2014 | Japan Film Festival of San Francisco

【2014-Archive】BERSERK The Golden Age Arc III: THE ADVENT

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2013 | 110 min | with English Subtitles | Directed by Toshiyuki Kubooka
Voices: Hiroaki Iwanaga, Takahiro Sakurai | Distributed by VIZ Media

The horrifying conclusion to the Golden Age unfolds in a magnificently violent nightmare, signifying the birth of new era where darkness outshines the light. It’s been a year since Griffith’s imprisonment by the Kingdom of Midland. Once praised as the saviors of the Midland, The Band of the Hawk has been on the run and is on the brink of breaking apart. Much to everyone’s surprise, Guts returns to the Hawks and the search for Griffith begins!

*Film contains graphic violence and nudity. Viewer discretion is advised

© KENTAROU MIURA (STUDIO GAGA), HAKUSENSHA/BERSERK FILM PARTNERS

【2014-Archive】ANOHANA THE MOVIE: The Flower We Saw That Day

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2013 | 99 min | with English Subtitles | Directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai
Voices: Miyu Irino, Ai Kayano | Distributed by Aniplex

Don’t miss your last chance to see Anohana the Movie on the big screen! Anohana the Movie is a tale of five childhood friends who have drifted apart from one another following the tragic death of their mutual friend Meiko “Menma” Honma. When “Menma” appears as a ghost and says that she cannot pass onto afterlife unless she is granted one last wish, the time that stood still begins to slowly move once more.

© ANOHANA PROJECT

【2014-Archive】Count Five To Dream Of You

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2014 | 85 min | with English Subtitles | Directed by Yuki Yamato
Starring: Tokyo Girls Style | Distributed by avex entertainment

★ US Premiere
★ Special Guest Appearance + Q&A

This year’s alluring Guest of Honor, Tokyo Girls’ Style, make their screen debut taking on the leading part of this film that takes place at an all-girl private high school where the planning for the beauty pageant is in full swing. The short-lived and unforgettable moments of adolescence that is colored by adoration, impatience and impulses, is brought to life by each student played by the members of Tokyo Girls Style.
Read more about Tokyo Girls Style here ☞ Tokyo Girls Style

© 2014 “Count Five To Dream Of You” Film Partners

【2014-Archive】Kanzaburo – The Movie

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2013 | 95 min | with English Subtitles | Directed by Matsuki Tsukuru
Starring: Nakamura Kanzaburō XVIII | Distributed by PONY CANYON

SF Premiere

This rare documentary features Nakamura Kanzaburō XVIII, a popular Kabuki actor who died of cancer at the age of 57 in 2012. With nearly 7,000 hours of footage that captured his life journey, the film takes us through his enthusiastic life as one of the greatest Kabuki Actors of our time, and his personal side as a father of two sons succeeding his path as descendants of the family with a long history in Kabuki tradition.

© FUJI Television Network, Inc.

【2014-Archive】Silver Spoon

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2013 | 111 min | with English Subtitles | Directed by Keisuke Yoshida
Starring: Kento Nakajima (Sexy Zone) | Distributed by TBS

US Premiere

Based on the bestselling manga by Hiroshi Arakawa, Silver Spoon centers around an isolated agricultural high school in Hokkaido at the northern end of Japan. Kengo is a freshman with an inferiority complex due to his failure to meet his fathers’ expectation. He finds himself to be a misfit among eager students from farmers’ families, but he gradually discovers his own perspective on life through farming and friendship.

© 2014 “Silver Spoon” Movie Project © H.A/S

【2014-Archive】TOKYO SHORT SHORTS: A New Generation of 5 Short Films

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83 min | with English Subtitles
Directed by Liliana Sulzbach (A Soccer Story), Shiro Tokiwa (The Eclipse’s Shadow), Seiki Watanabe (DEATH THE LOSER), Satsuki Okawa (Koyuki’s Wandering Football), Yukinori Makabe (TOKYO SKY STORY)
Co-presented by SHORT SHORTS Film Festival & Asia

SF Premiere

Discover the latest talents through a unique collection of five short films taking place in Tokyo and other areas of Japan directed by a new generation of filmmakers. From parallel stories of love unfolding around the world’s tallest tower, Tokyo Skytree, to a surreal comedy of a careless death god that pays a visit in the middle of surgery, these shorts are colorful and they warmly applaud life’s new beginnings and comebacks.

◉ Koyuki’s Wandering Football
2013 | Japan | 17 min | Directed by Satsuki Okawa

◉ A Soccer Story
2014 | Japan | 12 min | Directed by Liliana Sulzbach

◉ DEATH THE LOSER
2013 | Japan | 20 min | Directed by Seiki Watanabe

◉ TOKYO SKY STORY
2013 | Japan | 20min | Directed by Yukinori Makabe

◉ The Eclipse’s Shadow
2011 | Japan | 14 min | Directed by Shiro Tokiwa

© Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2013. All rights reserved.
“Koyuki’s Wandering”: J.League’s 20th Anniversary specially produced film © J.LEAGUE “adidas, the 3-Bars logo and TANGO 12 are trade marks of the adidas Group, used with permission.” © Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia / J.LEAGUE / “A Soccer Story”: © Tokyo Metropolitan Government All rights reserved. / “DEATH THE LOSER”: Okinawa International Movie Festival 5th Anniversary & SSFF & ASIA 15th Anniversary Specially Produced Short Film © Shorts Shorts Film Festival & Asia / “TOKYO SKY STORY”: TOKYO SKYTREE (R) 1st Anniversary Special Shortfilm © Shorts Shorts Film Festival & Asia / “The Eclipse’s Shadow”: © Shorts Shorts Film Festival & Asia

【2014-Archive】CROWS : EXPLODE

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2014 | 129 min | with English Subtitles | Directed by Toshiaki Toyoda
Starring: Masahiro Higashide | Distributed by TBS
Co-presented by SF IndieFest

US Premiere

Based on the popular “school of punk” manga by Hiroshi Takahashi, Crows: EXPLODE boldly ignites the gang wars in the subgenre schoolyards of Japan. The deadly road battle quietly begins when lone-wolf Kazeo Kaburagi transfers to the notorious Suzuran High School. He quickly establishes himself as a fearless fighter, though he has no interest in the power struggle that encircles him.

*Film contains graphic violence. Viewer discretion is advised

© 2014 Hiroshi Takahashi © “CROWS:EXPLODE” Film Partners

【2014-Archive】Mitsutoshi Tanaka, Director

Mitsutoshi Tanaka – Director

Born in 1958 in Hokkaido, he joined Dentsu Eigasha (now Dentsu Tec) upon graduation from Osaka University of Arts, making TV commercials for TV Man Union before establishing Creators’ Union Co. in 1984. As a director of TV commercials, he has won awards from the Allied CM Council (ACC) and the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan. Features he has directed include Kewaishi (2001), Shoro Nagashi (2003), and Castle Under Fiery Skies (2009).

His recent work, Ask This Of Rikyu (2013), starring Ichikawa Ebizō XI and Miki Nakatani, has the west coast premiere on Saturday, July 19th, 2014, at NEW PEOPLE Cinema.

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◉ Guest Appearance at special screening of ASK THIS OF RIKYU!
For more information about the film, visit Ask Of This Rikyu film page ☞ click HERE

【2014-Archive】Kotodama – Spiritual Curse

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2014 | 105 min| with English Subtitles| Directed by Masayuki Ochiai
Starring: TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE | Distributed by LT Corporation Co.,Ltd.

★ US Premiere
★ Special Guest Appearance + Q&A

Starring the members from Tokyo Girls’ Style, the story evolves around a high school where students start to gossip about the tragic deaths of former students from a gas accident inside of a mysteriously blocked classroom. Since then, a series of bizarre phenomenon begin to occur. Meanwhile, Hitomi and her friends sneak into an abandoned school for a video shoot without knowing that they are stepping into the underworld. Based on the original story “Gakkou no Kwaidan”.
Read more about Tokyo Girls’ Style here ☞ Tokyo Girls’ Style

© 2014 GK Film Partners

【2014-Archive】A Tale of Samurai Cooking : A True Love Story

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2013 | 121 min | with English Subtitles | Directed by Yuzo Asahara
Starring: Aya Ueto, Kengo Kora | Distributed by GAGA

SF Premiere

A once-divorced woman named O-haru remarries into the Funaki family, generations of trusted samurai chefs that serve the lord of the Kaga Domain. Her husband Yasunobu is the young heir of the family, however, his cooking skills and passion aren’t up to par. With the full support of her new mother-in-law, O-haru takes it upon herself to help Yasunobu find his way to become a great chef and maintain pride of his family tradition.

© 2013 “A Tale of Samurai Cooking” Film Partners