Yearly Calendar 2006
National Film Center Calendar (April, 2006 – March, 2007)
Cinema 1
Written by Kaneto Shindo
April 4 - May 28
Well known for ambitious films including The Island (1960), Kaneto Shindo (1912-) continues his significant contribution to the history of Japanese cinema as both scriptwriter and director. In order to pay respects to his filmmaking career that spans over 70 years, this program will show 67 films written by him. Lectures by Shindo himself are also planned.
Invitation to French Cinema Classics
June 6 - July 2
Co-organized with Institut Franco-Japonais de Tokyo, this program will showcase French classic films made between the 1920s and the 1950s from the NFC collection and put them in a new perspective.
Russian and Soviet Film Festival
July 4 - 30
One of the commemorative events of the Russian Cultural Festival 2006 in Japan, this program will show approximately 25 films. The diverse selection includes such films as the early masterpieces of Soviet cinema that triggered a new movement in the international cinematic art scene and very recent films that have been highly acclaimed in Russia. Visits by film directors from Russia are planned.
Cross-section of Japan's Cinematic Past, Part 1: Nikkatsu, Action!
August 1 - September 24
Since it re-started its production in 1954, Nikkatsu mass-produced action films which gave rise to stars such as Yujiro Ishihara and Akira Kobayashi who riveted the Japanese public's attention for many years. Highlighting the brilliant era of the Nikkatsu studio through its dynamic action films, this program will mark the first of the new series "Cross-section of Japan's Cinematic Past" that aims to demonstrate charms of Japanese cinema from various angles.
Australian Film Festival
October 3 - 29
Co-organized with the Australian Film Commission, this program will show approximately 30 films from 3 different eras, i.e., the silent era the representative work of which is The Sentimental Bloke (1919), the so-called "Australian Film Renaissance" of the 1970s when master directors such as Peter Weir started filmmaking, and recent titles.
Kenji Mizoguchi Retrospective
October 31 - November 16 / November 28 - December 27
Creator of a number of masterpieces including The Life of Oharu (1952) and Ugetsu (1953), Kenji Mizoguchi (1898-1956) holds a firm position in the history of cinema. By showing all of his extant films, this retrospective will seek to showcase the great cineaste Mizoguchi's talent in its entirety after 50 years since his demise. In conjunction with this retrospective, a symposium on Mizoguchi is scheduled in August.
The 7th Tokyo FILMeX: Kihachi Okamoto Retrospective
November 18 - 26
Following the successful Hiroshi Shimizu Retrospective (2003), Tomu Uchida Retrospective (2004) and Nobuo Nakagawa Retrospective (2005), this year NFC is co-organizing Kihachi Okamoto Retrospective with Tokyo FILMeX. Recently deceased Kihachi Okamoto (1924-2005), known for his sophisticated sense of humor especially in action and comedy films, is considered to be one of the innovators of Japanese cinema. All films will have English subtitles.
Cross-section of Japan's Cinematic Past, Part 2: Song and Dance Tradition
January 5 - February 4, 2007
Since the advent of talkie technologies, numerous music films including musical films have been made in Japan. This program will showcase a wide range of such music films including period drama "operetta" in the pre-war period, Toho's Businessman's musicals, and pop idol films.
Cinematographers of Japan, Part2
February 6 - March 31, 2007
Cinema is a collective art form made by numerous staff persons. Among them, cinematographers make the most direct contribution to the creation of the images within the frame. Following the "Part 1" in 2004, this program will throw light on the achievements of important cinematographers by screening the films in which they worked.
Cinema 2
Starting this year, a new series "KYOBASHI-ZA" that will mainly show films from the NFC collection will happen several times a year at Cinema 2. Program details will be announced through flyers and website.
Gallery
Pioneering Art Director: Hiroshi Mizutani at his Centenary
April 4 - May 28 / June 6 - September 24
Hiroshi Mizutani (1906-71) was one of the pioneering set designers in Japanese film industry. He had worked on silent films directed by Yasujiro Ozu, Shiro Toyoda and Minoru Murata before he became to be known as "art director" who was instrumental in achieving the artistic integrity of Kenji Mizoguchi's films, and thus, contributing to Mizoguchi's international acclaim. This exhibition will survey Mizutani's work through his sketches and personal items that have been donated to the Nationa Film Center.
Teinosuke Kinugasa: From Female Impersonator to Master Filmmaker
October 3 - November 16 / November 18 - December 27 / January 5 - March 31, 2007
Starting his film career as female impersonator in early Japanese cinema, Teinosuke Kinugasa (1896-1982) later became director whose directorial credits include a wide range of films such as experimental silent film A Page of Madness (1926), a number of period films starring Chojiro Hayashi, and Gate of Hell (1953) that won the grand prix at Cannes. It is fair to say that Kinugasa's contribution to Japanese cinema was exceptionally diverse and rich. This exhibition will survey his footsteps through film related materials left by Kinugasa.
The Japanese Film Heritage
Permanent Exhibition
From the Non-Film Collection of the National Film Center
This exhibition presents selected pieces from our collection of cinema-related materials including rare articles left by renowned cineastes and filmmaking devices from early days of cinema, as well as examples of important achievements in film preservation activities to provide a historical overview on the film preservation movement in Japan.
