INDIA: The Japan Foundation New Delhi has announced the return of the Japanese Film Festival Online, a key part of the JFF projects aimed at sharing the excitement of Japanese cinema with the world. The 2024 edition of this eagerly anticipated festival will run from June 5 to July 3, 2024. It features a robust lineup of 23 films available for streaming until June 19, and for the first time ever, 2 popular Japanese TV dramas, available from June 19 onwards.
The festival is free for all viewers and accessible with English subtitles on the JFF official website, following a simple registration process for a free account. Among the standout films are ‘We Made a Beautiful Bouquet,’ which was one of the top 10 highest-grossing films of 2021 in Japan, and ‘Baby Assassins,’ known for its gripping, action-packed plot that gained widespread popularity on social media. Other notable films include ‘The Zen Diary,’ ‘The Lines That Define Me,’ ‘Father of the Milky Way Railroad,’ and ‘School Meals Time Graduation,’ each offering a unique glimpse into Japanese culture through literature, art, and food.
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A major highlight of this year’s festival is the world premiere of the 4K digitally remastered version of ‘Jungle Emperor Leo,’ also known as ‘Kimba the White Lion.’ This classic anime is based on the masterpiece by Tezuka Osamu, one of Japan’s most revered animators. The festival also features two immensely popular TV dramas, ‘Downtown Rocket’ and ‘Riku-Oh,’ which tell inspiring stories of hardworking individuals chasing big dreams, likely to resonate deeply with viewers worldwide.
Beyond film streaming, the Japan Foundation will offer exclusive interviews with film directors, offline film screenings, and other engaging events throughout the festival period. Japan Foundation India will keep their social media platforms – Website, Instagram, Facebook, and X – regularly updated with event details, encouraging participants to stay informed through these channels.
“In the midst of an evolving social situation in post-pandemic Japan
and following the resounding success of the Academy Award-winning ‘Godzilla Minus One’ and ‘The Boy and the Heron,’ we have carefully selected titles that we are sure will resonate with audiences around the world. This year, the Japanese Film Festival Online will distribute films and TV dramas to a record number of countries and regions and in a variety of languages to help share Japanese film with the overseas market,” rejoices Konomi Masafumi, JFF Producer.
This year’s Japanese Film Festival Online promises to be an exceptional showcase of Japanese cinema, offering a blend of contemporary hits and timeless classics. With the addition of TV dramas, the festival is expanding its reach and diversity, ensuring there is something for everyone. Film enthusiasts and cultural aficionados alike are encouraged to mark their calendars and register early to take full advantage of this free cultural experience.
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