Lineup Announced for CROSSCUT ASIA #04: What’s Next from Southeast Asia

2017/10/12 17:03

The Japan Foundation Asia Center and the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is pleased to announce the lineup for CROSSCUT ASIA #04: What’s Next from Southeast Asia which features works from young filmmakers in Southeast Asia recommended by maestros in the same region.

2017/10/12

The Japan Foundation Asia Center

Lineup Announced for CROSSCUT ASIA #04: What’s Next from Southeast Asia

Special Trailer and Short Commentary Clips from Maestros also Released

The Japan Foundation Asia Center’s CROSSCUT ASIA series showcases Asian films with a focus on specific countries, directors, or themes. Following the first three editions, which featured Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, the fourth edition will encompass a larger area of Southeast Asia to mark the 50th anniversary of the formation of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). The fourth edition will introduce 13 films from Southeast Asia, including nine feature films and four short films.

This year’s CROSSCUT ASIA focuses on the genealogy of Southeast Asian cinema, as the maestros pass the baton to the next generation. It will introduce such works as director HF Yambao’s Kristo (2016), recommended by Brillante Ma Mendoza; Kirsten Tan’s Pop Aye (2017), recommended by Eric Khoo; Wichanon Somumjarn’s In April the Following Year, There Was a Fire (2012), recommended by Apichatpong Weerasethakul; and short films by young Cambodian directors recommended by Rithy Panh. Please see following page for the full lineup.

- During the festival, there will be stage appearances, Q&A sessions featuring directors and/or celebrated guests from these works, and a symposium with Brillante Ma. Mendoza and HF Yambao.

- TIFF will be showing video messages from these maestros, sharing their fond memories of TIFF. Please check https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIgCE9eB-bqH282kjTHBM77P-KhTUaNOv

Special trailer of the CROSSCUT ASIA #04: What’s Next from Southeast Asia will be also released on https://youtu.be/UTUBZQ_4yq8

- Free booklets specially made for CROSSCUT ASIA #4 will be distributed to viewers.

- In addition, we will hold a gift campaign targeting viewers of CROSSCUT ASIA films, giving them a chance to win a booklet with autographs by Southeast Asian directors and special goods from the program.

Ticket Sales

Tickets will be sold by sections below.

Saturday, October 14〜

12:00pm

CROSSCUT ASIA ・Asian Future・Co-Hosted/Allied Events and Others

16:00pm〜

Competition・Japan Now・Japanese Classics

Sunday, October 15

12:00pm〜

Japanese Cinema Splash・World Focus・Youth

16:00pm〜

Special Screenings・Special Program

The Japan Foundation Asia Center http://jfac.jp/en/

The Japan Foundation is Japan's principal independent administrative institution dedicated to carrying out cultural exchange initiatives throughout the world. The Asia Center, established in April 2014, is a division within the Foundation that conducts and supports collaborative initiatives with its Asian—primarily ASEAN—counterparts. Through interacting and working together in Japanese-language education, arts and culture, sports, and grassroots and intellectual exchange, the Asia Center pursues to develop the sense of kinship and coexistence as neighboring inhabitants of Asia.

Tokyo International Film Festival http://2017.tiff-jp.net/en/

The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) started in 1985 as Japan’s first major film festival and the only Japanese film festival accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). Since then, TIFF has grown to become one of the largest film festivals in Asia. Every year in October, filmmakers and film fans of all ages gather in Tokyo to enjoy excellent films from around the world and TIFF’s many colorful events. These include TIFF's affiliated media content market TIFFCOM, seminars for students, professionals, and business people, and symposiums and workshops for networking with the world’s film industries, developing international co-productions, and promoting the global film business. The 30th Tokyo International Film Festival will be held from October 25 (Wed.) to November 3 (Fri.), 2017.

Lineup for CROSSCUT ASIA #04: What’s Next from Southeast Asia

Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories (2015/102 min.)
[Vietnam/France/Germany/The Netherlands]

Director: Phan Dang Di

Cast: Do Thi Hai Yen, Le Cong Hoang, Truong The Vinh

Recommended by Director Tran Anh Hung

A group of friends discover love, lust and each other as the new millennium begins in Vietnam, from steamy Saigon nightlife to traditional family existence.

The Carousel Never Stops Turning (2017/84 min.)
[Indonesia]

Director: Ismail Basbeth

Cast: Cornelio Sunny, Karina Salim, Sekar Sari

Recommended by Director Garin Nugroho

Talking about today’s Indonesia from different perspectives – economy, politics, arts and culture, society, laws, and history – outlined in several fragments influenced by one another.

In April the Following Year, There Was a Fire (2012/77 min.)
[Thailand/The Netherlands]

Director: Wichanon Somumjarn

Cast: Jinnapat Ladarat, Uhten Sririwi, Saeree Pimpa

Recommended by Director Apichatpong Weerasethakul

A poetic title, almost a film description, that demands some close reading. Just like the film, which, as a visual poem, doesn’t immediately divulge its meaning.

Kristo (2016/92 min.)
[The Philippines]

Director: HF Yambao

Cast: Kristofer King, Angela Cortez, Julio Diaz

Recommended by Director Brillante Ma Mendoza

To provide for his family, Boy works as a cockfight bet taker by day, and as a market vendor by night. This is his daily routine, until one fateful faithful day.

My Superheroes (2017/122 min.)
[Malaysia]

Director: Eric Ong

Cast: Sangeetha Krishnasamy, Xavier Fong, Ahmad Adnin Zidane Muslim

Recommended by Actress Sharifah Amani

Based on a true story, this film follows 35 underprivileged children and their journey to overcome difficulties through preparing for and competing in a choral competition.

Pop Aye (2017/102 min.)
[Singapore/Thailand]

Director: Kirsten Tan

Cast: Bong, Thaneth Warakulnukroh, Penpak Sirikul

Recommended by Director Eric Khoo

Pop Aye is about two misfits - a man past his prime and his displaced street elephant - searching for meaning and belonging in space and time.

Tales of the Otherwords (2016/82 min.)
[Indonesia]

Director: B.W. Purba Negara

Cast: Ponco Sutiyem, Rukman Rosadi, Ledjar Subroto

Recommended by Director Riri Riza

Mbah Sri (95 years old) is looking for the grave of her husband, who has been missing for decades, with one simple aim: she wants to rest in peace beside her husband’s grave.

Yasmin-san (2017/70 min.)　
[Malaysia]

Director: Edmund Yeo

Cast: Sharifah Amani, Isao Yukisada, Yasmin Ahmad

Recommended by Programming Director Kenji Ishizaka

A documentary following the production of Isao Yukisada's Pigeon which looks into filmmaking, unity, fate, and history through the influence of the late Yasmin Ahmad.

Cambodian Young Cinema

Four films by young directors that focus on contemporary Cambodia, recommended by Director Rithy Panh of The Missing Picture and the staff at Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center in Phnom Penh, which is headed by Panh.