The 16th Shimokitazawa Film Festival is set to take place from September 21 (Saturday) to September 23 (Monday, public holiday) at three venues: Kitazawa Town Hall, Shimokita – Ekimae – Cinema “K2,” and Toriwood. The full program has been announced.
Since its inception in 2009, the Shimokitazawa Film Festival has been held annually in the creative neighborhood of Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, with the goal of discovering and nurturing filmmakers and expanding the community of people involved in visual arts. The festival features a main competition program that is genre-agnostic, alongside various cultural programs covering music, theater, fashion, and gourmet experiences.
On September 21 (Saturday) at Kitazawa Town Hall, the theme will be “City and People.” Highlights include “Oasis” directed by Keiko Okawa, known for her work on notable films such as ‘All the Long Nights,’ and “映画 ◯月◯日、区長になる女。,’—a documentary about Satoshi Kishimoto, who ran for the Suginami Ward mayoral election in 2022 without political experience and defeated the long-serving incumbent, as well as the residents who supported her. Additionally, Rikiya Imaizumi’s film ‘Over the Town’ will be showcased, starring Tatsuya Wakaba, and set in the ever-evolving cultural hub of Shimokitazawa.
On the following day, September 22 (Sunday), the theme will be “Music and Life.” The program includes the premiere documentary ‘Fuzjko Hemming: A Pianist of Silence & Solitude’ about the pianist Fujiko Hemming, who had deep ties to Shimokitazawa and passed away at the age of 92 in April 2024. Also featured is the documentary film ‘SUNRISE TO SUNSET,’ which captures the one-night-only revival live of Pay money To my Pain, a band that went on hiatus following the sudden passing of their vocalist, K.
On the final day, September 23 (Monday, public holiday), the documentary ‘こころの通訳者たちWhat a Wonderful World’ will be screened with barrier-free subtitles and audio guides (UDCast). This film explores the creation of audio guides to deliver “sign language” to visually impaired individuals. Producer Chiho Hiratsuka will also attend as a guest. Additionally, a competition will showcase 10 nominated films selected from a total of 380 submissions. Regular judges Takatoshi Naoi, Takahiro Otsuki, and Yuki Todoroki will be joined by guest judge Satoko Yokohama.
In addition, at Shimokita – Ekimae – Cinema “K2,” films starring actress and model Nairu Yamamoto, including ‘A Tale of Winter,’ ‘Night Drifting,’ and ‘Inch Forward,’ will be screened over three days. At Torigood, directors associated with Café Kinokoya in Seiseki Sakuragaoka, Tokyo, will come together to present the short film omnibus “The Blue Bird,” made to celebrate the café’s 5th anniversary.
Tickets for the North Town Hall programs will go on sale on August 24 (Saturday) at noon via PassMarket. Tickets for the “K2” screenings will be available starting September 17 (Tuesday), and tickets for the Torigood screenings will be available on each theater’s official website three days before the screening dates.
