It took a bit of legwork, but our readers can finally expect some Japan Cuts: Festival Of New Japanese Film coverage as Japan Society readies its sixteenth edition. The festival went dark last year while we’ve been able to cover the festival for three years in a row prior, and it’s been a blast seeing some of the films they’ve premiered. That the festival is returning, in addition to returning to its in-person festivities, is pretty exciting.
One film I know folks will be looking forward to is Takehiko Inoue’s hit debut, The First Slam Dunk, in partnership with GKids and Toei Animation. The movie will serve as the opening title to commence a programme host to ten North American Premieres, seven U.S. Premieres, three East Coast Premieres, and three New York Premieres, two shorts programs, and six special guests and two parties. The festival has also carved out a segment for the celebratory screening of Elizabeth Lennard’s Tokyo Melody: A Film about Ryuichi Sakamoto, a tribute to late beloved composer and producer who passed away back in March.
Showcasing as this year’s Centerpiece film is the U.S. Premiere of Under The Turquoise Sky, directed by Kentaro and starring actor Yuya Yagira* who will be feted as this year’s recipient of the festival’s Cut Above Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film. The Japan Cuts 2023 closer will be The Three Sisters of Tenmasou Inn, from director Ryuhei Kitamura who has been busy for the better part of the last fifteen years plying his trade in English genre thrillers in the U.S..
“JAPAN CUTS is back in-person!” says Peter Tatara, Director of Film at Japan Society, who organized this year’s festival with Japan Society Film Programmer Alexander Fee. “JAPAN CUTS is one of Japan Society’s most popular events and beloved in New York’s cinema scene. After a pause during the pandemic, we couldn’t be more proud for JAPAN CUTS to return with two weeks of exciting, thought-provoking and tear-jerking films. We’re honored to share a captivating slice of Japan’s cinematic world with New York!”
Visit the official website for more info on the line-up, as well as tickets. Some of these are selling out, so…have at it!
