New Delhi, Sep 9 (UNI) Japan Foundation on Monday announced the beginning of the third edition of its Japanese Film Festival (JFF) in India, in partnership with PVR Cinemas.
Celebrating the vivacious Japanese culture in India, the Festival this year will make a multi-city tour owing to the increasing demand for international films.
The six-month long film festival will be launched in the national capital on September 27 at PVR Select CITYWALK, Saket here.
At the ceremony; the Japan Foundation in collaboration with PVR Cinemas unveiled the Festival’s line-up; featuring a list of critically acclaimed and globally popular Japanese films.
The Festival will showcase films from various genres like romance, drama, comedy among others from contemporary Japanese cinema, including feature, award-winning and anime films.
The event witnessed the presence of Japan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Kenji Hiramatsu to inaugurate the third edition of the Japanese Film Festival in India.
Following the unveiling of the Festival’s Official Catalogue, a panel including Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, JMD, PVR Ltd, Hiramatsu and Kaoru Miyamoto, Director-General, Japan Foundation, New Delhi addressed the audience for developing intercultural and industrial relations between India and Japan, especially through films and the collaborations that have made JFF-India possible.
At the inaugural ,Mr Hiramatsu said, 'I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Japan Foundation and all the people, both in India and Japan, who made holding of this excellent event possible this year. From the films which the Japan Foundation has brought to you this year, you will discover what Japanese people laugh at, what they are moved by, and what they like, among others. I hope that, through these interesting stories, you will feel closer to Japan and Japanese people. I am sure this film festival will help further consolidate the friendship between the people of our two countries.'
Mr Miyamoto said,'We are extremely happy to organize the third edition of the Japanese Film Festival. The success of the last two editions of the Festival and the overwhelming response of Indian audience towards embracing Japanese culture have prompted us to expand our target cities. Therefore, we have closely focused on audience demand in selecting the films and have aimed at offering a wide range of quality content.'
The Opening Film for the Festival’s Delhi-Gurugram stage will be the highly anticipated animation from critically acclaimed director Makoto Shinkai's 'Weathering with You'.
The film which is due to release in Indian cinemas on October 11, will have its gala India Premiere at the Japanese Film Festival 2019-20. The director Makoto Shinkai will be attending the Opening Night.
The Festival will host several popular titles like Dance with Me, Lu over the Wall, Shoplifters, Your Name, Perfect World, Bento Harassment, Children of the sea, Kingdom, My Dad is a Heel Wrestler, Tokyo Ghoul, The Fable etc.
A handpicked selection of 25 films with English subtitles will be screened during the Festival across select PVR Cinemas to offer Indian audience a sense of Japanese culture, art and experiences.
Mr Miyamoto further added, 'Looking at the growing appetite for Japanese content in India, we aim to strengthen content collaboration between Indian and Japanese film industries through this platform. We are grateful to our partners, PVR Cinemas and through this partnership we aim to engage with a wider set of audience and enable cinema lovers come together and witness internationally acclaimed content.'
Mr Bijli said,'We are very excited to collaborate with the Japanese Foundation for the third consecutive year for the film festival. The positivity from cinema lovers and response from the past two editions cemented our decision to go grander this year. We will screen a range of exclusive Japanese films during this festival across cities. PVR Cinemas have always endeavored in introducing unique experiences through quality content and enhanced experience at the theatres. International film festivals in addition to offering movie aficionados enjoy quality content enables cultural exchange and strengthens international relationships.'
The six-month long touring Festival will screen 25 popular Japanese films across seven cities at select PVR Cinemas.
UNI PY SY 1918