The Japanese Film Festival Ireland returns this April for its 14th edition with an exciting program that will bring the best of Japanese cinema to audiences across Ireland.
Ireland’s only truly national film festival is showing more than 20 films this year. From the latest anime hits to exciting indie discoveries. The festival runs from April 8th to 28th with screenings in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Waterford and Dundalk. That’s not all – for the first time – Wexford Town.
“As always we are delighted to be able to bring the festival to venues across Ireland – with Wexford adding to the program this year. Whether you’re a festival regular or have never been, we can’t wait to see you at our nationwide screenings.”
Maeve Cooke, head of access>CINEMA
Highlights of this year’s program include multi-award-winning drama A Man, the acclaimed tokusatsu superhero reboot Shin Ultramandelicious ramen documentary come back any timeand new anime features like Suzume, blue thermals And The tunnel to summer, the exit of farewells.
Ticketing links and full listings are available at www.jff.ie. Information on ticket sales for screenings is also available from each participating venue.
The Embassy of Japan and access>CINEMA are the co-organizers of the festival.
Ramen enthusiasts will be delighted with Come Back Anytime, a charming documentary about a couple who have run a tiny Tokyo noodle restaurant for decades and the community that has formed around a shared passion for the restaurant’s delicious shoyu ramen (soy sauce). , spoiled.
JFF is happy to bring Shin Ultraman on screens across Ireland. This is the acclaimed “Tokusatsu” superhero reboot from the team behind it Shin Godzilla and the evangelion Series. Anime fans will love Anime Supremacy! don’t want to miss, a film that takes audiences behind the scenes of the Japanese animation industry with a vivid and entertaining tale of artistic rivalry. Among the anime features shown at this year’s festival is the moving sci-fi teenage romance The tunnel to summerThe farewell goodbye and the feel-good adventure of flying Blue thermals.
As always, JFF will also bring a selection of independent films and exciting discoveries to Irish audiences. This year’s program includes New Religion, Keishi Kondo’s haunted, surreal horror film that marks the arrival of an exciting new voice in Japanese independent cinema. Your Lovely Smile, on the other hand, is a delightfully whimsical road trip comedy-drama that morphs into a heartfelt tribute to Japan’s independent cinema and filmmakers. This year’s classic is a film by the late Yoshishige Yoshida (aka Kijū Yoshida), one of the leading figures of Japan’s New Wave. Yoshida died in December 2022, and Dublin audiences will have a rare opportunity to see the director’s cut of his 1969 masterpiece Eros + Massacre on the big screen.
Japanese Film Festival 2023 Screening Schedule:
Dundalk
At Táin Arts Centre: 8 April
limerick
Bell Table: 12th-13th April
sligo
Sligo Film Society @ The Model Arts Centre: 13 April
cork
Triskel Christchurch: April 15
Gate Cinema: 24.-27. April
Waterford
Garter Lane: April 18-19
Wexford
Wexford Arts Centre: 20 & 25 April
Galway
Palas: 20th-23rd April
Eye cinema: 24.-28. April
Dublin
Lighthouse Cinema: April 20-27
Having attended the Japanese film festival before, I can tell you it’s an absolute blast. The energy at each performance is indescribable. It’s so much fun and comes highly recommended.
Stay tuned to Scannain for more news, reviews and interviews.
