Press screening held the night before, with Director Yoshimasa Ishibashi, Director Mitsuhito Shiraha and Festival President Tetsuya Bessho
Tetsuya Bessho makes an opening speech to the audience
Posters of past editions are being displayed in the foyer of the theater
Festival Director Seigo Tono discusses with Director Shiraha
For many people, it was first time watching short films in Osaka
SSFF & ASIA 2013 in OSAKA Report Day 1
The first day of “SSFF & ASIA 2013 in Osaka” kicked off today at Knowledge Theater of Knowledge Capital, in Grand Front Osaka with the presence of Tetsuya Bessho, President of the festival. Bessho welcomed the audience by saying, "I hope this screening in Osaka will be the beginning of a new visual culture in Osaka." He explained also about how audience can watch short films in the theater. "Short films are made with the love of passionate filmmakers. If you like the film, please make an applause for the respect of these filmmakers."
There are three programs at this Osaka festival, including the Grand-Prix and other award-winning shorts from the Tokyo festival that took place last month in Harajuku, Tokyo. on the evening screening,
Director Mitsuhito Shiraha, a prominent filmmaker based in the Kansai region and the festival director of SSFF & ASIA, Seigo Tono joined the audience for a brief discussion panel, talking about short films from the programs. Director Shiraha said, "It was actually my first experience in watching short film on a big screen like this. I was amazed with the variety of topics that were portrayed on these shorts." Festival Director Tono was also surprised when he asked the audience how many of them were there for the first time short film viewing, and most of the audience raised their hands. Shiraha also made the comment, "The life portrayed in the shorts can be related to our lives, especially when watching the film like MASS OF MEN," referring to the real incident of last week in Takarazuka City, in which an angry citizen who put fire in the public office after arguing with social workers.
The festival will continue until tomorrow, so for those English speaking movie fans, please come and support the festival. All shorts will have subtitles.
For more information about the festival, please visit the website below.(in Japanese only)
http://kc-i.jp/shortshorts/