Japanese Film Festival 2024 is coming!

The Japan Foundation, Bangkok, in collaboration with House Samyan, Dude, Movie and Faculty of Fine and Applied Art, Khon Kaen University, proudly present the “Japanese Film Festival 2024 (JFF 2024)” in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Songkhla. Supported by the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, the Japanese Association in Thailand, and Untitled for film, the JFF 2024 gains the vibrant momentum this year with 19 acclaimed films, encompassing diverse ranges of genres, including heartfelt drama, action, comedy, romance, musical performance and an extravaganza of animations. 

The recommended film this year is “The Lines That Define Me,” a drama that projects sumi-e, Japanese ink painting, as more than a physical form of art but a thread of life expressed by the artists’ spirits and determination. 

©Hiromasa Togami / KODANSHA ©2022 “The Lines that Define Me” FILM PARTNERS

  After witnessing Sosuke’s first intimate encounter with a sumi-e painting, ink-painting master Kozan Shinoda spontaneously invites him to become his pupil and introduces him to the delicate, emotional power of bleeding ink. Overcome by the recent loss of his family, the chance gradually offers Sosuke a new path by which to ruminate on the dichotomising beauty of nature and ritualise his grief and self-expression.   Stunningly captured, the tempo of the strokes and their delivery invigorate the sumi-e, offering a window into the traditional intergenerational sensibilities of Japanese artistic disciplines.

Ryuichi Sakamoto I OPUS

the last stunning performance, featuring just Ryuichi Sakamoto and his piano playing.

©️ 2022 Kab Inc.

   On March 28^th 2023, legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away after his struggle against cancer. In the years leading up to his death, Sakamoto could no longer perform live. Single concerts, not to mention sprawling global tours, were too taxing. Despite this, in late 2022, Sakamoto mustered all of his energy to leave the world with one final performance: a concert film, featuring just him and his piano.  

Curated by Sakamoto himself and presented in his chosen order, the twenty pieces performed in the film wordlessly narrate his life through his music. The selection spans his entire career, from his popstar Yellow Magic Orchestra period, to his magnificent Bertolucci film scores, to music from his meditative final album, 12. 

Intimately filmed in a space he knew well, surrounded by his most trusted collaborators, Sakamoto bares his soul through his music, knowing this may be the last time that he can present his art.  A celebration of an artist's life in the purest sense, Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus is the definitive swan song of the beloved maestro. 

Despite its down-to-earth feature, River is another captivating time-loop film of Yamaguchi Junta apart from Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes, his previous famed work.

  The stage is the long-established Japanese Inn "Fujiya" in Kibune, Kyoto. Kibune in a quiet winter. Mikoto, (played by Riko Fujitani) a waitress who works at Fujiya, is called back to work by the proprietress while standing by the Kibune River behind the annex. However, two minutes later, for some reason, she finds herself once again facing the Kibune River. Not only Mikoto, but also the clerk, waitresses, chefs, and guests all begin to feel something strange. Hot sake that doesn't get hot. Rice porridge that won't go away. 

©️EUROPE-KIKAKU / Tollywood 2023

 A bathroom that you can never leave. They are "looping." Every 2 minutes! After 2 minutes, time rewinds and everyone returns to where they were, though their memories continue. Some want to get out of the loop, others want to stay, yet they all have issues they need to solve. While watching everyone join forces to investigate the cause, Mikoto finds herself more and more alone.   

  Directed by Kotono Watanabe, Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom

is the anime adaptation film based on a famous Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nao Iwamoto.

©Nao Iwamoto / Shogakukan ©2023 “Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom” Film Partners 

  Glistening with gold and water beneath the same sun, Alhamit and Baikari are two warring kingdoms that have come to a diplomatic agreement: Alhamit will gift their most beautiful woman and Baikari their cleverest man, to wed the nations into peace. But apparently they are too stubborn to even honour such a simple deal, and trouble sparks when a dog and cat arrive in place of the promised bride and groom! In a strange twist of fate however, Princess Sarah of Alhamit and Naranbayar of Baikari meet in the forest by chance, without realising who the other is…

Aside from the films suggested above, the festival offer more quality films such as A Man, winners of Best Film and Best Picture Awards from the Japanese Academy in 2023 and Evil Does Not Exist, winner of the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Heart-shaking work from Ryusuke Hamaguchi, director of DRIVE MY CAR. A Mother’s Touch, based on the biography of Professor Fukushima Satoshi, the first blind and deaf professor in the world will gently warm your heart with mother’s unconditional love and human’s will of power.

For those who help answered the questionnaire after watching our film, will receive this year festival stickers!

 Moreover, on 3^rd February from 19:30-20:30, a special talks event after the screening under the theme “Literatures, Films and Identities: Through "A Man" by Kei Ishikawa, 8 awards winning of 46th Japan Academy Film Prizes.” will be held at the cinema entrance of House Samyan. Dr. Graiwoot Chulphongsathorn, Faculty of Mass Communications, Chulalongkorn University, and Dr. Matana Jaturasangpairoj, Japanese Section, Department of Eastern Languages, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University is the speakers and moderated by Mr. Kanchat Rangseekansong. Further details of this events will be announced separately

Screening Schedule in Bangkok

All films have both English and Thai subtitles.

Ticketing

160 THB for General Audience

140 THB for House Membership

and 120 THB for Student* (Only Thai Nationality)