Kotone Furukawa is a Japanese actress who has been in many features as well as TV dramas. She is the recipient of the Nippon Rising Star Award at this year's Nippon Connection for her contribution to the Japanese film industry, which range from her roles in Ryusuke Hamaguchi's “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy”, Yuta Shimotsu's “Best Wishes to All” and Hayato Kawai's “Secret: A Hidden Score”, which will all be screened at Nippon Connection as well.
In our interview with the actress she talks about her work in those features, her collaboration with directors such as Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Yukihiko Tsutsumi and Isao Yukisada but also working in as an actress in the Japanese film industry nowadays.
What drew you into the role of Yukino in “Secret: A Hidden Score”? In general, how do you choose the roles you want to play in?
I like about Yukino that...
In our interview with the actress she talks about her work in those features, her collaboration with directors such as Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Yukihiko Tsutsumi and Isao Yukisada but also working in as an actress in the Japanese film industry nowadays.
What drew you into the role of Yukino in “Secret: A Hidden Score”? In general, how do you choose the roles you want to play in?
I like about Yukino that...
- 6/2/2024
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
A live-action film adaptation of Taro Nogizaka's psychological thriller manga Natsume Arata no Kekkon ( Natsume Arata's Marriage ) is set to release in Japan on September 6, 2024, following the official announcement on the movie's Twitter account and opening of the official website . A teaser trailer narrated by voice actor Megumi Ogata (Shinji Ikari in Neon Genesis Evangelion ) was also released, and featured below. Teaser visual Yuya Yagira (Toshiro Hijikata in the Gintama live-action film series) is cast as the protagonist, Arata Natsume, while Yuina Kuroshima (Lan Fan in Fullmetal Alchemist live-action film series) plays the main heroine, Shinju Shinagawa. Yukihiko Tsutsumi , known for his directorial works for popular Japanese TV drama series, such as Trick and Srec , serves as director. "I was intrigued by the mysterious, thrilling, and unpredictable storyline of the original manga, but I was even more fascinated by Arata and Shinju's pessimistic but intense search for love," Tsutsumi...
- 4/19/2024
- by Mikikazu Komatsu
- Crunchyroll
Tiffcom Poised to Be More International, More Relevant, Says Market Chief Shiina Yasushi (Exclusive)
Tiffcom, the film market attached to the Tokyo International Film Festival, is set to be more international and more diverse in its first full comeback year after the Covid hiatus. It should also be more pleasant and convenient, having re-located to a more modern venue that is close to the film festival.
“Bringing the in-person market back after four years, my priority was to make sure that Tiffcom could happen during the festival, not some other time,” said Shiina Yasushi, who has headed the market for ten years. “That meant juggling dates, venue choices and budget.” Tokyo’s limited selection of appropriate venues came with other complications such as being in areas with expensive hotels or difficult transport options.
The new venue at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center in Hamamatsucho, on paper seems ideal. It is a newer building than the old market building in Ikkebukuro, is closer to...
“Bringing the in-person market back after four years, my priority was to make sure that Tiffcom could happen during the festival, not some other time,” said Shiina Yasushi, who has headed the market for ten years. “That meant juggling dates, venue choices and budget.” Tokyo’s limited selection of appropriate venues came with other complications such as being in areas with expensive hotels or difficult transport options.
The new venue at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center in Hamamatsucho, on paper seems ideal. It is a newer building than the old market building in Ikkebukuro, is closer to...
- 10/24/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The financing and development platform at Tiffcom will take place in person for the first time.
The Tokyo Gap-Financing Market (Tgfm) has revealed the 15 projects selected for financing and development at Tiffcom, the content market of Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF).
The 4th edition of Tgfm will take place in-person for the first time from October 25-27, having launched during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 when all industry activity took place online.
Scroll down for full list of titles
Projects include The Fox King by Malaysia’s Woo Ming Jin, whose revenge thriller Stone Turtle premiered in competition at Locarno in...
The Tokyo Gap-Financing Market (Tgfm) has revealed the 15 projects selected for financing and development at Tiffcom, the content market of Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF).
The 4th edition of Tgfm will take place in-person for the first time from October 25-27, having launched during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 when all industry activity took place online.
Scroll down for full list of titles
Projects include The Fox King by Malaysia’s Woo Ming Jin, whose revenge thriller Stone Turtle premiered in competition at Locarno in...
- 9/20/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Over the last several years, major Japanese studios have started to follow the tactics of their Hollywood equivalents by finally adapting their own comics, called manga, in the way they deserve.
This tendency is not exactly new, since films based on manga/anime have been shot since the 70s. However, it is the first time that so many expensive and subsequently elaborate productions are being made. This is chiefly attributed to two factors:
1.The people behind those films finally realized that they could not squeeze eight or more hours of anime in a single film, and thus decided to present the movie in two or three parts, retaining much of the original’s story and themes.
2.They also realized since most of the titles are sci-fi themed, much of the budget should be allocated towards the special effects, in order for the adaptation to capture the images of the original.
This tendency is not exactly new, since films based on manga/anime have been shot since the 70s. However, it is the first time that so many expensive and subsequently elaborate productions are being made. This is chiefly attributed to two factors:
1.The people behind those films finally realized that they could not squeeze eight or more hours of anime in a single film, and thus decided to present the movie in two or three parts, retaining much of the original’s story and themes.
2.They also realized since most of the titles are sci-fi themed, much of the budget should be allocated towards the special effects, in order for the adaptation to capture the images of the original.
- 4/12/2022
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Picturehouse is set to release the pre-hiatus final concert film of the Japanese boyband pop sensation Arashi exclusively in AMC Theatres for one night only on March 22.
The Arashi Anniversary Tour 5×20 Film Record of Memories was released by Shochiku on Nov. 26, 2021, and grossed $39.5M, making it the highest grossing live-action film in Japan in 2021.
Arashi has consistently been a top performing act since their debut in 1999, and are composed of five members: Masaki Aiba, Jun Matsumoto, Kazunari Ninomiya, Satoshi Ohno and Sho Sakurai. In 2019, their compilation studio album 5×20 All the Best!! 1999-2019 was named the best-selling album of the year worldwide, and most of their singles and albums have ranked as top sellers on the Oricon music charts.
In addition to music, the band are actors with Ninomiya having appeared in Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winning film, Letters From Iwo Jima.
Record of Memories showcases the group’s 20th anniversary tour...
The Arashi Anniversary Tour 5×20 Film Record of Memories was released by Shochiku on Nov. 26, 2021, and grossed $39.5M, making it the highest grossing live-action film in Japan in 2021.
Arashi has consistently been a top performing act since their debut in 1999, and are composed of five members: Masaki Aiba, Jun Matsumoto, Kazunari Ninomiya, Satoshi Ohno and Sho Sakurai. In 2019, their compilation studio album 5×20 All the Best!! 1999-2019 was named the best-selling album of the year worldwide, and most of their singles and albums have ranked as top sellers on the Oricon music charts.
In addition to music, the band are actors with Ninomiya having appeared in Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winning film, Letters From Iwo Jima.
Record of Memories showcases the group’s 20th anniversary tour...
- 2/23/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Dealing with themes of sexual/domestic abuse in mainstream (Japanese) cinema is not exactly the easiest thing to do. Yukihiko Tsutsumi, however, who shot “12 Suicidal Teens” back in 2019, seems like the man to do the job, in adapting Rio Shimamoto’s Naoki Prize novel. Let us see how he fared.
“First Love” is screening as part of the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
The protagonist of the story is Yuki Makabe, a psychologist who believes that the main blame for the violent behaviour of any children lies with their parents. Yuki lives a nice enough life, being respected in her field and married to photographer Gamon, who is set on taking care of her, essentially being in charge of all house chores due to his wife’s rather busy schedule. At one point, Yuki becomes fascinated by the case of Kanna Hijiriyama, a college student who has been arrested for...
“First Love” is screening as part of the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
The protagonist of the story is Yuki Makabe, a psychologist who believes that the main blame for the violent behaviour of any children lies with their parents. Yuki lives a nice enough life, being respected in her field and married to photographer Gamon, who is set on taking care of her, essentially being in charge of all house chores due to his wife’s rather busy schedule. At one point, Yuki becomes fascinated by the case of Kanna Hijiriyama, a college student who has been arrested for...
- 2/20/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The deconstruction of the family as a concept has always been a popular topic in the Japanese movie industry, where the family drama is one of the most popular categories. Yukihiko Tsutsumi tries his hand in the genre, by adding a crime element, in a movie adapted by Shusuke Shizukui’s novel, “Nozomi”
“Hope” is screening at Toronto Japanese Film Festival
Kazuto Ishikawa is a successful architect. He is married to Kiyomi, who works in publishing and does her work from home, and is the father of two, Tadashi, who attends high school, and Miyabi, who attends middle school. They live together in an impressive, two-storied home, designed by Kazuto, who frequently brings potential customers to visit the premises as a sample, to the annoyance of Tadashi, who frequently finds strangers barging into his room without previous notice. Tadashi in general is experiencing a rough adolescence, and an injury that...
“Hope” is screening at Toronto Japanese Film Festival
Kazuto Ishikawa is a successful architect. He is married to Kiyomi, who works in publishing and does her work from home, and is the father of two, Tadashi, who attends high school, and Miyabi, who attends middle school. They live together in an impressive, two-storied home, designed by Kazuto, who frequently brings potential customers to visit the premises as a sample, to the annoyance of Tadashi, who frequently finds strangers barging into his room without previous notice. Tadashi in general is experiencing a rough adolescence, and an injury that...
- 6/6/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Japanese distributor and sales agent Gaga Corporation has added “Arashi Anniversary Tour 5 x 20 Film – Record of Memories,” a concert film by the now disbanded Japanese mega-group Arashi, to its international sales line-up.
Directed by veteran hitmaker Tsutsumi Yuikihiko, who also made the group’s 2002 debut film “Pikanchi,” “Record of Memories” will have its world premiere as a gala screening at the upcoming Shanghai International Film Festival.
Once a major act for the long-powerful Johnny & Associates agency, the five-man group Arashi debuted in 1999 and racked up a long list of hit singles, albums and DVDs, while successfully extending their activities into TV and films, before suspending activities indefinitely in December 2020.
The group was also popular across Asia, embarking on a 2006 Asian concert tour with sell-out dates in Thailand, Taiwan and South Korea. In December 2019, Arashi was named goodwill ambassador to China, a post they held through 2020, while promoting sports and cultural...
Directed by veteran hitmaker Tsutsumi Yuikihiko, who also made the group’s 2002 debut film “Pikanchi,” “Record of Memories” will have its world premiere as a gala screening at the upcoming Shanghai International Film Festival.
Once a major act for the long-powerful Johnny & Associates agency, the five-man group Arashi debuted in 1999 and racked up a long list of hit singles, albums and DVDs, while successfully extending their activities into TV and films, before suspending activities indefinitely in December 2020.
The group was also popular across Asia, embarking on a 2006 Asian concert tour with sell-out dates in Thailand, Taiwan and South Korea. In December 2019, Arashi was named goodwill ambassador to China, a post they held through 2020, while promoting sports and cultural...
- 5/28/2021
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety Film + TV
Canada’S Largest Showcase Of Contemporary Japanese Cinema
Streams Across Canada
Saturday, June 5 – Sunday, June 27, 2021
Monday, May 10, 2021 – The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s 10th annual Toronto Japanese Film Festival (Tjff) will be presented across Canada from Saturday, June 5 to Sunday, 27, 2021. During this period, Tjff screenings will be held online, using the Cinesend festival platform, with select onsite screenings at the Jccc’s Kobayashi Hall planned for October, public health protocols permitting. The festival is one of the largest film events of its kind in the world and is recognized by the Japanese film industry as a vital conduit for bringing Japanese film to international audiences.
“When we held the first Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we never dreamed we’d be celebrating our 10th anniversary during a pandemic, said Tjff Director James Heron. “We also never dreamed the festival would be so well attended, loved by Toronto audiences and embraced by...
Streams Across Canada
Saturday, June 5 – Sunday, June 27, 2021
Monday, May 10, 2021 – The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s 10th annual Toronto Japanese Film Festival (Tjff) will be presented across Canada from Saturday, June 5 to Sunday, 27, 2021. During this period, Tjff screenings will be held online, using the Cinesend festival platform, with select onsite screenings at the Jccc’s Kobayashi Hall planned for October, public health protocols permitting. The festival is one of the largest film events of its kind in the world and is recognized by the Japanese film industry as a vital conduit for bringing Japanese film to international audiences.
“When we held the first Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we never dreamed we’d be celebrating our 10th anniversary during a pandemic, said Tjff Director James Heron. “We also never dreamed the festival would be so well attended, loved by Toronto audiences and embraced by...
- 5/19/2021
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s 10th annual Toronto Japanese Film Festival (Tjff) will be presented across Canada from Saturday, June 5 to Sunday, 27, 2021. During this period, Tjff screenings will be held online, using the Cinesend festival platform, with select onsite screenings at the Jccc’s Kobayashi Hall planned for October, public health protocols permitting. The festival is one of the largest film events of its kind in the world and is recognized by the Japanese film industry as a vital conduit for bringing Japanese film to international audiences.
“When we held the first Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we never dreamed we’d be celebrating our 10th anniversary during a pandemic, said Tjff Director James Heron. “We also never dreamed the festival would be so well attended, loved by Toronto audiences and embraced by Japanese directors and actors as the place to introduce their films to North American audiences. On this...
“When we held the first Toronto Japanese Film Festival, we never dreamed we’d be celebrating our 10th anniversary during a pandemic, said Tjff Director James Heron. “We also never dreamed the festival would be so well attended, loved by Toronto audiences and embraced by Japanese directors and actors as the place to introduce their films to North American audiences. On this...
- 5/13/2021
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
Rio Shimamoto’s novel “First Love,” won the 159th Naoki Prize for it’s unpredictable ending and the dense human drama hidden behind the title. The best-selling “rare-problem work” has been made into a complete movie by the casted staff representing the Japanese movie world.
Kitagawa, who boasts tremendous support from a wide range of people, plays Yuki Makabe, the main character of a certified public psychologist who covers the case. Keiko, in addition to top-class actors such as Tomoya Nakamura, Kyoko Yoshine and Sho Kiyohara. Gorgeous faces gather, and the story is spun more realistically and emotionally with a real performance.
The director is Yukihiko Tsutsumi, a hit-maker who has produced enthusiastic fans with numerous stylish suspense. The theme song and insert song are produced by singer Uru, who is attracting attention for her singing voice and mysterious presence.
Why did she have to kill her father?...
Kitagawa, who boasts tremendous support from a wide range of people, plays Yuki Makabe, the main character of a certified public psychologist who covers the case. Keiko, in addition to top-class actors such as Tomoya Nakamura, Kyoko Yoshine and Sho Kiyohara. Gorgeous faces gather, and the story is spun more realistically and emotionally with a real performance.
The director is Yukihiko Tsutsumi, a hit-maker who has produced enthusiastic fans with numerous stylish suspense. The theme song and insert song are produced by singer Uru, who is attracting attention for her singing voice and mysterious presence.
Why did she have to kill her father?...
- 11/11/2020
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
When someone talks about the Japanese movie industry in the 00s, inevitably the discussion goes towards anime, which, in the specific decade, accounted for 60% of the local film production. With films like Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away” and the rest of Studio Ghibli’s productions, along with masterpieces from Satoshi Kon, Mamoru Oshii, Katsuhiro Otomo and other great filmmakers, there is no wonder why the 00s were considered “Japanese Cinema’s Second Golden Age”, particularly for the penetration of local films in cinemas around the world.
However, anime were not the only story Japanese cinema had to tell in this decade. Yojiro Takita also won an Oscar, Shinji Aoyama and Naomi Kawase won at Cannes, Hirokazu Koreeda continued his successful festival run, Yoji Yamada made an exceptional trilogy of samurai films, Shunji Iwai directed one of the most critically acclaimed film of the decade, Kinji Fukasaku released his last film and Takeshi Kitano his most successful.
However, anime were not the only story Japanese cinema had to tell in this decade. Yojiro Takita also won an Oscar, Shinji Aoyama and Naomi Kawase won at Cannes, Hirokazu Koreeda continued his successful festival run, Yoji Yamada made an exceptional trilogy of samurai films, Shunji Iwai directed one of the most critically acclaimed film of the decade, Kinji Fukasaku released his last film and Takeshi Kitano his most successful.
- 5/10/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
A married couple going through a separation is a familiar premise and the depiction of how hard it can be on the family around has been the backbone of a million tales. But when that is just the first course at a dinner after which many other weirder dishes would follow, which is quite a unique experience.
“The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps” is screening as part of The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
A couple has decided to go ahead with a divorce, but do not want it to disrupt the lives of their two children. As fate would have it, the elder daughter Mizuho has an accident and is diagnosed as brain-dead. The mother Kaoru is not ready to give up yet and does not allow the doctors to proceed with a test to establish that the brain activity has ceased. She cares for her daughter who remains unconscious for months.
“The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps” is screening as part of The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
A couple has decided to go ahead with a divorce, but do not want it to disrupt the lives of their two children. As fate would have it, the elder daughter Mizuho has an accident and is diagnosed as brain-dead. The mother Kaoru is not ready to give up yet and does not allow the doctors to proceed with a test to establish that the brain activity has ceased. She cares for her daughter who remains unconscious for months.
- 2/6/2020
- by Arun Krishnan
- AsianMoviePulse
The “obsession” with the 80’s never actually ceased in the 21st century, and Japan could not be an exception, with “Initiation Love” being a testament to the fact. The script is based on the homonymous novel by Kurumi Inui, although Yukihiko Tsutsumi took some liberties with the original.
The film is portrayed in the classic music format of an “A-b sided cassette tape”, with the story completely changing setting and style half through the movie.
“Initiation Love” is part of The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
Suzuki is a university student in Shizuoka, who is the personification of the “loser”. He is fat, kind of ugly, dresses like a nerd, has almost no friends, and cannot even think about a girlfriend. His luck, however, changes, when he agrees to accompany some of his fellow students in a party, where he is actually just invited in order to even the number with the girls coming.
The film is portrayed in the classic music format of an “A-b sided cassette tape”, with the story completely changing setting and style half through the movie.
“Initiation Love” is part of The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
Suzuki is a university student in Shizuoka, who is the personification of the “loser”. He is fat, kind of ugly, dresses like a nerd, has almost no friends, and cannot even think about a girlfriend. His luck, however, changes, when he agrees to accompany some of his fellow students in a party, where he is actually just invited in order to even the number with the girls coming.
- 1/6/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
In 2002, on a night in Berlin filled with alcohol, producer Shinya Kawai (The Ring), challenged directors Ryuhei Kitamura and Yukihiko Tsutsumi to a duel in filmmaking, with a number of peculiar rules:
1. The duration of the films ought to be 60 minutes, plus or minus 10 minutes.
2. The film could not be R rated.
3. The entire story was to be shot on a single set.
4. It could not have more than two characters
5. Kitamura was to cast male and Tsutsumi female protagonists
6. The movie was to be completed in a week, with an equal and miniscule budget
7. At least one of the characters was to die
The venture’s name was Dual Project, and the two films that were created were “Aragami” and “2Ldk”. The films were screened on successively, and, at the end of the screening, the spectators were asked to choose the movie they preferred. Unfortunately the result never became...
1. The duration of the films ought to be 60 minutes, plus or minus 10 minutes.
2. The film could not be R rated.
3. The entire story was to be shot on a single set.
4. It could not have more than two characters
5. Kitamura was to cast male and Tsutsumi female protagonists
6. The movie was to be completed in a week, with an equal and miniscule budget
7. At least one of the characters was to die
The venture’s name was Dual Project, and the two films that were created were “Aragami” and “2Ldk”. The films were screened on successively, and, at the end of the screening, the spectators were asked to choose the movie they preferred. Unfortunately the result never became...
- 1/5/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Japan still holds one of the highest rates of teenagers suicides in Asia and around the world and there sadly doesn’t seem to be any indications of the number dropping any time soon. In fact, 2017 saw a 30-year high in the number of teenage suicides in the country. Director Yukihiko Tsutsumi deviates from his usual big budget sci-fi thrillers and takes inspiration from the namesake book to take a look at the phenomena in his latest film “12 Suicidal Teens”.
“12 Suicidal Teens” is screening at Camera Japan 2019
One by one, twelve teens begin to enter an abandoned hospital at a pre-ordained time. As previously decided, they each pick a token number from a safe and proceed to convene in the basement assembly hall. The assembly hall is decked with a conference table with twelve chairs in the middle of the room, and twelve beds for each of them along the walls.
“12 Suicidal Teens” is screening at Camera Japan 2019
One by one, twelve teens begin to enter an abandoned hospital at a pre-ordained time. As previously decided, they each pick a token number from a safe and proceed to convene in the basement assembly hall. The assembly hall is decked with a conference table with twelve chairs in the middle of the room, and twelve beds for each of them along the walls.
- 9/28/2019
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Accomplished Japanese director, Yukihiko Tsutsumi is in the final stages of editing “12 Suicidal Teens,” a work that explores the topic with a focus on young people. It’s scheduled for a January 2019 release in Japan. Rights were pitched this week at the Tiffcom market by Nippon TV.
It is something of a swerve, for Tsutsumi who has directed big sci-fi thrillers, including 3 editions of the blockbuster franchise “20th Century Boys,” which all were number 1 at the Japanese box office. But he’s also taken on serious subjects, including Alzheimer’s disease in “Memories of Tomorrow.” The upcoming piece combines his interest in social issues with a desire to entertain.
The story starts with 12 teenagers who meet inside an abandoned hospital. They are apparently arranging a suicide pact but when they get to the meeting place they find the body of an unknown youth. As the tension builds, they must ask...
It is something of a swerve, for Tsutsumi who has directed big sci-fi thrillers, including 3 editions of the blockbuster franchise “20th Century Boys,” which all were number 1 at the Japanese box office. But he’s also taken on serious subjects, including Alzheimer’s disease in “Memories of Tomorrow.” The upcoming piece combines his interest in social issues with a desire to entertain.
The story starts with 12 teenagers who meet inside an abandoned hospital. They are apparently arranging a suicide pact but when they get to the meeting place they find the body of an unknown youth. As the tension builds, they must ask...
- 10/26/2018
- by Rob Schwartz
- Variety Film + TV
Fans of Japanese novelist Keigo Higashino are in for a double treat in the next few months, as two more of his books make it to the big screen. Rights to both are being offered for sale by Shochiku at the Tiffcom market this week.
First in cinemas will be “The House Where The Mermaid Sleeps,” a drama about an already estranged couple who torment each other further when their daughter is put on to a new-tech life support system. The film is directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi and stars Ryoko Shinohara and Hidetoshi Nisjijima. Its world premiere is on Monday as a gala at the Tokyo International Film Festival. It releases in Japanese theaters on Nov. 16.
The book was written to commemorate Higashino’s 30th year as a novelist. And became an instant bestseller, with 270,000 copies sold in the first month alone. Prolific, Higashino has seen more than 20 of his books adapted as Japanese films,...
First in cinemas will be “The House Where The Mermaid Sleeps,” a drama about an already estranged couple who torment each other further when their daughter is put on to a new-tech life support system. The film is directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi and stars Ryoko Shinohara and Hidetoshi Nisjijima. Its world premiere is on Monday as a gala at the Tokyo International Film Festival. It releases in Japanese theaters on Nov. 16.
The book was written to commemorate Higashino’s 30th year as a novelist. And became an instant bestseller, with 270,000 copies sold in the first month alone. Prolific, Higashino has seen more than 20 of his books adapted as Japanese films,...
- 10/23/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Gyorgi Palfi’s “His Master’s Voice” will line up against Fruit Chan’s “Three Husbands” and Veit Helmer’s “The Bra” in the main competition section of the Tokyo International Film Festival. Ralph Fiennes’ “The White Crow” will also receive its Asian premiere in competition.
The festival announced its full line up Tuesday in Tokyo. The festival will run Oct 25. – Nov. 3, 2018 at venues around the Japanese capital. It previously announced Japanese films, “Another World” and “Just Only Love” in main competition.
Another earlier announcement revealed that the festival will open with Bradley Cooper’s Lady Gaga-starring “A Star is Born.” The festival will close with “Godzilla: The Planet Eater,” the third and final part in the animated “Godzilla” trilogy. Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s “The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps” was Tuesday confirmed as a second closing film.
The 16-film competition selection is balanced between Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas,...
The festival announced its full line up Tuesday in Tokyo. The festival will run Oct 25. – Nov. 3, 2018 at venues around the Japanese capital. It previously announced Japanese films, “Another World” and “Just Only Love” in main competition.
Another earlier announcement revealed that the festival will open with Bradley Cooper’s Lady Gaga-starring “A Star is Born.” The festival will close with “Godzilla: The Planet Eater,” the third and final part in the animated “Godzilla” trilogy. Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s “The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps” was Tuesday confirmed as a second closing film.
The 16-film competition selection is balanced between Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas,...
- 9/25/2018
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety Film + TV
Festival will close with Godzilla: The Planet Eater, the final entry in the animated Godzilla trilogy.
This year’s Tokyo International Film Festival will open with A Star Is Born and close with Godzilla: The Planet Eater, the final entry in the animated Godzilla trilogy.
A Star Is Born, Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut in which he also stars with Lady Gaga, recently premiered at the Venice film festival before moving on to Toronto. The film is scheduled for a December 21 release through Warner Bros in Japan
Produced by Japan’s Toho, Godzilla: The Planet Eater is co-directed by Kobun...
This year’s Tokyo International Film Festival will open with A Star Is Born and close with Godzilla: The Planet Eater, the final entry in the animated Godzilla trilogy.
A Star Is Born, Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut in which he also stars with Lady Gaga, recently premiered at the Venice film festival before moving on to Toronto. The film is scheduled for a December 21 release through Warner Bros in Japan
Produced by Japan’s Toho, Godzilla: The Planet Eater is co-directed by Kobun...
- 9/12/2018
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Early last week, white British actor Ed Skrein joined the cast of Neil Marshall’s upcoming “Hellboy” reboot, a casting choice that was immediately derided for its whitewashing of Skrein’s character, a Japanese-American Marine named Ben Daimio (whose family tree includes no less than a famous Japanese spy and war criminal, who also appears in the John Arcudi and Mike Mignola comic book series). In short order, Skrein did something wholly remarkable: he dropped out of the project after learning about Daimio’s heritage.
Read More:‘Hellboy’ Whitewashing: Ed Skrein Steps Down From Playing Japanese-American Comic Character
In an official statement, the actor made it clear that he believed the choice was what was “right,” noting that portraying the part in “a culturally accurate way” was clearly important for audiences (Skrein also pointed to his own “mixed heritage” family in the statement, which you can read here). In a...
Read More:‘Hellboy’ Whitewashing: Ed Skrein Steps Down From Playing Japanese-American Comic Character
In an official statement, the actor made it clear that he believed the choice was what was “right,” noting that portraying the part in “a culturally accurate way” was clearly important for audiences (Skrein also pointed to his own “mixed heritage” family in the statement, which you can read here). In a...
- 8/29/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Stars: Alexa PenaVega, Spencer Grammer, Kathryn Morris, Richard Riehle, Bryan Dechart | Written by Aaron Horwitz | Directed by Rob Margolies
Originally titled 2Br/1Ba, then retitled Roommate Wanted for its Us release, The Lodger - debuting here in the UK complete with cliched supermarket-friendly dark, brooding artwork which sells the film more as a straight up horror rather than the black comedy is really is (talk about mis-marketing) – is actually a loose remake of 2Ldk, the 2003 Japanese “film” (it only ran just over an hour) directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi.
Interestingly, 2Ldk was actually made as part of a filmmmaking challenge called the “Duel Project”, which saw Tsutsumi go head to head with director Ryuhei Kitamura to make a film under strict criteria: The script can contain no more than 2-3 characters and must be shot, on a low budget, in seven days and can only take place in one setting. The most important rule?...
Originally titled 2Br/1Ba, then retitled Roommate Wanted for its Us release, The Lodger - debuting here in the UK complete with cliched supermarket-friendly dark, brooding artwork which sells the film more as a straight up horror rather than the black comedy is really is (talk about mis-marketing) – is actually a loose remake of 2Ldk, the 2003 Japanese “film” (it only ran just over an hour) directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi.
Interestingly, 2Ldk was actually made as part of a filmmmaking challenge called the “Duel Project”, which saw Tsutsumi go head to head with director Ryuhei Kitamura to make a film under strict criteria: The script can contain no more than 2-3 characters and must be shot, on a low budget, in seven days and can only take place in one setting. The most important rule?...
- 2/8/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Exclusive: Japan’s Nippon TV has pre-sold Heaven’s Story director Takahisa Zeze’s sci-fi thriller Strayer’s Chronicle to Nk Contents for South Korea.
Starring Masaki Okada (Life Back Then) and Shota Sometani (Himizu), the film features the struggles of two sets of genetically manipulated children who grow up with extraordinary powers that could either save or destroy the world.
Warner Brothers Japan has the film set for theatrical release locally in June 27.
Nippon TV has also picked up romantic comedy Heroine Shikkaku (aka No Longer Heroine), based on the popular manga series by Momoko Koda.
Starring Mirei Kiritani (Ace Attorney), Kenta Yamazaki (L・Dk) and Kentaro Sakaguchi (Umimachi Diaries), the high school lesbian love triangle film is directed by Tsutomu Hanabusa (Handsome Suit, Sadako 3D).
The company also has Initiation Love, directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi (Memories of Tomorrow), starring Shota Matsuda (Boys Over Flowers) and Atsuko Maeda (Tamako in Moratorium).
The film, in post-production...
Starring Masaki Okada (Life Back Then) and Shota Sometani (Himizu), the film features the struggles of two sets of genetically manipulated children who grow up with extraordinary powers that could either save or destroy the world.
Warner Brothers Japan has the film set for theatrical release locally in June 27.
Nippon TV has also picked up romantic comedy Heroine Shikkaku (aka No Longer Heroine), based on the popular manga series by Momoko Koda.
Starring Mirei Kiritani (Ace Attorney), Kenta Yamazaki (L・Dk) and Kentaro Sakaguchi (Umimachi Diaries), the high school lesbian love triangle film is directed by Tsutomu Hanabusa (Handsome Suit, Sadako 3D).
The company also has Initiation Love, directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi (Memories of Tomorrow), starring Shota Matsuda (Boys Over Flowers) and Atsuko Maeda (Tamako in Moratorium).
The film, in post-production...
- 3/24/2015
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Japan’s Nippon TV (Ntv) is launching sales on new titles by hot Japanese directors Takashi Miike and Shunji Iwai at the European Film Market (Efm).
Based on Masashi Sada’s novel and song, Miike’s The Lion Standing In The Wind follows a Japanese doctor who travels to Africa and treats a boy soldier. Miike shot the film in Japan and Kenya last year.
Takao Osawa, who starred in Miike’s Shield Of Straw, plays the doctor and the cast also includes Satomi Ishihara and Yoko Maki. Japanese release is scheduled for March 14, 2015.
Shunji Iwai’s animated feature The Case Of Hana And Alice is a follow-up to his live action high school romance Hana And Alice (2004).
The story revolves around how the titular characters first met, while investigating the rumoured murder of a classmate.
Yu Aoi and Anne Suzuki, who played the leads in the live action version, voice the animation...
Based on Masashi Sada’s novel and song, Miike’s The Lion Standing In The Wind follows a Japanese doctor who travels to Africa and treats a boy soldier. Miike shot the film in Japan and Kenya last year.
Takao Osawa, who starred in Miike’s Shield Of Straw, plays the doctor and the cast also includes Satomi Ishihara and Yoko Maki. Japanese release is scheduled for March 14, 2015.
Shunji Iwai’s animated feature The Case Of Hana And Alice is a follow-up to his live action high school romance Hana And Alice (2004).
The story revolves around how the titular characters first met, while investigating the rumoured murder of a classmate.
Yu Aoi and Anne Suzuki, who played the leads in the live action version, voice the animation...
- 2/5/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Today more cast members were announced for the upcoming Kanjani8 movie, The Eight Rangers, directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi. Most notably, Becky will play a female detective and Noriyuki Higashiyama will play a villain for the first time in his career.
Kanjani8 is a boy band under Johnny & Associates that made their CD debut in 2004. Partly due to the numeric significance of this year marking their eighth anniversary, a movie version of the sentai parody the group performs at concerts was announced early last month.
Higashiyama will be playing the leader of a terrorist organization called “Dark Crusade”. For his first attempt at playing a villain, he reportedly drew inspiration from Gary Oldman’s character in Luc Besson’s 1994 film Léon while still trying to maintain his own style.
Becky’s character, Mokoko Kito, is a female detective who unites with the Eight Rangers after becoming outraged at the escalating crime...
Kanjani8 is a boy band under Johnny & Associates that made their CD debut in 2004. Partly due to the numeric significance of this year marking their eighth anniversary, a movie version of the sentai parody the group performs at concerts was announced early last month.
Higashiyama will be playing the leader of a terrorist organization called “Dark Crusade”. For his first attempt at playing a villain, he reportedly drew inspiration from Gary Oldman’s character in Luc Besson’s 1994 film Léon while still trying to maintain his own style.
Becky’s character, Mokoko Kito, is a female detective who unites with the Eight Rangers after becoming outraged at the escalating crime...
- 4/11/2012
- Nippon Cinema
Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s original “2Ldk” was the second half of a “Duel” project with fellow director Ryuhei Kitamura, when the two guys decided they wanted to duel (get it?) by making a quickie movie set in a limited locale with two actors. While Kitamura did his usual Samurai thing (dude loves the Samurai thing), Tsutsumi elected to pit two women, both wannabe actresses, against each other in an apartment setting. The winner gets the TV role of a lifetime. That’s the simple premise of “2Ldk” (the “Duel” films were constructed to be simple to cut down on the production time), and it sounds like the Hollywood remake, now called “The Wright Girls”, will follow a similar premise, with Gemma Arterton already signed up to play one of the two women. This time around, though, the two women are co-stars on a TV show who are both competing for the...
- 4/10/2012
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
The lovely Gemma Arterton -below ('Tamara Drewe') has been hired to star as one half of an unscrupulous couple of actresses who'll do anything to get each other out of the way in order for them to secure a new movie role. The story is based on the 2003 Japanese thriller '2Ldk' written by Yuiko Miura and Yukihiko Tsutsumi and will be produced by Relativity Media and Atlas Entertainment. The studios are attempting to secure 'Race to Witch Mountain' helmer Andy Fickman for directorial duties on the project from a script penned by Bert Royal ('Easy A'). Arterton, star of upcoming fantasy thriller 'Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters' and vampiric tale 'Byzantium', will play one of the actresses in the comedy thriller whilst the other young lady is yet to be cast. Stay tuned for more....
- 4/10/2012
- Horror Asylum
A trailer has been released for Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s upcoming monochrome movie My House.
Inspired by Kyohei Sakaguchi’s books on inventive “homeless” architecture, “Tokyo 0 Yen House 0 Yen Seikatsu” and “Sumida-gawa no Edison”, the film depicts the contrast between homeless people living freely in a big city with the life of an elite junior high school student and his obsessive compulsive mother. Singer-songwriter Takao Ito, who has released six solo albums, plays the main protagonist.
Plot: Suzumoto-san (Ito) and his friend Sumi-chan (Eri Ishida) are homeless, but they’re happily building a makeshift home in the corner of a city park. Suzumoto takes his bicycle to turn in aluminum cans for food money and finds things he can use from what other people discard. Meanwhile, an academically gifted junior high school student named Shota (Sada Murata) lives a completely opposite, stress-filled life.
My House will be released by King Records...
Inspired by Kyohei Sakaguchi’s books on inventive “homeless” architecture, “Tokyo 0 Yen House 0 Yen Seikatsu” and “Sumida-gawa no Edison”, the film depicts the contrast between homeless people living freely in a big city with the life of an elite junior high school student and his obsessive compulsive mother. Singer-songwriter Takao Ito, who has released six solo albums, plays the main protagonist.
Plot: Suzumoto-san (Ito) and his friend Sumi-chan (Eri Ishida) are homeless, but they’re happily building a makeshift home in the corner of a city park. Suzumoto takes his bicycle to turn in aluminum cans for food money and finds things he can use from what other people discard. Meanwhile, an academically gifted junior high school student named Shota (Sada Murata) lives a completely opposite, stress-filled life.
My House will be released by King Records...
- 3/16/2012
- Nippon Cinema
Director Yukihiko Tsutsumi will be following up the high-profile release of “Spec: The Movie” with a far more subdued black and white film called “My House” that’s been 5 years in the making. Details were first announced in late January and the poster art was revealed earlier today.
Back in 2007, Tsutsumi read a magazine article about the work a man named Kyohei Sakaguchi was doing to challenge the established idea of what a home should be and the negative stereotypes of homeless living. Two of Sakaguchi’s books on the subject, “Tokyo 0 Yen House 0 Yen Seikatsu” and “Sumida-gawa no Edison”, are the inspiration for this project as well as the distinct departure from Tsutsumi’s past directorial style.
The film is set in Nagoya, Tsutsumi’s own home city, and will star Nagoya-based singer-songwriter Takao Ito as a homeless man named Suzumoto. Eri Ishida, Itsuji Itao, and Tae Kimura will also appear.
Back in 2007, Tsutsumi read a magazine article about the work a man named Kyohei Sakaguchi was doing to challenge the established idea of what a home should be and the negative stereotypes of homeless living. Two of Sakaguchi’s books on the subject, “Tokyo 0 Yen House 0 Yen Seikatsu” and “Sumida-gawa no Edison”, are the inspiration for this project as well as the distinct departure from Tsutsumi’s past directorial style.
The film is set in Nagoya, Tsutsumi’s own home city, and will star Nagoya-based singer-songwriter Takao Ito as a homeless man named Suzumoto. Eri Ishida, Itsuji Itao, and Tae Kimura will also appear.
- 2/28/2012
- Nippon Cinema
"Inception" by a length!
In yet another down-to-the-wire weekend on the foreign theatrical circuit, Warner Bros.' "Inception" reclaimed the No. 1 overseas box office crown, nosing past the previous champ, independently distributed action title "The Expendables."
What sealed "Inception's" return to box office supremacy was its huge, No. 1 opening in China, which Warners declared was the fourth biggest logged in that market by any non-Chinese title. Five-day tally is estimated by Warners to be $13.6 million thanks to some from 2.6 million admissions clocked at about 3,300 screens.
Director Christopher Nolan's sci-fi thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio has breezed past the $400 million foreign gross mark in eight rounds of offshore release (cume $418.9 million), rolling up $24.4 million on the weekend overall from some 8,200 screens 60 markets.
"Inception" took first place offshore in the opening three weekends of last month while "Expendables" muscled its way to the top on Aug. 22 and Aug. 29.
For its part,...
In yet another down-to-the-wire weekend on the foreign theatrical circuit, Warner Bros.' "Inception" reclaimed the No. 1 overseas box office crown, nosing past the previous champ, independently distributed action title "The Expendables."
What sealed "Inception's" return to box office supremacy was its huge, No. 1 opening in China, which Warners declared was the fourth biggest logged in that market by any non-Chinese title. Five-day tally is estimated by Warners to be $13.6 million thanks to some from 2.6 million admissions clocked at about 3,300 screens.
Director Christopher Nolan's sci-fi thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio has breezed past the $400 million foreign gross mark in eight rounds of offshore release (cume $418.9 million), rolling up $24.4 million on the weekend overall from some 8,200 screens 60 markets.
"Inception" took first place offshore in the opening three weekends of last month while "Expendables" muscled its way to the top on Aug. 22 and Aug. 29.
For its part,...
- 9/6/2010
- by By Frank Segers
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Shochiku has uploaded a new full trailer for Yukihiko Tsutsumi‘s live-action adaptation of Beck to their YouTube channel and the film’s official website.
Based on Harold Sakuishi’s long-running manga, the film stars Takeru Sato as Koyuki, an ordinary high school student who’s encouraged to pick up guitar after a chance encounter with a talented guitarist named Ryusuke Minami (Hiro Mizushima). The two eventually form a band with bassist Taira (Osamu Mukai), lead vocalist Chiba (Kenta Kiritani), and drummer Saku (Aoi Nakamura). They name the band Beck after Minami’s dog and Koyuki discovers he has a natural gift for playing guitar. As his talent blooms, the band experiences more and more success, eventually getting invited to play at a rock festival.
Beck will be released in Japan on September 4, 2010.
Source: YouTube via @wildgrounds...
Based on Harold Sakuishi’s long-running manga, the film stars Takeru Sato as Koyuki, an ordinary high school student who’s encouraged to pick up guitar after a chance encounter with a talented guitarist named Ryusuke Minami (Hiro Mizushima). The two eventually form a band with bassist Taira (Osamu Mukai), lead vocalist Chiba (Kenta Kiritani), and drummer Saku (Aoi Nakamura). They name the band Beck after Minami’s dog and Koyuki discovers he has a natural gift for playing guitar. As his talent blooms, the band experiences more and more success, eventually getting invited to play at a rock festival.
Beck will be released in Japan on September 4, 2010.
Source: YouTube via @wildgrounds...
- 7/6/2010
- Nippon Cinema
Director: Yukihiko Tsutsumi. Review: Adam Wing. Expectations are one thing, delivering a trilogy of films based upon Naoki Urasawa’s masterpiece is an altogether more terrifying proposition. 20th Century Boys tells the tale of a group of children who hang out together in a grassy den after school. They create a book that depicts future Armageddon; they call it the Book of Prophecy. Sometime later the grown ups meet at a school reunion, people are dying at the hands of a sinister cult led by a mysterious leader known only as ‘Friend’, it soon becomes apparent that the time they spent together as children is having a major influence on current events. Their predictions are coming true and the mysterious cult is using the symbol they created as their logo. Worse than that, it soon becomes apparent that the nine grown ups are also responsible for the future of mankind...
- 5/26/2010
- 24framespersecond.net
Well, that solves that problem. The question of how we are going to finally get our hands on an English subtitled copy of parts two, and three of Yukihiko Tsutsumi's blockbusting doomsday thriller ‘The 20th Century Boys’ trilogy has been answered with a bang. UK label ‘4Digital Asia’ have pushed the boat way out, and are to release the whole trilogy in a whopping, four disc special edition. The DVD set comes with all three films in the trilogy, plus Chapter 1 is packaged as a Special Edition 24 Page Book with an extra disc packed full of bonus extras. 437 minutes of apocalyptic movie action, and special features totalling 4 Hours, not to shabby, at all. The 20th Century Boys - The Complete Saga is on sale from may 31st. Synopsis: The 20th Century Boys saga begins in 1969 when a young boy named Kenji and his friends write “The Book of Prophecy”. In the book,...
- 5/20/2010
- 24framespersecond.net
Shochiku has released a new, slightly longer second teaser trailer for Yukihiko Tsutsumi‘s Beck, a live-action adaptation of Harold Sakuishi’s long-running band manga.
The film stars Takeru Sato as Koyuki, an ordinary high school student who’s encouraged to pick up guitar after a chance encounter with a talented guitarist named Ryusuke Minami (Hiro Mizushima). The two eventually form a band with bassist Taira (Osamu Mukai), lead vocalist Chiba (Kenta Kiritani), and drummer Saku (Aoi Nakamura). They name the band Beck after Minami’s dog and Koyuki discovers he has a natural gift for playing guitar. As his talent blooms, the band experiences more and more success, eventually getting invited to play at a rock festival.
Beck will be released in Japan on September 4, 2010.
Source: Yahoo! Eiga...
The film stars Takeru Sato as Koyuki, an ordinary high school student who’s encouraged to pick up guitar after a chance encounter with a talented guitarist named Ryusuke Minami (Hiro Mizushima). The two eventually form a band with bassist Taira (Osamu Mukai), lead vocalist Chiba (Kenta Kiritani), and drummer Saku (Aoi Nakamura). They name the band Beck after Minami’s dog and Koyuki discovers he has a natural gift for playing guitar. As his talent blooms, the band experiences more and more success, eventually getting invited to play at a rock festival.
Beck will be released in Japan on September 4, 2010.
Source: Yahoo! Eiga...
- 4/23/2010
- Nippon Cinema
One of the most ambitious -and expensive - film series in Japanese movie making history, Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s blockbuster live action adaptation of Urasawa Naoki's acclaimed Manga “20th Century Boys” finally draws to a conclusion (for those of us outside Japan, waiting on a huge cliff-hanger from chapter 2!) with the third and final chapter heading for English subtitled DVD. The all-star cast return for the final showdown between the resistance fighters and the enigmatic and fanatical cult leader ‘Friend,’ who is out to end the world. Synopsis: The year is 2017, and Friend's spell over Japan is stronger than ever. With Tokyo under quarantine because of the spread of a deadly virus, Friend announces that on August 12 all will be destroyed except for those who believe in Friend. Ocho, Yoshitsune, Yukiji, Kanna and other resistance fighters are still battling the government from underground, but Kanna has split from the group to pursue more radical means.
- 3/15/2010
- 24framespersecond.net
One of the most ambitious -and expensive - film series in Japanese movie making history, Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s blockbuster live action adaptation of Urasawa Naoki's acclaimed Manga “20th Century Boys” finally draws to a conclusion (for those of us outside Japan, waiting on a huge cliff-hanger from chapter 2!) with the third and final chapter heading for English subtitled DVD. The all-star cast return for the final showdown between the resistance fighters and the enigmatic and fanatical cult leader ‘Friend,’ who is out to end the world. Synopsis: The year is 2017, and Friend's spell over Japan is stronger than ever. With Tokyo under quarantine because of the spread of a deadly virus, Friend announces that on August 12 all will be destroyed except for those who believe in Friend. Ocho, Yoshitsune, Yukiji, Kanna and other resistance fighters are still battling the government from underground, but Kanna has split from the group to pursue more radical means.
- 3/15/2010
- 24framespersecond.net
The Japanese website for the live-action adaptation of Harold Sakuishi’s Beck coming-of-age-and-rocking-the-world manga has been updated with a first teaser trailer showing Hiro Mizushima, Takeru Satoh, Kenta Kiritani, Aoi Nakamura and Osamu Mukai as the members of the band. The adaptation is directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi (20th Century Boys) and is supposed to open in Japan in Fall 2010.
I stopped watching the anime adaptation after a few episodes because of too much angsty/driveless teens, so what do people who know the original manga and animation have say about this first footage?
[See post to watch Flash video]
[via Ann & Eiga.com]...
I stopped watching the anime adaptation after a few episodes because of too much angsty/driveless teens, so what do people who know the original manga and animation have say about this first footage?
[See post to watch Flash video]
[via Ann & Eiga.com]...
- 1/7/2010
- by Ulrik
- Affenheimtheater
Director: Yukihiko Tsutsumi. Review: Adam Wing. So here it is then, the terrifying second act. The first part of any story is child’s play compared to part two, characters are introduced, the scene is set and viewers are reeled in. Act three is the big finish so that’s a piece of cake too; everything comes together in a rousing and crowd pleasing fashion. Or at least, that’s the general idea. The second film however, well that would be the tough sell I guess, there’s no beginning and no end with chapter two, but you’ve got to do enough to keep the viewer engrossed if you want them back for part three. The Last Hope kicks off 15 years after the events of the first film, introducing us to a country that has fallen under the spell of cult leader ‘Friend’. Kenji (Karasawa Toshiaki), who you’ll...
- 9/23/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia announces its complete program. There are still a few surprises to be confirmed, like the closing gala, but they have already put together the final list of films that will be screened at Sitges 09. Below you’ll find the titles of each film and their sections as well as links for the films that we have already reviewed here on Sound On Sight. Opening Film [Rec]2. Paco Plaza and Jaume Balagueró. 2009. Official FANTÀSTIC In Competition Section Accident. Soi Cheang. 2009. Accidents Happen. Andrew Lancaster. 2009. The Children. Tom Shankland. 2008. [1] Cold Souls. Sophie Bartes. 2009. The Countess. Julie Delpy. 2009. Les Derniers Jours Du Monde. Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu. 2009. Dogtooth (Kynodontas). Yorgos Lanthimos. 2009. Dorian Gray. Oliver Parker. 2009. Enter The Void. Gaspar Noé. 2009. Grace. Paul Solet. 2009. [2] Heartless. Philip Ridley. 2009. Hierro. Gabe Ibáñez. 2009. La Horde. Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher. 2009. Ingrid. Eduard Cortés. 2009. Kinatay. Brillante Mendoza. 2009. Metropia. Tarik Saleh. 2009. Moon.
- 9/19/2009
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Director: Yukihiko Tsutsumi. Review: Adam Wing. Expectations are one thing, delivering a trilogy of films based upon Naoki Urasawa’s masterpiece is an altogether more terrifying proposition. That is of course, as long as you’re familiar with the original manga on which it is based. If like me you’re not, then the prospect of the most anticipated Japanese manga-based feature film landing on your doorstep is to be greeted with a fair amount of joy and precious little cynicism. Don’t get me wrong, the story behind 20th Century Boys is incredibly enticing but I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that extra weight of expectation. If I attempt to explain the plot I’ll be headed for a whole world of trouble, so I’ll keep it simple.
- 9/16/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
The full lineup has been announced, and among the load of genre fare that's been running the fest circuit are the world premiers of:
Vincenzo Natali's latest, Splice, which we're all excited about.
Simon Fellows twisted adaptation Malice in Wonderland (trailer)
Along some of our personal favorites:
Black Dynamite (friggin awesome)
Swiss scifi flick Cargo (trailer)
Pater Sparrow's incredible Stanislaw Lem adaptation 1 (review)
The Mo Brothers Indonesian slasher Macabre (review)
Atm (get it?) horror-comedy The Human Centipede (review)
Full list after the break.
Opening Film
[Rec]2. Paco Plaza and Jaume Balagueró. 2009.
Official FANTÀSTIC In Competition Section
Accident. Soi Cheang. 2009.
Accidents Happen. Andrew Lancaster. 2009.
The Children. Tom Shankland. 2008.
Cold Souls. Sophie Bartes. 2009.
The Countess. Julie Delpy. 2009.
Les Derniers Jours Du Monde. Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu. 2009.
Dogtooth (Kynodontas). Yorgos Lanthimos. 2009.
Dorian Gray. Oliver Parker. 2009.
Enter The Void. Gaspar Noé. 2009.
Grace. Paul Solet. 2009.
Heartless. Philip Ridley. 2009.
Hierro. Gabe Ibáñez. 2009.
La Horde. Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher.
Vincenzo Natali's latest, Splice, which we're all excited about.
Simon Fellows twisted adaptation Malice in Wonderland (trailer)
Along some of our personal favorites:
Black Dynamite (friggin awesome)
Swiss scifi flick Cargo (trailer)
Pater Sparrow's incredible Stanislaw Lem adaptation 1 (review)
The Mo Brothers Indonesian slasher Macabre (review)
Atm (get it?) horror-comedy The Human Centipede (review)
Full list after the break.
Opening Film
[Rec]2. Paco Plaza and Jaume Balagueró. 2009.
Official FANTÀSTIC In Competition Section
Accident. Soi Cheang. 2009.
Accidents Happen. Andrew Lancaster. 2009.
The Children. Tom Shankland. 2008.
Cold Souls. Sophie Bartes. 2009.
The Countess. Julie Delpy. 2009.
Les Derniers Jours Du Monde. Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu. 2009.
Dogtooth (Kynodontas). Yorgos Lanthimos. 2009.
Dorian Gray. Oliver Parker. 2009.
Enter The Void. Gaspar Noé. 2009.
Grace. Paul Solet. 2009.
Heartless. Philip Ridley. 2009.
Hierro. Gabe Ibáñez. 2009.
La Horde. Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher.
- 9/12/2009
- QuietEarth.us
Now here's a remake I can get behind! We received word round town tonight that plans are underway to bring 2Ldk to the big screen here in the States. The title refers to "two bedrooms, living room, dining room and kitchen," and is a remake of the 2002 film by Yukihiko Tsutsumi (on DVD from Tla's Danger After Dark). The incredibly violent horror thriller is about two actresses rooming together who are both competing for the same part in a film, and while waiting for the answer as to who gets the role, turn on each other in their apartment in a flurry of violent-erotic behavior. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend picking it up.
- 6/10/2009
- bloody-disgusting.com
Does this still need explanation? Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s adaptation of massive sci-fi conspiracy manga 20th Century Boys has been the Japanese film epic of the past couple years and the saga is soon to come to an end with the summertime arrival of the third and final installment. If you want more details on the title or series as a whole, then I direct you to our archive where we have stacks of news, reviews and trailers for the earlier installments, but for this one I direct you to the brand new trailer below the break.
- 6/4/2009
- by Todd Brown
- Screen Anarchy
One of the premiere festival events in North America is regards to Asian cinema is the New York Asian Film Festival. You get two solid weeks of excellent cinema from all corners of the Asian world and if the first half of the titles announced today are any indication as to what kind of festival you’ll experience this year then you’re in for a good one. Joko Anwar’s The Forbidden Door, the first two chapters of Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s 20th Century Boys trilogy, Kanji Nakajima;s The Clone Returns Home, Ryu Seung-wan’s Dachimawa Lee, Jang Hun’s Rough Cut are just some of the titles. The press release is after the break and there are a tonne of titles that should be familiar to Twitch readers.
- 5/8/2009
- by Mack
- Screen Anarchy
While The Tribeca Film Festival draws to a close, we bid farewell to the onslaught of indie film makers and fans of such things who flew in for the event. While the show was spectacular as always, you don't exactly attend it to see things that will freak you out ... on purpose.
For that reaction, we've got the New York Asian Film Festival, June 19 - July 2, the show takes over the IFC center and July 1 - 5, they raid Japan Society. The first movies have been announced for the fest and we'd be bad, bad horror fiends if we didn't single out the bloody best of the bunch.
Start your check list with these...
The Forbidden Door (Indonesia, 2009, Joko Anwar) – the director of last year’s festival favorite, Kala, is back and boy is this one twisted. Like a 19th century gothic novel adapted by Alfred Hitchcock and directed by David Lynch,...
For that reaction, we've got the New York Asian Film Festival, June 19 - July 2, the show takes over the IFC center and July 1 - 5, they raid Japan Society. The first movies have been announced for the fest and we'd be bad, bad horror fiends if we didn't single out the bloody best of the bunch.
Start your check list with these...
The Forbidden Door (Indonesia, 2009, Joko Anwar) – the director of last year’s festival favorite, Kala, is back and boy is this one twisted. Like a 19th century gothic novel adapted by Alfred Hitchcock and directed by David Lynch,...
- 5/5/2009
- by Nomad
- DreadCentral.com
How’s this for a great giveaway. To mark the release of Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s fantastic screen adaptation of 20th Century Boys on UK DVD, we have got together with distributor “4Digital Asia” and put together a great prize package to give away to a lucky 24fps reader. As well as a copy of the 2 disc special edition, extras goodies include a 20th Century Boys poster and limited edition T-shirt. To be in with a chance to win, all you have to do is drop us an email to the address on our contact page, with “20th Century Boys” in the subject field. Contest entry is open until May 1st, after which a winning name will be picked at random. This contest is open to UK residents only. Good Luck! 20th Century Boys trailer...
- 4/27/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
How’s this for a great giveaway. To mark the release of Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s fantastic screen adaptation of 20th Century Boys on UK DVD, we have got together with distributor “4Digital Asia” and put together a great prize package to give away to a lucky 24fps reader. As well as a copy of the 2 disc special edition, extras goodies include a 20th Century Boys poster and limited edition T-shirt. To be in with a chance to win, all you have to do is drop us an email to the address on our contact page, with “20th Century Boys” in the subject field. Contest entry is open until May 1st, after which a winning name will be picked at random. This contest is open to UK residents only. Good Luck! 20th Century Boys trailer...
- 4/27/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
“20th Century Boys” has been one of the most eagerly anticipated events in Japanese cinema for some time. The adaptation of the best selling 24 volume manga by Naoki Urasawa is to be made into a trilogy of films, with a massive total budget of 6 billion yen, setting a new record for the industry. Directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi (who boasts a eclectic CV, including the likes of “Sushi King Goes to New York”, “Forbidden Siren” and “2Ldk”), the first part ranked as one of the biggest box office hits in Japan in 2008, leaving fans desperately awaiting the next instalment. The film has now been released on region 2 DVD by 4Digital Asia in a two disc version with a whole host of extras including several documentaries and a book on the film’s production. The film stars Toshiaki Karasawa (also in “Casshern”) as Kenji Endo, who back in 1973 along with a group...
- 4/15/2009
- by James Mudge
- Beyond Hollywood
How’s this for a great giveaway. To mark the release of Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s fantastic screen adaptation of 20th Century Boys on UK DVD, we have got together with distributor “4Digital Asia” and put together a great prize package to give away to a lucky 24fps reader. As well as a copy of the 2 disc special edition, extras goodies include a 20th Century Boys poster and limited edition T-shirt. To be in with a chance to win, all you have to do is drop us an email to the address on our contact page, with “20th Century Boys” in the subject field. Contest entry is open until May 1st, after which a winning name will be picked at random. This contest is open to UK residents only. Good Luck!
- 4/9/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
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