<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><br> <br><font size="4" face="Verdana"><b>JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL LOS ANGELES 2009</b></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">April 10-26, 2009</font><font size="1" color="#5f5f5f" face="Helvetica"> | </font><font size="2" face="Verdana">Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Irvine, CA</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="sans-serif"> </font><img src="cid:8B65FEBF-837C-4560-9E07-EABDE2EB8D65@"> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Japan America Media Association proudly presents the second annual Japan Film Festival Los Angeles (JFFLA), which will be held on April 10-19, 2009 in the Los Angeles area and on April 25-26 in Irvine, CA.</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><i>April 10 to 16, 2009</i></b></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><i>Laemmle’s Monica 4-Plex (Santa Monica)</i></b></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><i>April 17 to 19, 2009</i></b></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><i>Downtown Independent (Downtown Los Angeles)</i></b></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">251 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><i>April 25 to 26, 2009</i></b></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><i>Starplex Cinema (Irvine)</i></b></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">4626 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, CA 92604</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Here are some of the film selections. Pick your film of interest in join us at the theatre! </font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><u>Opening Film: The Sky Crawlers</u></b><u> (2008/Japan/121mins)</u></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Director: Mamoru Oshii</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Cast (Voice): Rinko Kikuchi, Ryo Kase, Shosuke Tanihara, Chiaki Kuriyama</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Synopsis: </font><font size="2" color="#2f2f2f" face="Verdana"> "Kildren" are ageless fighter pilots. They live their adolescence until they die in battle. They were fated to fight in endless war to "entertain" the peacetime people.</font> <br> <br><font size="2" color="#2f2f2f" face="Verdana"><b><u>Closing Film: Vacation</u></b><u> (2008/Japan/115mins)</u></font> <br><font size="2" color="#2f2f2f" face="Verdana">Award: Dubai International Film Festival </font><font size="2" face="Verdana">Muhr Award</font> <br><font size="2" color="#2f2f2f" face="Verdana">Director: Hajime Kadoi</font> <br><font size="2" color="#2f2f2f" face="Verdana">Cast: Kaoru Kobayashi, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Nene Otsuka, Ren Osugi</font> <br><font size="2" color="#2f2f2f" face="Verdana">Synopsis: </font><font size="2" face="Verdana">Hirai, a veteran prison guard was getting married Mika, a single mother.</font><font size="2" face="‚l‚r –¾’©"> </font><font size="2" face="Verdana">While he was hoping to make time to be with his new family, he found out that he would be entitled to a week's vacation only if he acts as the execution assistant.</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><u>Always Sunset Third Street 2</u></b><u> (2007/Japan/146mins)</u></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Director: Takashi Yamazaki</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Cast: Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Koyuki, Maki Horikita</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Synopsis: The scene is set four months after the previous series in Tokyo Shitamachi area. Human events of the residents who live in Yuuhi machi 3chome.</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><u>252: Signal of Life</u></b><u> (2008/Japan/128mins)</u></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Director: Nobuo Mizuta</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Cast: Hideaki Ito, Masaaki Uchino, Takayuki Yamada, Yu Kashii</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Synopsis: </font><font size="2" color="#2f2f2f" face="Verdana">The biggest monster Typhoon ever hit Japan, people tried to survive while in a furious panic. </font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><u>Battery</u></b><u> (2007/Japan/119mins)</u></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Director ; Yojiro Takita</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">A moving story for all generations…Today’s most popular mega-selling novel, finally made into a film!In spring 2007, people all over Japan will weep over this story about friendship and family. Yojiro Takita get a 2009 Academy Award forghin language film of “Departures”</font><font size="2" face="‚l‚r –¾’©">。</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b>Join us as we celebrate the life of a memorable actor, Mr. Ken Ogata</b><br> Ken Ogata, an impressive and prolific actor, passed away on October 5th, 2008. Long admired for his versatility in portraying different characters and his appearance in many films, Mr. Ogata found time to be active in other areas as well. His long list of credits includes over 50 TV dramas, numerous plays, CMs and also published a couple of books. Japan Film Festival Los Angeles is proud to present two of his films, A LONG WALK (2006) and VENGEANCE IS MINE (1979). </font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><u>A Long Walk </u></b><u>(2006/Japan/136mins)</u>2006 Montreal World Film Festival Grand Prix dex AmericasDirector: Eiji OkudaCasts: Ken Ogata, Hana Sugiura, Saki Takaoka, Shota MatsudaSynopsis: A retired school principal, Matsutaro Yasuda (Ken Ogata) moves into a small apartment after the death of his wife. There he meets Sachi, a little girl with cardboard angel wings who lives next door. He realizes that she is being abused by her mother. To protect Sachi, Matsutato takes her on a long journey, but ends up wanted by the police as a kidnapper. </font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><u>Vengeance is Mine</u></b><u> (1979/Japan/140mins)</u>Director: Shohei ImamuraCasts: Ken Ogata, Mayumi Ogawa, Rentaro Mikuni, Mitsuko BaishoSynopsis: A film based on a real-life novel by Ryuzo Saki. About the story of Iwao Enokizu (Ken Ogata), who goes on a murderous rampage throughout Japan. While on the run from police, he commits more murders, becomes involved with many women and has a confrontation with his father (Rentaro Mikuni).</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><u>Hannari </u></b><u>(2007/90mins)</u></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Director: Miyuki Sohara</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">A documentary film with an artistic take on the modern geisha life in Kyoto. From the 2008 International film festival at the United Nations and the Udine international culture festival.</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><u>The Gift from Beate</u></b><u> (2004/92mins)</u></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Director: Tomoko Fujiwara</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">A documentary film chronicling the birth of women’s rights in the Japanese constitution. <b> </b>Endorsed by the Ministry of education for the arts of Japan in 2005.</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">For more information on screening dates and times, check out our website at <a href="http://www.jffla.org">www.jffla.org</a>.</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b><u>Japan Film Festival Short Film Screening</u></b></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Some short films submitted to JFFLA will be screened at a Royal/T café in Culver City. These short films were selected especially for this Screening! We will proudly present these shorts that were directed by young filmmakers full of potential.</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">You can also enjoy delicious drinks, dinner, and sweets at the Café after the screening.</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Date: March 14 (Sat)</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Door Opens: 6:30PM</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Starts: 7:00PM</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Place: Royal/T Café (910 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232)</font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Admission: $5</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Due to the limited seating, please RSVP to </font><font size="2" color="blue" face="Verdana"><u><a href="mailto:submissions@jffla.org">submissions@jffla.org</a></u></font><font size="2" face="Verdana"> with your name, number of attendees, and the title “RSVP: Screening Event”.</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b>ABOUT JAPAN AMERICA MEDIA ASSOCIATION</b></font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Japan America Media Association, is a non-profit organization dedicated to delivering a better appreciation of contemporary Japanese culture to the Los Angeles community. Cinema is the bridge that connects us all! We are convinced that through this festival we can inspire open communication and the exchange of ideas between Japan and the U.S.</font> <br> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">For more information, please visit </font><font size="2" color="blue" face="Verdana"><u>www.jffla.org</u></font> <br><font size="2" face="Verdana">Also, please subscribe our E-News Letter to receive our updated information. You can register from our website.</font> </div><br></body></html>