Geographically, Japan is 6000 miles away from the UK but the position of Japanese cinema may be much closer to the hearts of some Brits. Thanks to the enormous efforts and enthusiasm of UK-based cinema experts belonging to such organisations as BFI, ICA, and many film festivals, certain names from Japan’s catalogue of filmmakers - Kurosawa, Mizoguchi or more recently Kitano and Miike, to name a few - are permanently engraved in this nation’s cinematic history. Two decades into the 21st century, is the admiration felt for Japanese film by British people still going strong? Has the perception of Japanese cinema changed?

Celebrating the very first online edition of The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme, on the launch night of the season, we have invited a cinema programmer, a critic and an academic mainly representing the next generation of UK film experts to informally discuss what Japanese cinema means to them and what the current position of Japanese cinema is in this country, while candidly exploring if the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme, which marks its 18th year, has indeed made any impact on the people’s perception.

About the panellists

Alex Davidson (moderator), Cinema Curator at the Barbican

Jennifer Coates, Senior Lecturer in Japanese Studies, The University of Sheffield

Peter Munford, Satori Screen Programmer at QUAD, Derby

Ren Scateni, Freelance Critic and Curator based in Edinburgh

Junko Takekawa, Senior Arts Programme Officer, the Japan Foundation London

Please note that this session will be hosted on Zoom. Once your registration is accepted, we will send you an access code on the day of the event.

Please note:

· Under 13 year-olds require parental supervision.

· Only successful applicants will be contacted with confirmation of their place.

· Please note that the confirmation email system is not automated and is subject to office opening hours.

· If you are no longer able to attend the session and have registered, please notify us as soon as possible so that we can release your place to someone on the waiting list.

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