Film, Art, Music and More 24 MAY - 7 JUNE 2006
Amsterdam / Den Haag / Rotterdam

• NEWS
• MAIN PROGRAMME
• RETROSPECTIVE IWAI SHUNJI
• NIPPON CONNECTION ON TOUR
• SIDE PROGRAMME
• SCHEDULES
• CAMERA JAPAN

CAMERA JAPAN 2006

After two exciting weeks in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Den Haag the first edition of CAMERA JAPAN has finished successfully and we want to send a big 'Domo Arigato' to everyone who helped and supported us. We are all still pretty tired, but already full of new ideas for the future.

Also our audience has chosen their favourite films and the top three are:
1. Hi-Bi: Days of Fire - TAKAHASHI Banmei
2. Pom Poko - TAKAHATA Isao
3. Waterboys - YAGUCHI Shinobu

For some festival impressions, please check our CAMERA JAPAN photo diary.

See you in 2007!

SURPRISE CLOSING FILM ANNOUNCED!!
HIBI: DAYS OF FIRE

Hi-Bi was voted the third place by the audience at "Nippon Connection" in Frankfurt, the biggest Japanese filmfestival outside of Japan. [www.nipponconnection.de]

Shohei Imamura dies at the age of 79

"I am interested in the relationship of the lower part of the human body and the lower part of the social structure on which the reality of daily Japanese life obstinately supports itself." "The Japanese did not change as a result of the Pacific War — they haven't changed in thousands of years! "

— Shohei Imamura

Renowned Japanese film virtuoso Shohei Imamura died of cancer on May 30th at 15.49.

He is most known as the two-time Palme d’or winner at Cannes ("Ballad of Narayama" - Narayama Bushiko: 1983, "Eel" - Unagi: 1997)

Shohei Imamura's films dig beneath the surface of Japanese society to reveal a wellspring of sensual, often irrational, energy that lies beneath. Along with his friends, Imamura began his serious directorial career as a member of the New Wave movement in Japan. Imamura moved away from the subtlety and understated nature of the classical masters to a celebration of the primitive and spontaneous aspects of Japanese life. To explore this level of Japanese consciousness, Imamura focuses on the lower classes, with characters who range from bovine housewives to shamans, and from producers of blue movies to troupes of third-rate travelling actors. He has proven himself unafraid to explore themes usually considered taboo, particularly those of incest and superstition.

Coincidentally, his award winning film "Eel" (Unagi) will be screened at Lantaren-Venster as part of "Japanse Klassiekers" following CAMERA JAPAN. (Sun 25.06 / 14:30; Mon 26.06, Tue 27.06, Wed 28.06 / 19:30)

So we will have the chance to pay a tribute to his master work.

Film Brunch

Opdat iedereen kan genieten van de heerlijke brunch van onze keukenprinses Catarina, begint de film "Sumo Do, Sumo Don't" om 11:30 i.p.v. 11:00. Reserveren aanbevolen!

So everyone can enjoy the delicious brunch prepared by Catarina, we are postponing the start time of the film "Sumo Do, Sumo Don't" from 11.00 to 11.30. The brunch is available from 10.00 on. There will be also "a tea break" during the film. Reservation is highly recommended.

Click here for the Menu

Jodo Demonstration at Lantaren / Venster, Sun 04.06, 19.30

Shoshinkan Dojo of Rotterdam will be demonstrating Jodo at the Lantaren / Venster, revealing the secrets of 400 years of Japanese swordsmanship.

DJ Krush performing on Wednesday, Wed 31.05 at Melkweg

Just in time for the closing evening of the Amsterdam section of CEMERA JAPAN, DJ Krush from Tokyo is performing at Melkweg Oude Zaal.

Newly added speakers to introduce films in Rotterdam

Mr. Tom Mes will give an introduction to HAZE (Fri 02.06, 21.45 ) at Lantaren / Venster and Mr. Luk Van Haute is scheduled to introduce The Glamorous Life of Sachiko Hanai (Sat 03.06, 21.00) and The Life of Oharu (Sun 04.06, 14.30) at Lantaren / Venster.