1998 Toronto Festival to Feature Young Japanese Cinema

[TKBowman]

Just came across this press release on the 1998 Toronto International Film
Festival web site.

Todd
tkbowman at aol.com


TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO SPOTLIGHT JAPAN'S NEXT WAVE IN 1998

February 12, 1998

Toronto -- This year, the Toronto International Film Festival's National
Cinema Programme will focus on young Japanese filmmakers. The Programme will
feature 10-12 films from some of Japan's most exciting young directors. In the
past, the National Cinema Programme has focused on the Balkans, Vietnam, Iran
and Poland, helping to introduce North America and the world to the exciting
work going on in those countries.

For many, Japanese cinema begins with Akira Kurosawa and ends with the
Japanese New Wave of the 1960s. However, over the last decade, it has been
increasingly difficult to ignore the re-emergence of Japanese cinema. Perhaps
the most notable aspect of this revival is the completely dissimilar, varied
nature of the films. Young Japanese filmmakers have embraced everything from
deadpan black comedy (Shinobu Yaguchi's DOWN THE DRAIN) to subtle melodrama
(Shunji Iwai's LOVE LETTER); from explosive thrillers (Shinya Tsukamoto's
TOKYO FIST and Sogo Ishii's ANGEL DUST) to lyrical dramas of reconciliation
(Hirokazu Kore-eda's MABOROSI). What does link these filmmakers is a
willingness to explore the darker aspects of existence -- with daring,
ingenuity and originality. 

These young filmmakers pick up where the New Wave left off, and take it even
further. The international film community is already beginning to recognize
this rebirth. In 1997, Naomi Kawase's SUZAKU won the Camera d'Or and Shohei
Imamura's THE EEL shared the Palme d'Or at Cannes; Takeshi Kitano's FIREWORKS
(HANA-BI) won the Golden Lion at Venice; and audiences have responded too --
Masayuki Suo's SHALL WE DANCE was an international hit in 1997. 

"Toronto has a long tradition of supporting Japanese cinema," says Programmer
Noah Cowan. "It's the perfect place to showcase a group of young directors who
will change the way we look at cinema in the next millennium." 

In the past the Toronto International Film Festival has featured many of
Japan's most exciting young directors, including Takashi Miike (FUDOH: THE
NEXT GENERATION) , Kohei Oguri (SLEEPING MAN), Rokuro Mochizuki (ONIBI: THE
FIRE WITHIN), Ryosuke Hashiguchi (LIKE GRAINS OF SAND)-- as well as the
artists mentioned earlier. In addition, Cinematheque Ontario -- the Festival
Group's year-round screening programme -- has showcased some of Japan's
acknowledged masters. Recently, Cinematheque Ontario curated traveling series
on Kenji Mizoguchi and Shohei Imamura. 

Beginning February 13, Toronto-area audiences will have the chance to see the
work of eclectic Japanese New Wave master Yasuzo Masumura, whose films
influenced and inspired many New Wave directors. 

The 1998 National Cinema Programme is generously supported by Air Canada. 

The 23rd Toronto International Film Festival takes place September 10-19,
1998.