20 premieres to screen June 8 – 22, 2017 at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre

Opening Night Film – Canadian Premiere of Takashi Yamazaki’s FUELED – A MAN CALLED PIRATE w/ Director in Attendance

“The Toronto Japanese Film Festival is quickly becoming the most important window of Japanese cinema toward the world. The selection is impeccable with the dynamic of the true international film festival.” – Masato Harada (Director: Kakekomi, The Emperor in August, Chronicle of My Mother

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TORONTO – Three thousand ninjas doing battle with an army of ten thousand samurai? A terminally ill mother rebuilding the family’s tradition public bathhouse to save her bullied daughter’s future? A Kyoto hotel elevator that’s in fact a time portal to 16th century court of one Japan’s most important historical figures? A quirky rom-com that morphs into intense serial-killer mayhem? That can mean only one thing: the Toronto Japanese Film Festival is back.

The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s 6th annual Toronto Japanese Film Festival will be held from June 8 to 22 and features over 20 films including many International, North American and Canadian premieres.

Now in its sixth year, the Toronto Japanese Film Festival showcases the finest Japanese films that have been recognized for excellence by Japanese audiences and critics, international film festival audiences and the Japanese Film Academy. The festival’s program includes popular genres such as historical (samurai) jidaigeki, contemporary dramas, comedies and action, literary adaptations, children’s, art-house and anime films. All films shown are International, North American, Canadian, or Toronto premieres. Screenings are accompanied by musical performances, sake tastings, martial arts demonstrations, art exhibitions and of course, lots of sushi.

“For our 2017 festival, we have worked hard to find a wide range of films that represent the broad spectrum of great cinema created in Japan.”, said James Heron, Executive Director of the Canadian Japanese Cultural Centre. “We have an exciting line-up this year; we invite you to be a part of this stunning festival, and enjoy some of the best that Japanese film has to offer”.

Some highlights of the 2017 Japanese Film Festival include:

FUELED – THE MAN CALLED PIRATE – 2016- Director, Takashi Yamazaki – Canadian Premiere
w/ Director Yamazaki in attendance.

SATOSHI – A MOVE FOR TOMORROW – 2016 – Director Yoshitaka Mori – Canadian Premiere
w/ Director Mori in attendance.

THE HONNOJI HOTEL – 2017 – Director, Masayuki Suzuki – North American Premiere

ZA ONDEKOZA – 1979 – Director, Tai Kato – North American Premiere
The film will be introduced by Sado-trained drummer Kiyoshi Nagata and followed by a performance by Canada’s premiere taiko ensemble, Nagata Shachu.

HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER – 2016 – Director, Ryota Nakano, Canadian Premiere

TRACES OF SIN – 2016 – Director, Kei Ishikawa – North American Premiere

SURVIVAL FAMILY – 2016 – Director, Shinobu Yaguchi – Canadian Premiere

SAMURAI HUSTLE RETURNS – 2016 – Director Katsuhide Motoki – Canadian Premiere
Screening proceeded by a demonstration by ninja stuntwoman Chihiro Suzuki and a screening of her action short TRIGGER.

Other films include Mitsuhito Shiraha’s WHAT’S FOR DINNER MOM?, Sang-il Lee’s RAGE, Junji Sakamoto’s DANCHI, Yasuhiro Yoshida’s BIRTHDAY WISHES, Keisuke Yoshida’s HIMEANOLE, Norihiro Koizumi’s CHIHAYAFURU PARTS I & II, Nobuhiro Yamashita’s OVER THE FENCE, Yoji Yamada’s WHAT A WONDERFUL FAMILY, Joji Matsuoka’s MIDNIGHT DINER PARTS I & II.

Additional films and guests to be confirmed.

All films at the Japanese Film Festival are screened at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto.

Please visit Toronto Japanese Film Festival Website for more info.