Japan Society Confirms 9 of Nearly 20 U.S. and New York Premieres for its 2nd Annual Festival of New Japanese Film

For Immediate Release

JAPAN CUTS

July 2-13, 2008 at Japan Society

New York, NY, April 9, 2008 -- For the second consecutive summer, Japan Society brings a sizable slice of Japan’s dynamic contemporary film culture to New York City with the annual JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film, the first and only large-scale film festival in North America celebrating the latest films from Japan. Running for 12 days Wednesday, July 2 through Sunday, July 13, 2008 at Japan Society, JAPAN CUTS presents nearly 20 feature films--all U.S. and New York premieres--ranging from blockbusters and animation to documentaries and cutting-edge independents. In addition, special events include collections of short films, family screenings and appearances by leading filmmakers and actors. In its second year of collaboration with the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), JAPAN CUTS will co-present nearly ten films running July 3-6 with a focus on popular Japanese cinema. With 9 confirmed films to date, the final JAPAN CUTS line-up of featured films and shorts, guest directors and actors and all program information will be announced June 6, 2008.

With just over 400 films produced in Japan annually (as reported by The Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan), JAPAN CUTS promises U.S. audiences their first taste of the most talked about Japanese films from 2007 and 2008. Made by both established and emerging directors and starring today’s hottest actors and festival winners, all JAPAN CUTS feature films are unavailable on DVD as well as having their U.S. or New York premiere. Confirmed films for 2008 include:

• The Mourning Forrest, by Naomi Kawase; Winner of the Grand Jury Prize, Cannes Film Festival; NY Premiere.
• Sukiyaki Western Django, by Takashi Miike, guest starring Quentin Tarantino; In Competition, International Venice Film Festival 2007; co-presented with NYAFF; NY Premiere.
• Sakuran by art photographer Mika Ninagawa; Official Selection, Berlin International Film Festival 2007; NY Premiere.
• Dainipponjin by comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto; Directors’ Fortnight, Cannes 2007; co-presented with NYAFF; NY Premiere.
• Accuracy of Death by Masaya Kakei starring Takeshi Kaneshiro (House of Flying Daggers); co-presented with NYAFF; NY Premiere.
• A Gentle Breeze in the Village by Nobuhiro Yamashita (Linda Linda Linda); Toronto 2007; NY Premiere.
• Always–Sunset on Third Street 2 by Takashi Yamazaki; sequel to the smash hit Always–Sunset on Third Street; co-presented with NYAFF; NY Premiere.
• Near Equal Yayoi Kusama: I Adore Myself by Takako Matsumoto; documentary on the wildly charismatic artist Yayoi Kusama; U.S. Premiere.
• Filmful Life by Shunji Iwai; documentary about the life of director Kon Ichikawa; NY Premiere.

As with the year previous, festival events are Long Cuts, nearly 20 U.S. and New York premieres of feature-length films released in Japan in the last year; Short Cuts, dozens of never-before-seen short films from the forefront of Japan’s independent filmmakers and video artists; Turtle Bay Cuts, a complimentary family screening for the Turtle Bay community and beyond; NY-Japan Cuts, screenings and networking salon for New York- and Japan-based filmmakers and industry insiders; and MEET Cuts, exclusive Q&A's, panel discussions and other social and networking events.

Launched in Summer 2007 to celebrate Japan Society's centennial, the first annual JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film was one of the most successful single events in Japan Society's 2007-08 centennial celebration. Noted for its "rich and varied selection of recent Japanese films” (David Kehr, The New York Times), the festival attracted nearly 5,000 audience members and screened over 80 feature length films and shorts of various genres. Five of Japan’s leading directors Shusuke Kaneko, Sion Sono, Miwa Nishikawa, Naoko Ogigami and Yasuo Kurita attended the festival; and Tetsuya Nakashima's Memories of Matsuko garnered the JAPAN CUTS audience award. The 2008 JAPAN CUTS will follow this precedent in scale and variety.

About the New York Asian Film Festival
The New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), North America’s leading festival of popular Asian films, runs June 20-July 6, 2008. Films are co-presented with Japan Society’s JAPAN CUTS from July 3-6, during the opening weekend of JAPAN CUTS. To learn more, visit www.subwaycinema.com. Contact Grady Hendrix at 917-405-7477 or grady@subwaycinema.com for further details about the NYAFF.

About Japan Society's Film Program
The Japan Society Film Program has offered a diverse selection of Japanese films, from classics to contemporary independent productions. The Program has included retrospectives of seminal directors, thematic series and special screenings of international, U.S. and NY premieres. Several original film series curated by Japan Society have traveled to other U.S. venues in tours organized by the Film Program. The Film Program has provided English subtitles for films which have never been screened outside of Japan. Accompanying lectures help place the films in their aesthetic and social contexts, and filmmakers often introduce and discuss their work. Visit www.japansocidety.org/film for more information.

About Japan Society
Founded in 1907 by prominent New York City business people and philanthropists, Japan Society has evolved over 100 years into an internationally recognized nonprofit organization presenting a full range of programs within arts and culture, business, education, and public policy. Through over 100 events annually, the Society creates rich encounters and exchanges that offer opportunities to experience Japanese culture; foster sustained and open dialogue on issues important to the U.S., Japan, and East Asia; and improve access to information on Japan.

JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film takes place July 2-13. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 13, 2008. Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street, between First and Second Avenues (accessible by the 4/5/6 at 42nd Street-Grand Central Station or the E and V at Lexington Avenue and 53rd St.) For more information visit www.japansociety.org or call the box office at 212-715-1258.

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For further information, screeners, images and interview requests, please refer to:

Aya Akeura
Japan Society
T: 212-715-1292
F: (212) 715-1262
E: aakeura@japansociety.org

Kuniko Shiobara
Japan Society
T: (212) 715-1249
F: (212) 715-1262
E: kshiobara@japansociety.org