Film fans enjoyed special screenings of recent and popular Japanese releases at the Premiere Japan 08 Film Festival co-organised by the Embassy and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) from September 26 to 28.

Chairman of BAFTA Mr David Parfitt, Ambassador Ebihara and Director Uchida Kenji

The titles selected by the world-renowned East Asian film critic Tony Rayns and Japanese cinema scholar Alexander Jacoby were ��After School��, ��Dai Nippon-jin��, ��Sisterhood��, ��Fine, Totally Fine��, ��Dog in a Sidecar�� and ��Tokyo Sonata��. These six films represented the fascinating choice of contemporary Japanese cinema and all films won wide acclaim in Japan.

©2008 Fortissimo Films 'Tokyo Sonata' Production Committee

This year��s festival included two special Question and Answer sessions with Director Uchida Kenji following the screenings of his film ��After School��. Mr. Uchida made a special journey to London to attend this film festival and captivated the audience with his insights into the film world, his influences and how he was inspired to make ��After School��. The Question and Answer session was hosted by Dr. Rayna Denison, Lecturer in Film and Television Studies at the University of East Anglia.

©'After School' Production Committee

As many as 1,400 people attended film showings during the three days of Premiere Japan. Throughout the festival cinema-goers were able to enjoy a number of cultural events and activities, including workshops on origami, calligraphy and dressing up in Japanese yukata. In addition, a special Yose-moji calligraphy demonstration and workshop was hosted by Tachibana Umon, Special Adviser for Cultural Exchange from the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs, and this proved to be very popular with those who participated.

Master Calligrapher Tachibana Umon gives a Yose-moji demonstration