Free screenings at Japanese film fest in Durban

On the festival line-up is Hankyu Railway – A 15 minute Miracle, the Japanese Academy award winning Swing Girls, the historical drama The Floating Castle, acclaimed science fiction animated film The Place Promised in Our Early Days and Wanko –The Story of Me, My Family and My Dog – which is based on a true story. 

 

The 20th Japanese Film Festival is organised by the Embassy of Japan in South Africa and the Japan Foundation. 

 

All screenings are at Cinema Nouveau at Gateway shopping centre in Durban. 

 

Click here for the full programme and details of screening times.

 

Screenings are free, and tickets can be collected at the box office an hour before the start of each show.

 

We caught up with the Embassy of Japan's Cultural Attache, Shota Nishijima, to find out more.

 

Tell us a bit more about the festival
We organise the film festival every year in October. It’s in its 20th year this year. It was 2005 when we last had this festival in Durban. We had a lot of residents requesting that the festival come to Durban this year, and I could not ignore them! So we’re very happy to be here, and we’re looking forward to seeing the audience this weekend.

Can you tell us more about the films that are showing?
We asked for feedback, and people requested a variety of films; love stories, animated films, history, action and so on. We’ve tried to screen a variety of films. I hope there is something for everyone.

Why would you encourage people to attend the festival?
I want to show the people of Durban through our film festival how Japanese people live and how they think – including the culture, the food and the lifestyle.