UniFrance Films is host to this unifying annual event held in the heart of Tokyo, which showcased 12 new French films this year screened in the presence of a large delegation of French guests.
The 22nd French Film Festival in Yokohama took place from June 27-30, 2014, at the Yurakucho Asahi Hall and the Toho Cinemas Nichigeki, two theaters located in the center of Tokyo's Ginza district. 12 French feature films that have not yet been released in Japan were screened in the presence of 11 French artists, including Tony Gatlif, who was festival patron this year. The festival registered around 5,700 admissions (according to initial estimates).
The director Naomi Kawase was this year's guest of honor at the opening ceremony, and took time to share her love of French cinema with audiences.
In other news of French films in the Asia region, a selection of short films was presented this year at the Short Shorts Film Festival (held May 29 through June 15), screened in the presence of the director of The Passenger, Amaury Brumauld.
In addition to the film screenings followed by discussions with the French artists, two master classes were held at the Film School of Tokyo. Sébastien Betbeder joined forces with the up-and-coming Japanese director Shô Miyake to discuss the topic "Filmmaking Today" on the evening of Saturday, 28 June. This master class was followed by a meeting with a group of young Japanese directors, including Tetsuya Mariko and Koji Fukata. Tony Gatlif discussed the subject of "Continuing to Make Films" at a master class led by the Japanese producer Tetsujiro Yamagami, CEO of Siglo.
To coincide with the festival, numerous exhibitions (including original posters of the films screened at the festival and a screening of a trailer of the making-of of the 2012 event) were held in the Marunouchi district (with the support of Mitsubishi Jisho) and in Tokyo department stores, which boosted the festival's visibility with the general public.
This year's Audience Prize was awarded to Fly me to the moon by Pascal Chaumeil.
In collaboration with the French Institute in Japan, the French Film Festival in Japan also traveled to the cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Fukuoka, accompanied by Tony Gatlif (Fukuoka) and Marc Fitoussi (Kyoto and Osaka).
Lineup and Delegation 2014
The Finishers by Nils Tavernier
Screened in the presence of Nils Tavernier and Fabien Héraud
2 Autumns 3 Winters by Sébastien Betbeder
Screened in the presence of Sébastien Betbeder
School Of Babel by Julie Bertuccelli
Screened in the presence of Julie Bertuccelli and Brigitte Cervoni
Yves Saint Laurent by Jalil Lespert
Screened in the presence of Jalil Lespert
Lulu in the Nude by Solveig Anspach
Mea Culpa by Fred Cavayé
Screened in the presence of Fred Cavayé
Paris Follies by Marc Fitoussi
Screened in the presence of Marc Fitoussi
Geronimo by Tony Gatlif
Screened in the presence of Tony Gatlif
Playing Dead by Jean-Paul Salomé
Screened in the presence of Jean-Paul Salomé
Mississippi Mermaid by François Truffaut
Suzanne by Katell Quillévéré
Fly me to the moon by Pascal Chaumeil
Screened in the presence of Dany Boon
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