The Japan Foundation, Manila has unveiled on Tuesday the full line-up of films for The Japanese Film Festival, EIGASAI 2017.
Twenty (20) films of various genres are scheduled to screen in six cities nationwide starting July 1 to August 29, in celebration with the Philippine-Japan Friendship month and Eiga Sai‘s 20th anniversary this year.
Eiga Sai 2017 officially opens on July 6 with the screening of heartwarming drama Her Love Boils Bathwater graced by its director Ryota Nakano at Shang Cineplex, Shangri-La Plaza. Nakano is also scheduled to hold talks for the filmmakers and the general public during his stay in the Philippines.
To commemorate the anniversary, two rare 16mm films screened 20 years ago at the first Eiga Sai, The Sting of Death (1990) and Memories of You (1988) will be revived on July 1 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. One of the most well received films in the history of Eiga Sai, Departures (2008) will also receive a special encore screening at the festival.
Hirobumi Watanabe, director of independent and award-winning film, Poolsideman (2016) will be present at the screening of his film during the Cinemalaya Philippines Independent Film Festival in August.
For the first time in the history of Japanese Film Festival, three movies dubbed in Tagalog will be featured. The movies are as follows: Sadako vs Kayako (2016), If Cats Disappeared from the World (2016) and Bakuman (2015). This is made possible in cooperation with Tagalized Movie Channel (TMC).
Other films which will be shown throughout the festival are as follows: What A Wonderful Family (2016), Creepy (2016), In This Corner of the World (2016), Sweet Bean An (2015), The Mohican Comes Home (2016), The Long Excuse (2016), Chihayafuru Part 1 (2016), Chihayafuru Part 2 (2016), The Anthem of the Heart (2015), The Magnificent Nine (2016), Tsukiji Wonderland (2016) and Reflections (2016).
The screening venues are CCP Dream Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City (July 1 and August 5, 10 and 11), Shang Cineplex Cinema, Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City (July 6-16), UP Film Institute, UP-Diliman, Quezon City (August 16-19), Abreeza Mall Cinema, Ayala, Davao City (July 21-23), FDCP Cinematheque-Davao, Davao City (July 26-30), Ayala Center Cebu Cinema, Cebu City (August 2-6) and SM City Baguio Cinema, Baguio City (August 10-13).
In addition to the above-mentioned venues from last year, the film festival has added two more screening venues in Bacolod and Iloilo, extending the festival period till the end of August. The two new screening venues are SM City Bacolod Cinema, Bacolod City (August 24-27), and FDCP Cinematheque-Iloilo, Iloilo City (August 25-29).
Admission is free on a first-come, first-serve basis, except the screenings at Shang Cineplex Cinema which will be Php100 per film screening.
For screening schedules and more information, visit the Japan Foundation, Manila website here or follow the official Japan Film Festival – Eiga Sai Facebook page: @eigasaiPH.
