Film fans rejoice; the 16th annual Japanese Film Festival will roll into Sydney and Melbourne come November complete with a new look, a new theme and a line-up of venerable special guests.
Renowned as one of the largest Japanese Film Festivals outside of Japan, this year's event boasts the theme 'totally sweet' and is guaranteed not to disappoint.
In addition to a range of films spanning the comedy, romance, drama and anime genres, the JFF will be hosting four extremely special guests including three highly respected directors and one of Japan's most beloved actresses.
Ballerina Tamiyo Kusakari emerged as an acting force with her role in 1996's Shall We Dance? (the precursor to the Richard Gere/Jennifer Lopez remake) which earned her a Best Actress Award at the 20th Japan Academy Awards.
Kusakari's husband and Shall We Dance? director Masayuki Suo will also be featured at this year's JFF promoting the duo's latest production, A Terminal Trust. The highly respected, multi-award winning director is one of Japan's pre-eminent contemporary film makers, responsible for films such as Sumo Do, Sumo Don't and I Just Didn't Do It.
Also on the JFF bill this year is Montreal World Film Festival entrant, director and screenwriter Miwa Nishikawa as well as Kenji Uchida, director of Key of Life.
The 16th Japanese Film Festival
Sydney 14 – 25 of November at Event Cinemas, George StreetMelbourne 29 November - 9 December showing at Hoyts Melbourne Central and ACMI Cinemas
