SHORT SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL & ASIA 2015

For our early evening screening of Asia International & Japan Program B, 3 short films were represented by directors & cast from China, Singapore & Japan.

1st up was the delightful Tingerine Liu whose short “Dinosaur Rider” is a raucous story of  a punk rock band struggling in current, modern China & it was not only entertaining but a very very interesting inside look at the rock music scene. She told the audience that nowadays it’s possible for young entrepreneurs to open a CD shop/bar/live house, one of which is the setting for this rock ‘n’ roll short film.

Next up was director Kai Chang from Singapore whose short “I Never Lie” is a gentle sweet tale of an elderly man making new memories for his wife who is suffering from dementia. He was kind enough to share that the story was inspired by his grandparents  & wanted to make a film about how love can conquer all. Beautifully shot, written & directed.

Finally we had  director Toshimichi Saito for his short film “A Warm Spell” who brought his 4 of his cast to the screening & Q&A. Up & coming actor Shinnosuke Fukushima was the lead as Nao, a young man working in his family owned post office in a small rural village & who has to face the death of his mother & the arrival for the funeral of his estranged brother Masanobu played by veteran actor Makiya Yamaguchi. The catalyst of the story though was played by the beautiful & more importantly very talented actress Wakana Matsumoto as the mysterious “Post Office customer” who enters the brothers’ lives & becomes the catalyst of the story. The cast was rounded out by Taiju Nakane as Nao’s childhood friend. This is absolutely a stunning short film & without revealing too much of the story, Wakana Matsumoto’s turn as the mysterious figure who brings the brothers back together in unexpected ways was a revelation & I definitely know that we’ll be seeing more of her very soon. Highly recommended!

DJ John