The Japan Image Council (JAPIC), in coordination with the Japanese Agency of Cultural Affairs and the Embassy of Japan hosted the 13th Annual Japanese Film Festival from January 13 to 19. Hosted at Nay Pyi Taw Cinema in Yangon, this 13th Japanese Film Festival was held for the first time in Myanmar.
The 5-day film festival screened unique collection of most preferred Japanese horror, romantic, youth drama, short action films and animations by both emerging and famous filmmakers during the event. In previous years, the festival was hosted in Korea, Vietnam, Turkey, Singapore, China, India, and Indonesia.
The Embassy of Japan, represented by Yusuke Matsuoka, First Secretary of the Information and Culture Section, said of the festival: “We are extremely proud to announce the film festival this year in Myanmar. The relationship between Japan and Myanmar has been strong and prosperous for many decades now, and we hope that this will continue to encourage our countries’ friendship. Moreover, we expect this festival will encompass not only screenings, but also events to promote human interaction and development of Myanmar’s cinema, including talks by visiting directors, and Q&A sessions with attendees”. “The film fest is an important opportunity to showcase a wide variety of Japanese movies that will give audience a more realistic picture of Japanese culture. Keeping that goal in mind, we have focused on local audiences, with all movies having Burmese subtitles to appeal to local crowds” said Katsue Tomiyama, President of JAPIC. JAPIC, the Japan Image Council, actively promotes Japanese moving-image culture overseas. It also supports/ collaborates with overseas cultural institutions, as well as creating a domestic and international network to foster the development of moving-image culture.
