[Report] Screening of Japanese short films at Kaohsiung Film Festival in Taiwan
The annual Kaohsiung Film Festival (KFS) is hosted by Kaohsiung Film Archive with support from the second largest city in Taiwan, City of Kaohsiung. At the festival, a line-up of international feature films and short films are presented to local audiences.
KFS and SSFF & ASIA have been collaborating via the exchange of programs since 2010. This year, Japanese short films selected from SSFF & ASIA 2015 were introduced, including the Japan Competition Best Short Award winner, “Kerama Blue,” directed by Tsukasa Kishimoto. Other films included in the program were “A Warm Spell,” “Dance Dance Dance” “Let’s go home!” and “Love Divine!”
Audience voting at the venue
Kishimoto and SSFF & ASIA staff participated in the Q&A session following the second screening, held on 29th October, which was totally sold out.
The Q&A kicked off with many questions from the audience. Questions included: “Why did the director decide to shoot the film in Okinawa?,” “How was it shooting a film where the script is written in three languages?” and so on. In turns out that actually all the actors in the film are fluent in Japanese, so the communication between the actors and crew was mostly in Japanese.
One woman asked the director if there is a difference between the Kerama Islands you see in the film, and the islands in reality. Kishimoto answered that the ocean is stunning, and that although there are some modern buildings in certain areas, you will find that the islands are richly endowed with nature. He also suggested that she come and see for herself.
In addition, Kishimoto talked about his reason for choosing “the ocean” as the theme of the film. He explained that it is because the ocean is where human beings can be naked – without borders or language.
The festival held at Kaohsiung Film Archive / Q&A session → Director Kishimoto in the middle
The audience formed a long line in waiting for the director’s autograph after the screening. Here the director enjoyed communicating with local audiences.
Long line of audience members waiting for the director’s autograph
Audience members take pictures with the director after the screening
There will be another screening on Monday November 2nd.
Kaohsiung Fim Festival website:
http://www.kff.tw/ehome02.ASPX?ID=2
https://www.facebook.com/TaiwanKFF