Japan Now Press Conference Featuring Shunji IWAI, with a Special Screening of a Bride for Rip Van Winkle at FCCJ on October 4

PRESS INFORMATION September 28, 2016

Japan Now Press Conference featuring Shunji IWAI, with a Special Screening of A Bride for Rip Van Winkle at FCCJ on October 4

Tokyo International Film Festival is pleased to hold a Japan Now Press Conference featuring internationally acclaimed creator Shunji Iwai, with a very special English-subtitled screening of his latest film, A Bride for Rip Van Winkle at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ) on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.

The Japan Now section was created in 2015 to showcase outstanding Japanese films from recent and coming months, demonstrating the diversity © 2016 RVW FP of the domestic film industry, as well as providing a multifaceted look at the country today. The section also highlights a Director in Focus, with special screenings of their films to boost their recognition overseas. This year, following his recent experiences in Hollywood and in animation, that director is Shunji Iwai, whose groundbreaking style and youth-focused vision have been internationally hailed in such masterworks as Love Letter (95), Swallowtail Butterfly (96), All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001) and Hana and Alice (2004).

We cordially invite members of the press to join us for this special opportunity to hear from Mr. Iwai, who will appear before the screening with TIFF Director General Yasushi Shiina and Japan Now Programming Advisor Kohei Ando.

The 29th TIFF will run from October 25 – November 3 at Roppongi Hills, EX Theater Roppongi and other venues in Tokyo.

Date and time: October 4 (Tue), 2016 Doors open at 4:00 pm Press conference starts at 4:30 pm (-5:15pm)

Special Screening of A Bride for Rip Van Winkle [2016/180 min. Japanese with English subtitles] Starts from 5:30 to 8:30 pm *After the screening there will be a Q&A Session with the director.

Place: The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ)

Address: Yurakucho Denki North Building 20F, 1-7-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

URL: http://www.fccj.or.jp

Speakers: Yasushi Shiina – Director General, 29th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF&TIFFCOM) Kohei Ando – Japan Now Programming Advisor

Guest: Shunji Iwai – Filmmaker

*Please RSVP by email ([email protected]) to reserve a seat by October 3 (Mon) at 5:00pm.

*ENG: Please bring your own stepstool. Priority may be given to some key networks and determined by random drawing. *Photographer: first-come, first-serve basis

*As this press conference on October 4 is cohosted by FCCJ, please bring your business card to sing in, not your TIFF Press Pass.

A Bride for Rip Van Winkle (Production Company: Rockwell Eyes Inc./ Distributor in Japan/ World Sales: Toei Company) Nanami loses her job due to a lack of confidence. She marries a man she met online, but this ends when she is falsely blamed of infidelity. She is then saved by Amuro, a jack of all trades. Introduced to peculiar jobs and

For further information or inquiries, please contact: TIFF Promotion Group Tel: +81-3-6226-3012; Fax: +81-3-6226-3023; email: [email protected] Publicity materials are available at www.image.net/ Official Website: www.tiff-jp.net/en/

individuals, Nanami befriends the free-spirited Mashiro, and ends up living with her. Starring Haru Kuroki, winner of the Silver Bear Award at the 64th Berlinale Film Festival.

Shunji Iwai Shunji Iwai’s directing career began in 1988 with commercials, music videos and TV dramas. His cinematic style and vision came to be hailed as the “Iwai Aesthetic.” In 1995, he scored a huge hit across Asia with Love Letter. Other major works include Swallowtail Butterfly (96), All About Lily Chou-Chou (01), Hana and Alice (04), Vampire (12) and The Case of Hana & Alice (15).

29th Tokyo International Film Festival Date: October 25 (Tue) – November 3 (Thu), 2016 Venues: Roppongi Hills, EX Theater Roppongi and other theaters in Tokyo Market: TIFFCOM 2016 (Japan Content Showcase 2016) October 25 (Tue) – 27 (Thu)

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All press members who wish to cover the Tokyo International Film Festival are required to register for Press Pass. For all interviews and coverage, you are required to show your Press Pass. The press members who have not yet registered for press passes, please contact Press Office immediately.

Press Office E-mail: [email protected]