The 3rd annual Shinsedai Cinema Festival runs from July 21st to 24th in Toronto. In addition to an exciting selection of independent feature films, the programme also features a screening of Keita Kurosaka’s masterpiece Midori-ko (2010) and the CALF Animation Special. It’s an amazing opportunity for Torontonians to see some of the best in recent indie Japanese animation.
Featured guests of the festival this year include actress and producer Kiki Sugino, star of the opening night film Hospitalité. Actor, director, comedian Devi Kobayashi will be on hand to present a double bill of his quirky comedies (Mariko Rose the Spook/ Hikari). 15-year-old film-making prodigy Ryugo Nakamura will presenting the North American premiere of his drama The Catcher on the Shore. All guests will be participating in post-screening Q&A’s and all of their films will be competing for the very first Kobayashi Audience Award.
To learn more about the indie animation in the programme, you can read my reviews of Midori-ko, its opening film Man Eater Mountain, and the CALF Animation Special. Individual reviews for most of the films featured in the CALF Animation Special can also be found on this site.
Thursday, July 21st
Hospitalité – 7:00PM Reception
- 8:00PM Screening
Friday, July 22nd
Shirome – 7:00PM
Midori-ko (w/ Man-eater Mountain) – 9:00PM
Saturday, July 23rd
Azemichi Road – 12:00PM
Kid Commotion (w/ live sound foley) 2:30PM
Footed Tadpoles – 4:00PM
The Catcher on the Shore – 6:00PM
Wandering Home – 8:00PM
Sunday, July 24th
CALF Animation Special – 1:00PM
KanZeOn – 3:00PM
Devi Kobayashi Special – 5:00PM
Sawako Decides – 7:00PM
