Independencia

Philippines/France/Germany/Netherlands, Drama/Experimental, 2009, 77min. Dir: Raya Martin. Japan Premiere! Synopsis & UPAF Memo: Early 20th century Philippines. Sounds of war signal the arrival of the Americans. A mother and son flee to the mountains, hoping for a quiet life. One day, the son discovers a wounded woman in the middle of the forest, and brings her home. Years pass. Man, [Read more...]

Enter the Faun

USA, Documentary, 2015, 68min. Dir: Tamar Rogoff & Daisy Wright. Japan Premiere! Synopsis & UPAF Memo: The unlikely collaboration between a veteran choreographer and a young actor with cerebral palsy delivers astonishing proof that each and every body is capable of miraculous transformation. As Tamar Rogoff trains Gregg Mozgala to become a dancer, they discover that her lack of [Read more...]

The Master and Divino

Brazil, documentary, 2013, 85min. Dir: Tiago Campos. A Vídeo nas Aldeias production. Japan Premiere! Synopsis & UPAF Memo: Two filmmakers portray life in the village and mission of Sangradouro, Mato Grosso: Adalbert Heide, an eccentric German missionary, who soon after contact with the Indians in 1957, starts to film with his Super-8 camera; and Divino Tserewahu, a young Xavante filmmaker, [Read more...]

The Figurine: Araromire

Nigeria, drama, 2009, 120min. Dir: Kunle Afolayan. Western Japan Premiere!  Synopsis & UPAF Memo:  The Figurine is a story of two friends and a girl.  All down on their luck, their lives change when one of them discovers 'Araromire' a mysterious figurine in an abandoned shrine which, according to legend bestows seven years of good luck. But no one told them about the next seven [Read more...]

Perfumed Nightmare

The Philippines, docu-drama-essay film fusion, 16mm, 95min, 1977. Original title: Mababangong Bangungot. Dir: Kidlat Tahimik. Chugoku-region Premiere! Kidlat in person & guest talk on 8/21 Sunday evening !! <from Harvard Film Archive> “With his first film, the former Eric de Guia not only debuted his nom du cinéma, Kidlat Tahimik (meaning ‘quiet lightning’ in Tagalog), but also its [Read more...]

Nosotras Ellas

Argentina, documentary, 65min, 2015. (English title: Us Women. Them Women) Dir: Julia Pesce. Western Japan Premiere! A family of nine women of various ages, all living under the same roof. As one of the elders comes to the end of her days, a young body gives birth to new life. Life is transferred as if each is a part of all the others: the intimate and sensuous world of women. Special Prize at [Read more...]