINES

    BuyBust (Erik Matti, 2018) Tribute to Erik Matti, World Premiere Neomanila (Mikhail Red, 2017) New York Premiere On the Job (Erik Matti, 2013) Tribute to Erik Matti Respeto (Treb Monteras, 2017) North American Premiere Sid & Aya: Not a Love Story (Irene Villamor, 2018) New York Premiere We Will Not Die Tonight (Richard Somes, 2018) World Premiere (dir. Victor Vu, 2015)

    SOUTH KOREA

    1987: When the Day Comes (Jang Joonhwan, 2017) After My Death (Kim Uiseok, 2017) North American Premiere The Age of Blood (Kim Hongsun, 2017) International premiere Counters (Lee Ilha, 2017) North American Premiere Hit the Night (Jeong Gayoung, 2017) North American Premiere I Can Speak (Kim Hyeonseok, 2017) Little Forest (Yim Soonrye, 2018) New York Premiere Microhabitat (Jeon Gowoon, 2017) North American Premiere The Return (Malene Choi, 2018) East Coast Premiere What a Man Wants (Lee Byeonghun, 2018)

    TAIWAN

    Gatao 2: Rise of the King (Yen Chengkuo, 2018) North American Premiere The Last Verse (Tseng Yingting, 2017) New York Premiere Missing Johnny (Huang Xi, 2017) New York Premiere On Happiness Road (Sung Hsinyin, 2017) North American Premiere The Bold, the Corrupt and the Beautiful (Yang Yache, 2017) New York Premiere

    THAILAND

    Premika (Siwakorn Jarupongpa, 2017) North American Premiere Sad Beauty (Bongkod Bencharongkul, 2018) North American Premiere Tears of the Black Tiger (Wisit Sasanatieng, 2000)

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