Japanese film fest opens August 10 in Baguio City

By Alah Soledad M. Sungduan

EIGASAI is coming to Baguio again. This time the Japanese Film Festival will feature the free screening of 12 award winning Japanese films covering a wide array of genres which include a documentary and a movie dubbed in Filipino language.

The festival celebrating the Philippine-Japan Friendship Month in July and August marking its 20th anniversary in the country will officially open on August 10, Thursday in the Summer Capital, a haven of many arts, cultural and Japanese enthusiasts according to Japan Foundation Manila Office.

“We have attracted over 4,600 audiences in Baguio (nationwide we had over 26,400) last year; and this year, we are hoping that more people can join this festival and enjoy the Japanese film festival on the big screen,” JFMO Program Coordinator Ami Kurokawa said.

Proud to continue the film festivals and being able to screen quality Japanese films, Kurokawa said from ten films presented at SM City Baguio Cinema last year, two additional motion pictures are included to attract more audience and bring a diverse group of Filipino together to celebrate the Japanese culture.

JFMO believes that films are one of the most accessible and easiest gateways into Japanese culture, way of living, and language as it shows a glimpse of the interesting lives of Japanese people which they hope will fuel Filipinos’ curiosity and interest, and start conversations about Japanese culture.

They hope that through the said undertaking, Japan-lovers and film-lovers can now look forward to EIGASAI each year and watch Japanese films on the big screen. It is also an opportunity for eager Japanese learners to put their skills to practice and strengthen their passion for the language.

Featured in the festival are 11 films with English subtitles, Filipino dubbed film “Bakuman” and the beautiful documentary “Tsukiji Wonderland” which talks about the Tsukiji Market due to be moved to Toyosu. The trailer of this film can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/pg/eigasaiPH/videos/?ref=page_internal.

“Bakuman” will be shown on the opening day on August 10 at 1:30PM to be followed by “The Long Excuse” and The Magnificent Nine.

On August 11 the featured films are “Chihayafuru”, “What a Wonderful Family”, and “Creepy” while “Sweet Bean”, “Tsukiji Wonderland”, and “Her Love Boils Bathwater” on August 12.

Meanwhile, the films “The Anthem of the Heart”, “Chihayafuru Part 2”, and “The Mohican Comes Home” will be shown on the last screening on August 13.  For updates, visit the official Facebook page: eigasaiPH (https://www.facebook.com/eigasaiPH/)

Regarded as a milestone by the Japan Foundation Manila, EGASAI has over 100 screenings in nine venues in the nation which started in Manila on July 20.

EGASAI is part of the Japan Foundation Asia Center’s unified Japanese Film Festival being held around Southeast Asia and the Pacific region with Japan Foundation, Manila.

For comments and topic suggestions please email alahsungduan@gmail.com