Japanese Short Films ＆ Sake paring nights in Basel Konomi Festival
Konomi Festival is held annually in Basel, Switzerland, to promote Japanese restaurant & bar culture and the unique Japanese sense of aesthetics in the city. This year, SSFF & ASIA will be presenting a selection of Japanese short films, paired with sake.
On Wednesday, April 2 from 6:30pm – 8:00pm, four short films will offer a glimpse into Japanese food, culture, values and philosophy of life, while on Friday 4 April from 18:30 – 20:00, four special short films with the theme ‘Tokyo’ will be screened, touching on exciting insights into Japanese society.
The venue is the Stadt Kino Basel cinema in Basel.
Each day will be accompanied by a special selection of four exquisite Japanese sakes, each of which highlights the theme and mood of the film.
Date and time: Wednesday 2 and Friday 4 April, 18:30-20:00.
Venue: StadtKino Basel (Klostegasse 5)
■Tickets: 55 CHF each day (screening programme + 4 types of sake included)
Wednesday, April 2 https://eventfrog.ch/de/p/freizeit-ausfluege/film-kino/japanischer-kurzfilm-trifft-auf-sake-kulinarik-konomi-7298655276558725378.html
Friday, April 4 https://eventfrog.ch/de/p/freizeit-ausfluege/film-kino/japanischer-kurzfilm-trifft-auf-sake-tokyo-konomi- 7298659421189594452.html
■Konomi Festival official website: https://www.konomi.ch/ (in German)
＜Wed, April 2, 6:30pm- Kulinarik Program：Lineups＞
『Passing the Baton』
Director：Toko Shiiki/21:12/USA, Japan/Non-Fiction/2018
Niida-Honke is a family-owned sake brewery in Fukushima. While finishing a brand new series of organic sake for their 300th anniversary, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant exploded. With no radiation detected in their products, Yasuhiko Niida decided to persevere. He continues to rebuild the community and the village’s bright future for the children.
『Becoming Yamazushi』
監督：G Yamazawa/14:00/U.S.A./Non-Fiction/2022
A Japanese-American rapper from North Carolina discovers how art can champion cultural liberation as he takes us on the poetic journey of Yamazushi.
『KUNG-FU SKATEBOARDER』
Director：
Shoyo Miyao/10:27/Japan/Drama/2021
Daisuke, a former skateboarding Olympic contender, has given up on his dream and has no choice but to take over his late father’s Chinese restaurant. One day, after a collision with a skateboarder, his memories suddenly come flooding back…
『Shabu-Shabu Spirit』
Director：Yuki Saito/10:32/Japan / Comedy/2015
A fiancé goes to meet the family, and Shozo’s secret appraisal begins – a test to see whether this fiancé is worthy or not of marrying his daughter. Trying to reduce the distance between them, the mother prepares a single nabe (cooking pot) for the shabu-shabu. As Shozo’s eyes glint brightly, Keita reaches towards the shabu-shabu.
＜Fri, April 4, 6:30pm- Tokyo Proogram：Lineups＞
『Light of Intricate Pattern』
Director：Shoji Yasui/21:36/JapaDramama/2024
Yuri appreciates her son Kazuma’s passion of figures, but worries about his ability to get along with the group.
Yuri, who works as a writer, visits Edo Kiriko glass atelier to cover an article. Through the lessons she learns from the father and son artisans she meets during her interview, she begins to think about respecting Kazuma and developing his potential.
『Perfect Strangers』
Director：Daisuke Kamiijo/25:00/Japan/Drama/2022
Uta’s life takes a sudden turn when her father reveals that her mother is alive. Determined to find her, she heads to Shinjuku only to be rejected. At a loss, Uta wanders the streets, meets a girl, and learns about her mother’s secret through this encounter.
『Wish on a cocktail』
Director：Shinya Kawakami / 17:33 / Japan / Drama / 2019
Hozumi is widower. He meets the Kondos at a bar, and is intrigued when they make a wish before drinking their hoppy cocktails. Hozumi decides to give it a shot. His wish? “I want to meet my wife on more time…”
『Pay Phone 702』
Director：Kevin D’Angelo/4:20/Japan・U.S.A./Drama/2021
A young woman’s favorite pay phone goes missing.