The 1st Kyoto International Film and Art Festival was announced on Thursday 4th September at a press conference that confirmed the dates as Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th October. Following on from the tradition of the previous Kyoto Film Festival that began in 1997 with motto “Film Town, Kyoto,” the new festival aims to create a new film culture amongst Kyoto residents and those who love the ancient Japanese capital. With the new theme of “Films, Arts and Everything,” the festival will showcase various programs and events beyond film, taking in the field of arts and more.    
The emcees of the press conference were Yuichi Kimura and Tomomi Hirano, an announcer from KBS Kyoto. Hiroyuki Fujita Deputy Mayor of Kyoto gave the opening speech. Speaking on behalf of film fan Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa, Fujita pointed out that Kyoto is the birthplace of Japanese film. He celebrated the birth of the new film festival, stating; “I am very happy as one of Kyoto’s residents that the Kyoto Film Festival, which finished two years ago, has came back as an international film festival with contributions of many people.”

Isao Yoshino, CEO of Yoshimoto Kogyo, appeared on stage next to express his determination that “with the traditions of Kyoto Film Festival, we’d like to create a new film culture and send it ourt to Asia and the world, from Kyoto.” Film director Sadao Nakajima, President of Executive Committee then explained how the new festival came about. “Even though the Kyoto Film Festival finished two years ago, we had the idea to make it happen on a larger scale with Yoshimoto Kogyo’s new development.” And he showed his eagerness stating that “the old festival tended to be considered only from a cultural aspect, but Yoshimoto is good at creating a festival with entertainment. We’d like to create a new festival which keeps the film history in Kyoto in mind. This is the first year, but we’d like make it expand. Especially as the festival is in Kyoto, we are considering helping tourism to the city as well. We’d like to create the festival which everybody can enjoy.”

The conference then moved to the introduction of the various programs. Kazuyoshi Okuyama, the producer of the festival, explained the Film Section. He introduced two pillars of the festival: respect to the wonderful works that veterans created in the past, and finding new talents by supporting emerging artists. “The purpose of the festival is to connect the two pillars and send them out to the world,” he said. “Thsi festival is not possible anywhere except in Kyoto. We will create a characteristic film festival in an environment of international city.”

The “Most Respect Awards” have also been set up. In the first year, the first recipient for the Most Respect Award is a celebrated actor and director Clint Eastwood, who, at the age of 80, continues to make films that inspire filmmakers and fans around the world. The “Most Respect Award in Paris” celebrates Kyoto’s sister city in France, with Irene Jacob, known for “The Double Life of Véronique” the first recipient.

The highly respected “Shozo Makino Award” established in 1958 is given to filmmakers who contributed to the development of Japanese cinema. And a “Mifune Toshiro Award” has been newly created to support the actor who is most likely to make an international impact on the film industry, in honor of Toshiro Mifune, one of the most highly recognized actors in the world from Japan. 

Okuyama introduced the awards, stating that; “The judges are well-known people who have carried on the traditions of the Japanese film industry, such as Teruyo Nonaka, Yoji Yamada and Shinobu Hashimoto.”
 

The supervisor of the festival, Taichi Kasuga, who is described as “a walking dictionary of Japanese films” appeared on stage next. Kasuga who is a student of film history and has published numerous books commented, “Kyoto used to be the place of dispatch of film culture to the world from Japan, but the presence is getting weaker these days. Now, we hope to send films out to the world from Kyoto again.” 

He expected international effects from the Toshiro Mifune Award and also mentioned many highlights of the festival, such as a feature screening of the “Daimajin” series, created at Daiei Kyoto Studio in 1966. “You will understand that Kyoto has been important not only in traditional culture, but also in challenging and innovative works too.”

Teruyo Nonaka, the judge of “Toshiro Mifune Award”, Shiro Mifune and Kasuga had a talk show. Nonaka who worked on many of Akira Kurosawa’s movies as a continuity clerk said, “nowadays, not many people know about Mifune. Mifune is very special person among actors. I agreed to hold this award to let people remember his name.” Shiro Mifune expressed his pleasure as a son, “I am very happy to have this award as a family member. I believe Mifune will be happy about this.” He also analyzed Mifune’s popularity and reputation in the world, stating that “his roles in movies were direct, clear and simple. That’s why he made a impression in abroad.”

One more guest then came up to the stage. Itsuji Itao who performed in “At Home”, the festival’s opening film, and “Furiko”, one of the films of the “TV Director’s Movie” project, talked about his highlights of working on both films. “Furiko” is a film from Tekken’s flipbook that had screenings at the Okinawa International Movie Festival. “Tekken cried and I could hear sounds many audience members cried,” he said. “The flipbook is an amazing piece, so directors and actors had a lot of pressure.” As for “At Home”, he smiled and said, “even if I talk a bit, I feel I tell the secret.”  

The second film section is titled “Creator’s factory”. Again Okuyama appeared and explained the overview of the section which launched at the 5th Okinawa International Movie Festival, in order to discover the next generation of talented artists, Creator’s Factory at Kyoto International Film and Art Festival seeks submissions not only from filmmakers, but also from artists of various disciplines. 

Three guests followed on to the stage. Kiki Sugino, winner of the Best New Creators Award at the 1st Creator’s Factory of Okinawa International Movie Festival, who has gone on to hold a preview screening of her first film as a director, R-18 Literary Award vol.3 “Manga Niku to Bokum,” film director Kaizo Hayashi, judge of the Film Section, and artist Kohei Nawa, judge of Art Section. The trio talked about the film festival and thoughts of Kyoto. Sugino shot her first movie in Kyoto and said, “I felt that I have been tested here because this is the place where big name directors shoot.” 

Hayashi expressed his expectation; “I am sure to find new talent. I’d like to see new movies and moving images which are unique.” Nawa said, “recently, especially the student’s works of the Art University are very subdued, there are not so many works that make judges shocked. Please bring works that have impact, let’s make a competition to stimulate each other.”

Finally, the Art Section was introduced. Kousi Ueno, Members of the Executive Committee for Art, gave a speech and showed his aspiration; “I’d like people to recognize Kyoto’s historical culture, art and films and send them out to the world. To let everybody enjoy it, we are concerned about openness, and the quality of art is very high.”    

Kenta Oka, the Art Planner of the Section, followed on stage. Known as a comedian and a collector of contemporary art, he is putting his emphasis on activities related to art. He explained various art events that take place before and during the festival at various locations in Kyoto. The first exhibition of “Hajime Anzai × Hiroko Ichihara” is held at Hotel Anteroom Kyoto from Friday 5th September. “The World of Flipbook Manga Exhibition” featuring Tekken’s world was introduced, as was the “Collaborative Work by Kenji Yanobe, Yoshimasa Ishihashi, and Meiwa Denki” at the public square of Kyoto City Hall. He even shared new idea, “I have been talking with Nawa, but he may create a ‘garden’ from the viewpoint of contemporary art.”

Artists who will join Art Section also came to the stage. From the exhibition of “Hajime Anzai × Hiroko Ichihara,” Anzai and Ichihara introduced the highlights of the exhibition. The director Ujicha and Saki Inagawaki from Sakura, who sang the ending song of Ujicha’s film, commented on an exhibition of the work of Ujicha, “The Burning Buddha Man”. The movie was shot in a special way: moving paper dolls using chopsticks. 500 paper dolls are to be exhibited with a film screening as well.       

From “Collaborative Work by Kenji Yanobe, Yoshimasa Ishihashi, and Meiwa Denki,” Yanobe said “I cannot describe the details, but a huge robot will appear at the public square in the city. You may feel a movie becomes true in the city.” Ishibashi added, “we are planning a special event that many people can enjoy from children to adults.” 

At the end of the conference, Ima IkuyoKuruyo, a comedic duo from Kyoto appeared on stage. They made audience laugh, and shared their own memories related to movies. “Kyoto is a wonderful art city. There are three big folk festivals here, so we’d like to make Kyoto International Film and Art Festival the 4th one.”

This fall, the 1st Kyoto International Film and Art Festival may be the main topic of conversation throughout Kyoto. Please come and visit and enjoy the movies and art!