SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL which started in 2004 in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, has been held every year as a “gateway for emerging talent” centered on the International Competition and the Japanese Film Competition (features and shorts). The festival launched the careers of Kazuya Shiraishi (Lesson in Murder), Ryota Nakano (The Asadas), Shinichiro Ueda (One Cut of the Dead), Shinzo Katayama (Missing) and many other directors who are leading the Japanese film industry as top runners and whose new movies audiences are looking forward to seeing.
The 20th edition will be held both at theaters and online as a hybrid festival again.
On Wednesday, June 14th, a press conference was held to announce the full line-up consisting of the titles of the whole line-up. This year, the festival will begin with the world premiere of Confetti, which was produced to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the festival as well as the 90th anniversary of Kawaguchi City.
In the international competition, 10 works carefully selected from a record-number of 1,246 films submitted from 102 countries and regions, are nominated. A lineup of gems includes films from countries such as Azerbaijan, Syria, and Turkey that are rarely seen in Japan, as well as films by new directors from around the world, including Europe, South America, and Japan! Film producer Masao Teshima of Asmik Ace, Inc., who has worked on numerous box-office successes, will lead the International Competition Jury.
In the domestic competition, 6 long films and 8 short films were nominated. Director Ryota Nakano, who won the Best Director and SKIP CITY AWARD at this film festival for his feature debut Capturing Dad in 2012 and has become an indispensable presence in Japanese films, will make a return as President of the Jury for the Japanese Film Competition.
Furthermore, in a special screening, director Mikiya Sanada, who was nominated for this film festival in 2019, made a live-action adaptation of a popular manga titled A Tail's Tale will have its world premiere. In the special program, “SKIP CITY Alumni Reunion”, five directors (Yusaku Matsumoto, Shingo Matsumura, Mayu Nakamura, Shinzo Katayama, Ryota Nakano) who have made great strides after being nominated and awarded at this film festival in the past will return to the festival. The festival will screen their recent films and host talk events with them. In addition, “New Wave of Chinese Cinema ~KATSUBEN Selection~”, Qiu Jiongjiong's first fiction feature film A New Old Play, which won the Special Jury Prize at the Locarno International Film Festival, will be screened for the first time in Japan!
The festival will continue to discover new talent that will play a leading role in the future of cinema.
The details are as follows.
Opening Gala – World Premiere of Confetti
This year, in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the film festival and the 90th anniversary of Kawaguchi City, the festival will screen the world premiere of Confetti co-produced by Saitama Prefecture and Kawaguchi City! A refreshing friendship drama depicting the growth of a junior high school boy who lives in the touring-theater world through various encounters and partings at a school where he can only attend for one month. This is the feature debut of director Naoya Fujita, whose short film Stay won the Best Picture at the 2020 Japanese Short Film Competition.
Special Screening – World Premiere of A Tail's Tail
As a support project for emerging filmmakers at SKIP CITY Sai-no-Kuni Visual Plaza, Saitama Prefecture collaborated with Universal Music Artists to produce a film titled A Tail's Tale. It will have its world premiere! Director Mikiya Sanada, whose Dream of Euglena was nominated for the 2019 Japanese Feature Film Competition, will make a live-action adaptation of Mizu Sahara's popular comic. A slightly funny, and heartwarming story woven by a fresh cast such as Eito Konishi, Ayaka Ohira, Gaku Sano, Rina Takeda, Subaru Kimura, and Mai Shinuchi.
International Competition
All films are Japan Premiere at least!
(1 World Premiere, 3 Asian Premiere, and 5 Japan Premiere)
President of the Jury: Masao Teshima, a renowned producer of Asmik Ace
Banu, an Azerbaijani film depicting a woman fighting her socially powerful husband over custody of her son against the backdrop of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Eflatun, a romantic story from Turkey that depicts a love between a blind woman and a man whose hobby is photography.
I Woke Up with a Dream, the latest work from director Pablo Solarz, who won the 2018 Audience Award at this film festival.
Into the Ice, a documentary that follows three scientists who study Greenland's glaciers to understand the problem of climate change.
Is There Anybody Out There?, a self-documentary that records the director's long journey through SNS to find people with the same disabilities as herself.
Jailbird, a heartfelt comedy depicting the deep affection of a young man who was born and grew up in a jail.
Midwives, an ensemble drama about the struggles of novice midwives who have fulfilled their dreams and got a job that is said to be “the most beautiful job in the world”.
My Mother's Eyes, a new psychological thriller from Takeshi Kushida, who won the 2020 SKIP CITY AWARD at this film festival for Woman of the Photographs.
Six Weeks, a human drama that depicts a high school girl who experiences the intense emotional turmoil during the six weeks, which is the term she can take her adopted baby back.
When the Seedlings Grow, a moving film depicting a day in the life of a father and daughter who sell yogurt and meet a lost boy who live in Syria where the scars of conflict remain.
Japanese Film Competition (Feature Length and Short Length)
6 feature films (all world premieres) and 8 short films (7 world premieres)
President of the Jury: Ryota Nakano, alumni of SKIP CITY and two-time Japan Academy Film Prize nominated director
Feature Length
Alien's Daydream, an exciting drama set in Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture, aka “UFO town”, where a reporter who pursues the truth of UFO encounter information gets stuck in a labyrinth.
Hierophanie, a philosophical horror that questions the essence of salvation, when the daily life of a clinical psychologist quietly goes insane.
Mending Cracks, One Cut of the Dead actor Kazuaki Nagaya's directorial debut, depicting the heartbreak of a brother who inherited his father's business and a younger brother who has a rootless life.
Ten Years + One Day, a quirky conversation drama that begins when three men and women who have left their hometowns meet again after ten years.
Till the Day I Can Laugh about My Blues, a fantasy in summer experienced by a girl who can't fit in a school.
Utakata, a unique black-and-white piece that captures the pain and agony hidden in a young man who was born in a famous architect's family.
Short Length
Keiko-san and I, a sci-fi work depicting the relationship between humanoid AI and a girl in Japan, where humanoid AI raise children on behalf of their mothers due to the virus pandemic.
To a Hard Life, a “traffic-jammed” comedy with full of sorrow in which a dull man spins around in an unexpected development.
A nu: In True Colors, one man's CG Animation with a fresh touch that spells out memories of one White Day.
Mimic, a social drama depicting the conflicts of a homeless man who suddenly gets money by winning the lottery.
Wandering Memories, a poignant tale of a mother searching for her missing son and offering up her own treasured memories in order to get clues for the missing son.
Hunting Results, an ambitious film that cuts through the harmfulness of patriarchy with humor and thrill, through the interaction of a couple who go hunting.
Flashback Before Death, a dark fantasy co-directed by actress Rui Ishihara and musician Hiroyuki Onogawa.
Don't Go, a unique road movie about a family who infiltrates the memories of their father who passed away suddenly in order to find out the secret.
SKIP City Alumni Reunion
Five directors who flourished after participating in this festival will return to the festival!
This film festival has held as a gateway to success for young filmmakers, and many directors have soared their wings through competition nominations and awards. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the festival, we will invite five active directors to return to the festival with their recent films. After the film screening, the directors will talk about their journey since participating in the festival as well as the process of producing the film to be screened.
New Wave of Chinese Cinema ~KATSUBEN Selection~
Japan Premiere of Locarno's Special Jury Prize winning Chinese film, A New Old Play
As a collaborative project with the film web program “Katsuben Cinema Club”. “New Wave of Chinese Cinema ~KATSUBEN Selection~” will screen Qiu Jiongjiong first fictional feature film A New Old Play, that has been highly acclaimed overseas and has not been released in Japan. The film won the Special Jury Prize at the 2021 Locarno International Film Festival.
SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL 2023 (the 20th edition) Outline
Dates:
Onsite: Saturday, July 15 – Sunday, July 23, 2023 (9 days)
Online: Saturday, July 22 – Wednesday, July 26, 2023 (5 days)
Screening Venues:
Onsite: SKIP CITY Sai-no-Kuni Visual Plaza Audio Visual Hall, Convention Hall and HD Studio
Online: Special Site powered by CINEMA DISCOVERIES
Organizers: Saitama Prefecture, Kawaguchi City, SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL Committee
Website: https://www.skipcity-dcf.jp/en/
