<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">The Directors Guild of Japan announces the completion of</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">“Cut! The Rights of Japanese Film Directors” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">(English subtitled version of “Eiga Kantoku-tte Nan Da!”) </p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p></o:p></p> <div class="MsoNormal">This film, directed by Ito Shunya, was produced by the Directors Guild of Japan in 2006 to commemorate the 70<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the founding of the guild and to promote its decades-long campaign to obtain copyright ownership for film directors. The ambitious project featured appearances by over 200 film directors in a creative mix of skits and period film vignettes, dramatic recreations, interviews, and documentary footage. Aiming to achieve both advocacy and entertainment, the film traces the history of Japanese copyright law and makes a case for directors to be recognized as the legal “authors” of films.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal">The guild has decided to make DVD copies of the film available at no cost to film scholars, festival curators, film writers, and other specialists residing overseas. If you are interested in obtaining a copy, please send the following information to the guild at <a href="mailto:infoml@dgj.or.jp">infoml@dgj.or.jp</a>: <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal">Name:<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal">Affiliation/Occupation:<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal">Mailing Address:<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal">Purpose of DVD Use:<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal">The guild welcomes the use of the film for educational purposes and will also welcome proposals for public and festival screenings. Additional information about the film is available at <a href="http://www.dgj.or.jp/modules/contents1/index.php?id=41">www.dgj.or.jp/modules/contents1/index.php?id=41</a><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal">John Junkerman<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal">Co-chair, International Committee<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Directors Guild of Japan</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br></div> <font class="Apple-style-span" face="Times" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br></span></font></body></html>