Italian films showcased in Tokyo

by c.d.m.

28/04/2010 - The Festival of Italian Cinema in Tokyo (April 28-May 4) celebrates its tenth edition this year. The event, which takes place in the Japanese capital during Golden Week (the country’s most important week of national festivities), has become a traditional rendezvous for lovers of Italian films. This year, the selection includes 12 Japanese premieres and tributes to Marco Bellocchio and Giuseppe Piccioni.

The Festival – sponsored by the office of the Italian presidency and the Italian embassy in Japan – has since its inception carved out a space for Japanese distributors of over 100 Italian films, in a market that seemed frozen since the 1970s.

However, its success is due to the its organisers: Japanese publishing giant Asahi Shimbun, which receives filmmakers and their films in the prestigious Yurakucho Asahi Hall in Ginza; the IIC, which has for 10 years been investing much time and money to promote Italian cinema in Japan; and Cinecittà Luce, which organises the selection for Japanese critics (this year, over 60 films were seen) and the artistic delegations.

The 2010 edition offers works by seven “returning” director who have come to be well loved by Japanese audiences: Alessandro Angelini, Francesca Archibugi, Pupi Avati, Marco Bellocchio, Francesca Comencini, Davide Ferrario and Giuseppe Piccioni. The selection also feature debut directors such as Susanna Nicchiarelli and Giuseppe Capotondi, as well first-timers in Japan, Fausto Brizzi, Giorgio Diritti and Luca Lucini.

Film selection

Keep Your Head Up [trailer] by Alessandro Angelini
The Friends at the Margherita Café [trailer] by Pupi Avati
Cosmonauta [trailer] by Susanna Nicchiarelli
The Double Hour [trailer, film focus] by Giuseppe Capotondi
Ex [trailer] by Fausto Brizzi
Giulia Doesn’t Date at Night [trailer] by Giuseppe Piccioni
A Matter of Heart [trailer] by Francesca Archibugi
Perfect Skin by Luca Lucini
The White Space [trailer] by Francesca Comencini
Tutta Colpa di Giuda [trailer] by Davide Ferrario
The Man Who Will Come [trailer, film focus] by Giorgio Diritti
Vincere [trailer, film focus] by Marco Bellocchio

Tribute to Marco Bellocchio and Giuseppe Piccioni
The Religion Hour [trailer] by Marco Bellocchio
Not of This World by Giuseppe Piccioni

(Translated from Italian)