Japanese Film Festival – Australia

The Japanese Film Festival Satellite Program will tour Bunbury with three contemporary Japanese films, screening for free. Presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney with the City of Bunbury and Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre.

This year’s selection includes a kaleidoscopic anime about two boys raised by dugongs, a heartfelt family drama with an Okinawan setting, and a raccoon-filled anime that’s fun for the whole family!

Free admission. Registrations required.
https://jffau.net/JFFticketsBunbury
*Registrations open on 1 August

Please see below for more information.

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EVENT DETAILS
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VENUE
Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre
2 Blair St
Bunbury WA 6230

PROGRAM ENQUIRIES
japanesefilmfestival@jpf.org.au

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FILM PROGRAM & SCHEDULE
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FRIDAY, 3 SEP; 7:30PM
*Join us at 7PM for the Japanese Film Festival Satellite Opening Address and Launch

Born Bone Born (洗骨)

2018 / Drama / 111 mins / Rating: Unclassified: 15+
In Japanese with English subtitles

“A dysfunctional family comes together for an unorthodox Okinawan tradition”

Four years after Emiko’s death, her family reunites for an Okinawan funerary ritual known as a senkotsu (bone washing) ceremony. Since her death, her husband has become an alcoholic and her daughter is heavily pregnant and single. Nothing’s been easy for this family, and now they are forced to deal with each other’s problems too. Born Bone Born is beautifully strange and universally human, taking a melancholic story and spinning it into a light-hearted, comedic drama about how family will always be there for you—even if they have to be dragged, kicking and screaming.

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SATURDAY, 4 SEP; 3:00PM

Pom Poko (平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ)

1994 / Anime, Adventure / 119 mins / Rating: PG (contains mild violence)
Dubbed in English

“A delightfully odd tale with an environmental message”

Pom Poko is an ever-current and thought-provoking tale about the clash between modern society and the natural world. The Raccoons (Tanuki) of the Tama Hills are being forced from their homes by rapid urbanisation. As it becomes harder to find food and shelter, they decide to band together and fight back. Once they perfect the ancient art of transformation, they use their power, often in hilarious ways, to try and scare off the advancement of civilisation. Will it be enough? Or will the Raccoons learn how to live in balance with the modern world?

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SATURDAY, 11 SEP; 3:00PM

Children of the Sea (海獣の子供)

2019 / Youth, Animation / 111 mins / Rating: PG (contains mild fantasy themes and infrequent coarse language)
In Japanese with English subtitles

“Most of the things that happen at sea are left unknown…”

When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels drawn towards the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora. They were raised by dugongs and can hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does. What the children experience as they get caught up in the mystery of the worldwide disappearance of the oceans’ fish is only the beginning of a surreal and colourful adventure that will lead Ruka to find her role within the great unitedness of humanity and nature.

The Japanese Film Festival Satellite Program will tour Coffs Harbour with three contemporary Japanese films, screening for free. Presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney with the Australia-Japan Society of Coffs Harbour.

This year’s selection includes a kaleidoscopic anime about two boys raised by dugongs, a heartfelt family drama with an Okinawan setting, and a slice of life capturing the last days of summer

Free admission. Registrations required.
*Registrations open on 15 September

Please see below for more information.

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EVENT DETAILS
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VENUE
Jetty Memorial Theatre Coffs Harbour
337 Harbour Dr
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

PROGRAM ENQUIRIES
japanesefilmfestival@jpf.org.au

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FILM PROGRAM & SCHEDULE
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SUNDAY, 3 OCT; 2:00PM

Children of the Sea (海獣の子供)

2019 / Youth, Animation / 111 mins / Rating: PG (contains mild fantasy themes and infrequent coarse language)
In Japanese with English subtitles

“Most of the things that happen at sea are left unknown…”

When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels drawn towards the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora. They were raised by dugongs and can hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does. What the children experience as they get caught up in the mystery of the worldwide disappearance of the oceans’ fish is only the beginning of a surreal and colourful adventure that will lead Ruka to find her role within the great unitedness of humanity and nature.

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SUNDAY, 3 OCT; 5:00PM

Born Bone Born (洗骨)

2018 / Drama / 111 mins / Rating: Unclassified: 15+
In Japanese with English subtitles

“A dysfunctional family comes together for an unorthodox Okinawan tradition”

Four years after Emiko’s death, her family reunites for an Okinawan funerary ritual known as a senkotsu (bone washing) ceremony. Since her death, her husband has become an alcoholic and her daughter is heavily pregnant and single. Nothing’s been easy for this family, and now they are forced to deal with each other’s problems too. Born Bone Born is beautifully strange and universally human, taking a melancholic story and spinning it into a light-hearted, comedic drama about how family will always be there for you—even if they have to be dragged, kicking and screaming.

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MONDAY, 4 OCT; 2:00PM

And Your Bird Can Sing (きみの鳥はうたえる)

2018 / Slice of life / 106 mins / Rating: Unclassified: 15+
In Japanese with English subtitles

“Clinging to the end of summer in Hakodate”

When enigmatic Sachiko forms a “no-drama” relationship with her slacker bookstore colleague and meets his unemployed roommate, Shizuo (Shota Sometani, Himizu), the three young adults’ lives become intimately entangled. Wasting away evenings together drinking, burning through cash, playing billiards and clubbing ‘til sunrise, a muted magnetism grows between Sachiko and Shizuo. Committing only to living in the moment, the trio drift around Hakodate—knowing, but never mentioning, that summer will eventually end. Atmospheric and authentic, Sho Miyake’s second feature film delivers superb performances, sensitivity and melancholic charm.