Japan Foundation launches new free online film streaming programme!

The Japan Foundation has announced a new free worldwide online streaming programme, JFF+ INDEPENDENT CINEMA, featuring 12 Japanese independent films. Films are selected by the managers of Japanese independent theaters that have nurtured the diversity of Japanese cinema culture.

The program runs for a six-month period starting on 15 December 2022 until 15 June 2023. The streaming period is divided into two terms with six films showing per term.

The schedule is as follows;
 

First term (15 December 2022 - 15 March 2023)

• Double Layered Town / Making a Song to Replace Our Positions (2021), directed by KOMORI Haruka + SEO Natsumi
  A documentary about a team of young people who record the memories of a town that was affected by a big earthquake
• Dryads in a Snow Valley (2016), directed by KOBAYASHI Shigeru
  A documentary that observes the lives of people living in a mountainous region covered in snow
• Wonderwall : the Movie (2020), directed by MAEDA Yuki
  A comedy drama that depicts the conflict between students and their university over the continuation of a long-standing college dorm
• Somebody's Flowers (2021), directed by OKUDA Yusuke
  A humanistic drama that looks at the emotional recovery of those who have lost loved ones
• hottamaru・days (2015), directed by YOSHIGAI Nao
  A fantastical and beautiful visual poem about joyful spirits who reside in a house
• Leaving on the 15th Spring (2013), directed by YOSHIDA Yasuhiro
  A coming-of-age drama about the emotional journey of a young girl who leaves the beautiful and isolated island that she is from

Second term (15 March - 15 June 2023)

• On the Edge of Their Seats (2020), directed by JOJO Hideo
  A coming-of-age drama about young people who cheer for their high school baseball team playing in a stadium
• Shiver (2021), directed by TOYODA Toshiaki
  A music film that shows off the astonishing performance of a world famous taiko troupe
• Drive into Night (2022), directed by SAKO Dai
  A surprising and humanistic drama that questions the meaning of happiness through the strange fate of one man who caused an accident
• What Can You Do about It (2019), directed by TSUBOTA Yoshifumi
  A heartfelt documentary about the interactions between a film director and his uncle who has mild autism
• In the Distance (2022), directed by KATO Saki
  A warm and unique story of two women who live under one roof and the strange happenings around them
• A Little Girl's Dream (2014), directed by TOKITA Yoshiaki
  A miraculous documentary that follows a girl in elementary school who dreams of becoming a vet and the 26 years that follow to make her dream come true

Films were selected by the managers of six mini-theaters, those are Forum Sendai (Sendai City); Takada Sekaikan (Joetsu City); Cinémathèque Takasaki (Takasaki City); Cinema Jack & Betty (Yokohama City); Ciné nouveau (Osaka City); and Cinema5 (Oita City). The selected 12 films cover a wide range of topics such as highlighting people's lifestyles and community issues against the backdrop of local climates and landscapes, to films that pursue new cinematic expressions.

During the programme, all films can be watched online free of charge in the UK with English subtitles available. For more details please visit the official website here.