2nd Japanese Film Festival in Croatia to open

From 21 to 23 September, the 2nd Japanese Film Festival will take place at the Kaptol Boutique Cinema in Zagreb, where Croatian audiences will have the opportunity to watch eight recent Japanese films premiering in the country.

The highlights of this year’s exciting line-up include two feature-length anime films: Doraemon – arguably the most famous anime and manga character in Japan and around the world, and Black Jack – a creation by the cartoonist Osamu Tezuka, who popularised anime and is considered Japan’s equivalent of Walt Disney, his main inspiration during his formative years.

In Japan, people of all ages and social backgrounds read manga – Japanese graphic novels and comics – while anime refers to Japanese animation, often adapted from manga series.

The main difference between manga and anime is how they are consumed – you read manga, but you watch anime. You may have already learned a bit about contemporary Japanese cinema last year when the 1st Japanese Film Festival was held in Zagreb as part of the Japan Croatia Film Festival project, which began in 2021 with the aim of connecting Croatia and Japan through cinema.

The Japanese Film Festival will be held in September in Zagreb, and the Croatian Film Festival in Tokyo in November. The festival has been recognised as an important cultural event, receiving formal support from the Japanese Embassy in Croatia and the Croatian Embassy in Japan.

This year’s Japanese Film Festival, taking place from 21 to 23 September at the Kaptol Boutique Cinema in Zagreb, will present eight Japanese films to local audiences, including five feature films and three short films. Among these are three anime films – two feature-length and one short – which are the main attractions of the 2nd Japanese Film Festival.

Edouard Tripković Katayama, president of the Japan Croatia Society, the festival’s organiser, expressed his delight that leading Japanese manga and anime film production companies have recognised this festival as a prime event for showcasing their films to the Croatian market.

Fans of Japanese animation in Croatia will be particularly well catered for.

One of the festival’s highlights introduces us to what is probably the most famous anime and manga character in Japan and around the world – Doraemon, a blue robotic cat without ears, who pulls various inventions from his pocket to help his friends overcome challenges.

Doraemon has shaped and influenced generations of Japanese people. The festival will screen the latest Doraemon feature film, the 43rd in the series, which was released in March this year.

Another anime film features the popular character Black Jack – a genius doctor who always manages to save the day. However, even more significant than the character is his creator, the legendary cartoonist Osamu Tezuka, known as the God of Manga and the Father of Anime. Tezuka, often referred to as Japan’s Walt Disney, was a major influence during his formative years. Edouard Katayama Tripković, the president of the Japan Croatia Society, had the honour of meeting Tezuka when he visited Zagreb as a jury member for Animafest.

The third anime, The Monster of Despair, is a short film particularly noteworthy because it was entirely created by one person: Junya Kotani. He single-handedly wrote, directed, drew, animated, edited, and produced the film, with the only external contribution being the music.

While the Japanese Film Festival is focusing on promoting anime films, audiences will also have the chance to see the live-action film 189, which will open the festival. This social drama, released in 2021, is named after the phone number for reporting domestic violence in Japan. Despite the growing issue, the service has been poorly promoted, and few people know it exists.

The festival will also feature two other feature-length films: Talking Photo Studio (2024), a family drama about a former photographer who inherits a photo studio, and Amiko, which explores Japanese mentality through the well-known proverb “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down”, highlighting how individualism is not socially accepted, with conformity being encouraged, although the young girl Amiko dares to stand out.

Additionally, two short films will be screened. Happiness Index (9 min, 2024) tells the story of a regular boy living an ordinary life until he starts to see how happy others are in a rather unusual way. Shoe Enthusiast (15 min, 2023) is a short film about the importance of doing what we love.

This year, many cultural exchange activities are taking place between Croatia and Japan.

The Japan Croatia Film Festival will introduce visitors to both countries through various film genres, providing an opportunity to appreciate the cinematic arts of both nations and to forge new friendships and connections.

Tickets for the festival are already on sale and can be purchased online via the website japancroatia.org or at the event venue – Kaptol Boutique Cinema (Nova Ves 17, Kaptol Centre).

PROGRAMME

Saturday, 21 September 2024
17:30-18:15 – Opening Ceremony
18:20-20:10 – 189 (Social drama, 109 min.)
20:20-22:15 – Doraemon: Nobita’s Symphony of Earth (Anime, 115 min.)

Sunday, 22 September 2024
18:00-19:33 – Black Jack (Anime, 93 min.)
20:00-21:45 – Amiko (Fiction, 104 min.)

Monday, 23 September 2024
18:00-20:01 – Talking Photo Studio (Family drama, 121 min.)
20:30-22:45 – Shoe Enthusiast (Fiction, 15 min.)
21:00-21:09 – Happiness Index (Fiction, 9 min.)
21:30-22:00 – The Monster of Despair (Anime, 30 min.)