KYOTO INTERNATIONAL FILM AND ART FESTIVAL 2022

This film is based on Akutagawa Prize-winning author Fuminori Nakamura's debut novel The Gun (Kawade Shobo Shinsha Publishing). Nakamura, who is expanding his activities not only in Japan but also in the world, said that he is "in love" with this shocking work, which was planned and produced by producer Kazuyoshi Okuyama and directed by Masaharu Take (Hyakuen no Koi and Uso Happyaku). The film is a high quality work of pure literature that explores the human condition through the visual expression of film noir.
The film stars Nijiro Murakami. He passionately plays a difficult protagonist who is ruled by guns and gradually becomes full of madness. Alice Hirose plays the heroine, Yuko Yoshikawa. Despite her pleasant personality, she plays the role of a university student who suffers from some kind of emotional problems. The detective who pursues Toru is played by the brilliant Lily Franky. The film is also anchored by a cast of unique actors, including Kyoko Hinami, Risa Aragaki, and Amane Okayama.

A girl is taken. A suspect in a bizarre murder.
Yakumo, a reporter about to get married to the love of his life, is after a scoop about a bizarre murder case from a year ago involving a genius photographer named Kiharazaka. As Yakumo gets closer to the truth, Kiharazaka's dangerous trap extends to his fiancée, Yuriko. What will be the fate of Yakumo who falls into Kiharazaka's trap in order to get his beloved fiancée back?

Highly acclaimed by the Wall Street Journal! The film adaptation of Akutagawa award winning author, Fuminori Nakamura's masterpiece novel! A shocking work that intertwines the darkness lurking in the heart of a grief-stricken murderer and his sad desire to live for love! The main character, Fumihiro Kuki, is played by Hiroshi Tamaki. He shows a new side by playing the role of a murderer which is rare and different from the wild and fierce roles he has portrayed so far. Yuko Araki plays Kaori, the woman Fumihiro puts everything on the line to protect, and Ryo Yoshizawa plays Ito, one of the terrorist organization's perpetrators. The talented cast also includes Tatsuya Nakamura, Ken Mitsuishi, Kunio Murai, and Akira Emoto. The film is directed by Teppei Nakamura, an up-and-coming director who has worked on numerous music videos and commercials. This suspense drama with a grand and profound theme is depicted with overwhelming direction. What is the true reason why a man who has changed his face, abandoned his past, and harbors an evil that can never be eradicated, still lives on and fights? The shocking ending is revealed, one that will never be forgotten.

Keito Akise and Yuichi Saeki were involved in a horrific incident when they were children. As an adult, Keito is tormented by the memory of the incident and feels defiled by the idea of laying his skin on another person's.
He continues to work aimlessly translating French literature. There is a girl working at a delicatessen who he knows well. He calls his former classmate and girlfriend, Kaori, who is hospitalized for a mental illness. He lives his life with a minimum of human contact, and then he receives a call from Saeki for the first time since he graduated from high school.
"It's me. It's Saeki. It's been a while but do you want to meet up?"
On the night they meet up once again, a delivery girl whom Keito knew was murdered in his room.
When Keito is interrogated, the detective tells him, "You know Yuichi Saeki, don't you? He is a suspect wanted nationwide for serial assault on women."

Sanada is a psychiatrist working at a clinic in the United States.
One day, while out shopping with his family, he encounters a woman in an elevator.
Her voice echoes in his mind, and Sanada fantasizes about interviewing her at the clinic.
However, her story is more dramatic than Sanada could have ever imagined.
She lost her parents in a house fire when she was a child, was bullied at school, and was cheated on by her husband. After her divorce, she has been spending her days living in debt while working as a prostitute in the US.
As Sanada listens to her talk, he finds himself drawn into her stories, comparing himself to all the men who she has crossed paths with. Her story escalates further and takes an unexpected turn.

The Gun (starring Nijiro Murakami) was released in 2018 as a film adaptation of writer Fuminori Nakamura's debut work The Gun (Kawade Shobo Shinsha Publishers). Conceived and produced by Kazuyoshi Okuyama, who also produced The Gun, the film The Gun 2020 is an original work based on Fuminori Nakamura's original idea, and is the first time Nakamura himself has written a screenplay for the film. Like The Gun, Okuyama planned and produced the film, and Masaharu Take, the lead director of The Naked Director, directed the film and handled the screenplay.
All of the characters are full of madness. The cast members who play these characters are all actors with outstanding acting skills and abundantly unique personalities.
The main character, Toko, is played by Kyoko Hinami. In The Gun, she played the key role of the "toast woman," but in this film, she takes on the challenge of playing a woman who picks up a gun and is at the mercy of it.
Koichi Sato plays the role of a mysterious man whom Toko meets as a result of a connection with the gun.
Masaya Kato plays Tomita, a stalker who obsessively pursues Toko.
Tomochika plays Mizuho, a mentally ill mother who hates Toko.
Mitsuru Fukikoshi plays the detective who pursues Toko to her doom.
The fascinating cast lures the audience into this outlandish world.

This is an Okinawan rock documentary film about the legendary Okinawan rock band Murasaki.
Formed in Okinawa in 1970 with George Murasaki at the helm before Okinawa's reversion to Japan, the group released its first album MURASAKI in 1976, which broke new ground in the history of Japanese rock music. The band became a leader of the music scene at the time, being named the number one Japanese group in 1977 by the music magazine Music Life.
In 2007, the members of the band's heydey reunited and welcomed new members JJ and Chris. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2020. The band was forced to cancel a their 50th anniversary concert due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the band went on hiatus. The band members decided to keep on going despite the situation and produced a new album. They played the commemorative live concert over a year later. Many musicians, including LOUDNESS and Hironobu Kageyama, who experienced MURASAKI's mainland debut firsthand, Seikimatsu II and PATA (X JAPAN), who were influenced by MURASAKI, and BEGIN, who imitated MURASAKI on Ishigaki Island, will share their thoughts on the band's activities since its formation, the economic climate during the Vietnam War, and the excitement of Okinawa's return to Japan.
The film not only features MURASAKI's powerful live performance, but also Akira Takasaki and Hironobu Kageyama performing MURASAKI's famous song DOOMSDAY together, as well as JJ and Minoru Niihara passionately singing BORDERS DRAWN IN BLOOD. The film is directed by Takanori Noda of Nankuru Naisa, the first movie starring Sachiko Nakada, the queen of Okinawan comedy.

"Cinema Kumiodori" is a project which attempts to view Kumiodori, a traditional song and dance performance that has been handed down for about 300 years, with a new perspective. The "Kokonomaki" is one of the five pieces by Tamagusuku Chokun, the founder of Kumiodori, and this depicts the contrast between "stillness" at the sorrow of parting and "movement" from the ferocious breathing of fire by a serpent, and is mesmerizing to watch. Top staff supporting film production in Okinawa gathered together and have succeeded in capturing all the charm of Kumiodori on film, including its stylistic beauty, the delicate expressions of the tachikata (dancer), which are normally not seen on stage, its tense jiutai (Noh chorus) music, and flowing dialogue.
At the beginning of the program, guide Satsuki Miyagi introduces the history and highlights of the program, so that those who are new to kumiodori can enjoy the performance without any prior knowledge. The film is directed by Takako Miyahira, director of "Looking for Anne."
The story of "Kokonomaki" is as follows: A sister and brother, who have been living together in poverty, decide to sacrifice themselves to save their mother in order to appease a giant snake that brings misfortune to their village...

In 1970, Okinawa of Japan is under the rule of the United States. Contrary to the excitement of Expo'70 on the mainland, the frustration of the oppressed islanders swell day by day. Despite the heat of the times, Takeru and Koken lazily pass the time on the rooftop. What are they here for? Before long, the sun goes down and night falls on them...

The Iriomote wildcat is only found on Iriomote Island. The island's youth feel threatened by the fact that traffic accidents are not decreasing. One day, a mysterious girl appears in front of a young man. She doesn't speak, but is a beautiful girl who sings island songs and does handiwork. Some people who dream of getting rich see the beautiful paper that she makes and develop a plot. Who is she? Is it her purpose to benefit people or to get back at them? So can people live on Iriomote Island together with the wild cat?

In the autumn of 1963, Fan Jinshi, a Shanghai girl, came to Dunhuang after graduating from the Department of Archaeology of Peking University. Under the guidance of Chang Shuhong as a representative, she has been guarding the Mogao Caves for more than half a century, overcoming many obstacles. She has also created “Digital Dunhuang”, which allows for the permanent preservation and sustainable use of cultural relics.

The Velvet Underground, the original underground rock band, emerged from the chemistry between Andy Warhol and Lou Reed. Two of these greats, Reed and John Cale, perform together for the first time in 21 years since their breakup to honor the memory of Warhol, who was a tremendous mentor to them and a friend whom they both loved and hated. The 15 songs, co-written by Reed and Cale, pay homage to the life of the mysterious Warhol. The original negatives were long thought to be lost, but renowned director Edward Lachman, a two-time Academy Award nominee for Best Cinematography, discovered the original 16mm negatives and restored the film in 4K last year.

The story on the stage, which cannot be expressed in a movie, is realistic and vivid, and its composition is reconstructed as a movie, which cannot be broadcasted. The scenes are selected and edited from five different camera shots, with additional scenes shot on location to add a sense of atmosphere and emotion. The tables and text provide easy-to-understand explanations, making this a remarkably complete piece of theatrical entertainment cinema.
This film tells the true story of the Honnoji Incident, the greatest mystery in history, but with a new setting in which Nobunaga Oda died beforehand. Viewers were moved by the new telling of the Honnoji Incident, saying, "I wish the historical facts were like this," and "This is the most romantic telling of the Honnoji Incident in history." This film also features new scenes written for the movie.

Zhong hao,a graduate student in mechanical physics, is doing a magical study that simulates reality at supersonic speeds.When the research was nearing its final stage.his mother called and he learned that the train his father had been driving was about to stop running. Zhong hao thought twice and decided to give up everything in the big city and return to hometown to help his father though his research. In order to complete the final experiment,Zhong hao found a Japanese elite in acceleration research--Rika Nakamura,on an online forum.
Father was very angry at him for giving up the chance in the big city，but after he saw his son's efforts，plus the positive influence of Rika，father and son finally reconciled with each other. Zhong hao’s father helped him complete the final experiment. At the same time, Zhong hao’s hometown,JiaYang,gained public attention because of the success of the experiment,the last steam train was saved. In order to commemorate everyone’s efforts, Zhong hao set up a travel agency named "DREAM TRAIN" and contribution to the revitalization of hometown.

A mistress named Clara who is on the run in Jakarta and her neighbor a young Japanese named Kenji who works in a production house become attracted to each other because of the sounds they hear every day through the walls of their living quarters.

Clara works in a cafe that is only open in the afternoon until the morning, she claims to be a film student. The cafe is owned by Dimas, a young man who was abandoned by his fiancé.

Kenji was sent to Jakarta, Indonesia as a representative of a Japanese production house. In Jakarta he fell in love with a woman he worked with.

Tatsuya Morino, a manga artist who trained under the master Shigeru Mizuki and made his debut in 1994 with Jigoku Doji (original story by Masumi Kaneda), has since been drawing mainly yokai monsters, a genre he acquired from his mentor. His work Kaiki Taxi" (published by Ichijinsha's REX Comics) has been adapted into a live-action film. This is a feature-length horror film with comedic elements that depicts various bizarre phenomena involving cars, including a "faceless driver's license" and a "car which loses weight" from the original story, as well as an original film story, "Niguchi Onna" (a woman with two mouths).
The star-studded cast transcends genres and includes comedians Naoki Inada and Dancho Yasuda, professional actors Taiyo Sugiura and Tomoka Kurotani, and variety show personalities Yoko Kumada and Kuniko Yamada, as well as idol Rin Kaname, artists Diamond Yukai and Nanami Akatsuki, and others.

A surf documentary that reveals the surf culture that has taken root in various parts of the world.
Following the first installment which was set in Hawaii, this film is set on the island nation of Japan.
Taro Suruga takes a journey to Shimanto in Shikoku.

A complete version of the nine-episode minidrama series Soreyuke! Omiya Seven, the signature program of Omiya Seven, which is broadcast on TV Saitama and BS Yoshimoto. Dr. Morinomiya, a genius scientist, and Nanata, an android weapon, fight a fierce battle against the unknown evil organization Gruizen and manage to win. Dr. Morinomiya and Nanata were enjoying a comfortable life in a peaceful world, but then....
Starring: Shuntaro Fukui (GAG), Kamithi (Gerrardon)

A documentary about the Volunteer Probation Officer "HOGOSHI" experience of comedian Masaki Sata (Bad Boys). Also known as a popular YouTuber in recent years, Sata was a former naughty man who was indebted to Volunteer Probation Officers. After more than 20 years, he received an unexpected offer from The Ministry of Justice as "One Month Volunteer Probation Officer". "It's still too early for me..." Sata hesitates, but he accepts the offer because "I’m learning it as that I will be a Volunteer Probation Officer when I’m 60 years old."This is a record of Sata's experience as a new Volunteer Probation Officer in the summer of 2022, along with the feelings he sensed at that time.

This is Anna Nagasaki's first full-fledged film as director, scriptwriter, and lead actress. It has action, romance, and a crazy idea that turns jealousy into energy that turns into nuclear power, which is something only Anna Nagasaki could have dreamed up. We hope you enjoy the unexpected ending.

Iriomote Island was registered as a World Natural Heritage site in the summer of 2021. The documentary film, Seiseiruten, which portrays the abundant nature as represented by the Iriomote cat and the people who live with it over a period of three years, continues to attract a quiet buzz even after a year has passed since its release. This special edition is a re-edited version with new scenes focusing on the life of Kinsei Ishigaki, a local historian of Iriomote Island, who was the main character of Seiseiruten and passed away suddenly in June 2022. The story of Kinsei, who loved the island where he was born and raised and lived like the sea, mountains, and water, makes those of us living today question what it means for people to live a natural life.

The Shuri Gekijo is the oldest surviving traditional movie theater in Okinawa. Since its opening in 1950, when the devastation of the ground war of WWII was still fresh in Okinawa, the theater has been in business for 72 years with almost no change in its appearance. In the beginning, in addition to showing movies, it was an indispensable community institution where people gathered for things such as shows of Okinawan performing arts and neighborhood school events, but as the times changed, it became a movie theater specializing in adult movies.
Although the theater was relaunched as a theater showing classic films in May 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic, the third director, Masanori Kaneshiro, passed away suddenly in April 2022. The theater was tragically closed. Currently, a group of volunteers is conducting an investigation and considering the theater's future survival. This short documentary takes a look at the history, current state, and future of the Shuri Gekijo.

YouTube animation ENTANIME features comedians performing material written for animation or existing material.
This is a digest of Iza-chan Koza-chan, which depicts rather silly romance-themed tangle, Ningen Kansatsu, in which common human stories are performed from an animal's point of view, as well as the original comedy Osaka no Obachan de Rekishi ga Ugoita. Shirankedo....

The town of Misato, Nara Prefecture. 21-year old Yuzu is struggling to make ends meet in a family whose hearts have been torn apart.
One day, he meets a woman called Chieko.
Chieko is the same age, and has a bright and innocent personality, which heals Yuzu's damaged heart.
But Chieko has a secret that no one else knows about...
Set in the town of Misato, in Nara Prefecture, this short fall season is about to change Yuzu's life.

"There is a secret in this village ..." A civil servant "Tadokoro" who works at the Kashihara Village Office in Nara Prefecture. One morning, his old friend "Ayaka" from his junior high school visits the office. She said she was investigating the truth about the disappearance of a resort company in the village a few days ago. Then was joined into an investigation with her colleague Shinobu Sasaki. Eventually, the three approach the secret. They find an important person of the village is involved in the secret ... A suspense comedy movie of a small space-sized story in Kashihara City Nara Prefecture which has a long history.

Aoi, a new editor, moves to the town of Tsubata in Ishikawa Prefecture, where there is the legend of Genpei. Her mission is to retrieve a manuscript from Okada, a novelist who had returned to his hometown to go to his brother's funeral, and had not been heard from since. Aoi stays at Okada's home until the manuscript is ready, and through deepening interactions with Okada's nephew Tsukasa and neighbor Tomo, she begins to rethink her life.

Since this year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Pathé-Baby, the Kyoto International Film and Art Festival's Classic Film Special called for a Pathé-Baby discovery project, collecting and restoring Pathé-Baby films that are currently lying dormant in homes, and digitizing these images.
These precious films will be screened with live piano accompaniment and commentary.

Pathé-Baby
Exactly 100 years ago, in 1922, the Pathé Company sold a small movie 9.5mm film, camera, and projector under the name Pathé-Baby (Pathéscope in the UK and Pathex in the US). This made it possible not only for the general public to easily watch small films at home, but also to make home movies (private films).
The Pathé-Baby was 9.5mm, a specially shaped film with feed holes in the center of the screens, and was most popular from the mid-1920s to the 1940s. After WWII, 8mm, VHS, and DVD became popular making Pathé-Baby short-lived because of its special format. Today, it serves as documentary footage during a limited period of time in the early Showa era (1926-1989). In particular, the 1920s was the heyday of silent films, and some films, whose originals have now been considered lost, can be found in some Pathé-Baby projectors. Even home movies are invaluable recordings of the Showa era, and many of these images, such as family scenes, daily life, cityscapes, events, festivals, and fashions, can only be seen on a Pathé-Baby, creating a historical and cultural heritage value for us today.

Since this year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Pathé-Baby, the Kyoto International Film and Art Festival's Classic Film Special called for a Pathé-Baby discovery project, collecting and restoring Pathé-Baby films that are currently lying dormant in homes, and digitizing these images.
These precious films will be screened with live piano accompaniment and commentary.

Pathé-Baby
Exactly 100 years ago, in 1922, the Pathé Company sold a small movie 9.5mm film, camera, and projector under the name Pathé-Baby (Pathéscope in the UK and Pathex in the US). This made it possible not only for the general public to easily watch small films at home, but also to make home movies (private films).
The Pathé-Baby was 9.5mm, a specially shaped film with feed holes in the center of the screens, and was most popular from the mid-1920s to the 1940s. After WWII, 8mm, VHS, and DVD became popular making Pathé-Baby short-lived because of its special format. Today, it serves as documentary footage during a limited period of time in the early Showa era (1926-1989). In particular, the 1920s was the heyday of silent films, and some films, whose originals have now been considered lost, can be found in some Pathé-Baby projectors. Even home movies are invaluable recordings of the Showa era, and many of these images, such as family scenes, daily life, cityscapes, events, festivals, and fashions, can only be seen on a Pathé-Baby, creating a historical and cultural heritage value for us today.

A dimwitted bellhop working in a prosperous hotel is forced to fight a gang of men who are after secret government documents. This is an explosive romp directed by and starring Larry Semon, the legendary comedian who was a favorite of Junichiro Tanizaki and Taruho Inagaki!
Kota Miki, a cellist in the popular band PASCALS, composed this piece and became the session leader, having Keisuke Ohta (violin), Kumiko Takara (marimba), and Kensaku Tanikawa (keyboards) play the score for the first time without rehearsal, in the legendary live screening version presented here for you to enjoy!

A lackluster guy who pretends to be a photographer with a old-fashioned glass dry plate photo machine takes on the challenge of making a special news report newsreel film! A gem bursting with Buster Keaton's wacky and endearing charm!
This is the first piece played by Eri Kozaki, who made her debut as a silent film accompanist while studying at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris in 2007, and now, on the 15th anniversary of her debut, she revives the spirit of Keaton's comedy with a new performance technique filled with her passion for the genre!

A mysterious silent film based on the novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Human beings have two sides, good and evil. Dr. Jekyll, who studies the dual personalities of human beings, takes a drug that causes his own personality to split, leading him down a path of destruction. John Barrymore plays the role of the good and benevolent Dr. Jekyll, as well as Mr. Hyde, the vulgar and brutal man of desire. The film thrillingly depicts his transformation and the agony of his path toward destruction, from which there is no turning back.

Excerpted from the feature film The Cloudhopper (aka Keep Jumping), it was retitled The Weak-end Driver by Castle Film and edited into a film less than 10 minutes long for sale. The great thing about this film is that it is directed by Stephen Roberts and edited by Sam Zimbalist, who would later become the producer of the blockbuster Ben-Hur starring Charlton Heston. As is typical of Larry Semon's work, this silent comedy is short but full of excitement, from chases on trains, motorcycles, and cars to acrobatic action on airplanes.

This special film event features producer Naoki Tachikawa and narrator Ichiro Kataoka! The narrators and comedians will team up to present a katsuben live narration screening, and a katsuben improvisation competition will be held at the venue, offering a new way to enjoy silent and classic films! This famous event that originated from Kyoto International Film & Art Festival will be held again this year! This year will feature collaboration with the new katsuben film I AM JAM: Piza no Wakusei Kiki Ipattsu! (Crisis on the Planet of the Pizza!). Enjoy an even more powerful katsuben experience!

This is a special interview with the cast members and directors of the 2020 Grand Award winner Blackout and the 2021 Grand Award winner Aim. They speak with host Jun Murakami of the comedy duo Shizuru about the making of the two films, their feelings and impressions upon receiving the awards, and the best parts of those films in exhaustive detail.

A special roundtable discussion with Creators Factory 2021 nominees Makoto Kikuchi, director of Siblings, Yoko Sato, director of My Bitter Sweet Home, and Risa Yamamoto, director of Homework. They talked about their approach to content creation, such as how they direct and structure their works, as well as behind-the-scenes of their film production. The MC is Garage Sale's Gori, who is himself an active film director.

The video was posted on Twitter.
The video captured the moment a person vanished.
In order to capture this phenomenon on camera, the director Hayashi and his cameraman Yoshikawa, of Gossip Video Topics
Company visit the vanishing man, Toru Urao.
Toru Urao had recently lost his job due to the effects of the coronavirus, and is struggling to survive on unemployment insurance and
benefits.
Director Hayashi offers to pay Toru Urao a large sum of money to allow them to shoot the moment he vanishes.
Toru Urao agreed to let them film his hardships and challenges to make ends meet.

Mai, who has been withdrawn since her mother's death, spends her days playing games and sleeping.
My father is worried about such a daughter, but he doesn't know how to deal with it and asks for advice online.

The siblings of children with disabilities or illnesses (the able-bodied siblings) face difficulties in their lives, such as not getting enough attention from their parents who are busy taking care of the other child or being exposed to prejudice from society.
By focusing on the struggles of these siblings, a subject that has not received much attention in the past, this film was created with the hope of providing a new perspective on disability and encouraging people in any situation to live their life however they want.

The flashy house towering over an upscale residential area was possibly a symbol of the late father's wealth. The family was financially successful, but the death of the mother caused them to suffer and lose the house.
After not being in the house for a long time, the scenery that should have been there is gone. The memories of each family member gradually come back to life in the lost space. A single ultrasound photo triggers a gradual revelation of the major problems underlying this family.
With contemporary society changing, the sisters are haunted by the ghosts of capitalism and are unable to escape. The sisters are forced to question, clash, and confront their meager existence. It is a nostalgic and sad story of a family, fragile and crumbling, yet powerfully linked.

After the death of his beloved father and his mother getting remarried, Kento (11) is dealing with loneliness in secret.
When Kento moves to a new place, he meets Susumu (79), who stubbornly continues to run a small cram school he used to run with his late wife, and becomes his last student.
Susumu was separated from his parents when he was a child, and is about to enter the last years of his life, without ever knowing his real name.
One day, Susumu invites Kento on a journey to find his true name. Susumu has a strong desire to know his true self, while Kento is dealing with the loneliness of not being able to feel his mother's love. Their problems somehow overlap, and a solid friendship that transcends generations is formed.
At the end of the journey, Susumu gives Kento "homework" for living life.

You remember your favorite movies by the music you like to listen to.
This event features producer/director Naoki Tachikawa and advertising director Kotaro Sugiyama. The two men, who are both well versed in film music, will discuss films and music while playing analog records of soundtracks on a Technics high quality audio system in this special event.

Separated by the realities of their day to day lives, the twins Rebecca
and Carlo find themselves forced to co-habit and find closure to a
chapter in their young lives.

A boy appears with a switch in front of a girl who is having troubles.
When she uses the switch, strange things happen.

What exactly is the switch?
Who is the mysterious boy?
What future lies ahead for the main character?

Strike with the Beat bears witness to cold blooded killings in the wake of the coup d’état by the Burmese military when they seized power. This documentary provides a bare account of how civil society rose to protest and focuses on one group called "Drum Revolution" who unified and came out against the military Junta. It provides a critical on the ground overview of the turmoil that struck Yangon and the whole country in early March, 2021.

Life for women and girls is far from safe in parts of conflict affected Kayah State, in the Eastern part of Myanmar. In this absorbing short documentary, first-time director Khin San Win explores both her own trauma and that of another woman from her village in a bid to break the silence that shrouds violence against women in Myanmar.

The news of the call for submissions to the VDP came in August, when one of the filmmakers was commemorating her father’s death anniversary and
her cousin’s birthday. This became the reason for her to invite the other filmmaker to use their shared language (cinema) and contemplate on themes, in the context of the Covid-induced lockdown. This documentary contemplates the meaning of life and death blending personal, intimate stories and provides a reflection of contemporary life, family relations, and networks in contemporary Vietnam.

Madame Lien is the head of the third generation of her family to take over a shipyard where traditional wooden boats are built. Existing along the banks of the Mekong River for almost a century, it has witnessed many drastic times of change. Today, sustainable development has become a goal along the river, yet parallel to this, as cities modernize, traditional values are gradually disappearing. This documentary focuses on Madame Lien and her efforts to keep the shipyard afloat. It dwells upon how it gives her life meaning as she remembers how she fought to preserve it in the past. This documentary poignantly presents a person with compassion toward her workers, her relationship with them, and how they have trusted and followed her their whole lives.

The Twilight Years (Meniti Senja) is a documentary that reflects on the breakdown of traditional family values in modern Malaysian society that are marginalizing the elderly. Age will eventually catch up with everyone and by 2030, Malaysia’s over 65 population is set to increase to 15%. Are we witnessing our own fates in a not-too-distant future? This work sensitively explores the alarming rise of the elderly being left to fend for themselves in aged care centers removed from the comfort of homes they knew and children they raised. It recounts the stories of people who were once mothers, fathers, grandparents - now slowly aging amidst strangers within the walls of a care home in Puchong and shares their heart-breaking stories of abuse, exploitation, and abandonment.

In the 1970s, a group of 10 students struggles with poverty and develop hopes for the future in Gantong Village on the farming and tin mining island of Belitung off the east coast of Sumatra.

This film follows Time Magazine’s 2004 “Hero of Asia” BUTET MANURUNG’s (Prisia Nasution) journey from anthropologist to educator to activist as she works with the indigenous Orang Rimba people who live upstream the Makekal river in the forest of Bukit Duabelas of Jambi, Sumatera, Indonesia.

Delisa, a six-year-old girl, lives with her mother, Salama, and her three sisters in a seaside village on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. She loves playing soccer with the boys, but unlike her sisters, she is not good at prayer and will not learn to pray unless she receives something. On the day of a prayer recitation test, a huge earthquake and tsunami hit the village, killing her mother, sisters and friends, and Delisa, who survived, loses her right leg. This film is about Delisa's reunion with her father, Usman, who returns from abroad, and pulls out the meaning of life in the memory of her mother. Based on the true story of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Over a span of two years, from April 2020 to March 2022, the Toy Film Museum screened one film by past graduates of the Visual Concept Planning Department at the Osaka University of Arts once per week. The idea of this event is to select and rewatch a portion of these 100 or so films.

The theme is "the origins of cinema and the origins of life".

The event will be hosted by the Toy Film Museum in collaboration with the film festival.
The films are so well made that they ought to be included in the film festival’s official program. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, so we hope to develop a program for showing these and other university films in the future, once the festival has returned to its normal state.

Kyoto Machinaka Film Festival 2022
December 2 (Fri)–December 4 (Sun), 2022
Venue: The Museum of Kyoto Film Theater, etc.

Yoshitomi Elementary School, which had been in existence for 141 years since 1873, was closed in 2014 due to declining birthrates.
This film traces the history of the elementary school from before and after WWII, while interviewing local residents who were perplexed by the sudden announcement of the school's closure.
It also conveys the thoughts of those who are trying to repurpose the elementary school.