Camera Japan opens with Alien's Daydream

With a diverse programme of more than 50 films, ranging from the best and latest Japanese arthouse, animation, documentaries, short films, classics and special screenings. As well as focusing on visual arts, music, dance and food, Camera Japan is once again a perfect destination for lovers of Japan.

The nineteenth edition begins on 25 September with an unofficial kick-off at WORM with the special screening of Alien's Daydream. The festive opening will be on Thursday 26 September at LantarenVenster with a performance by Japanese percussionists Sakaue Akira and Otani Kanako and the Dutch premiere of One Second Ahead, One Second Behind, directed by attendee Yamashita Nobuhiro.

One Second Ahead, One Second Behind is not Nobuhiro's only film at the festival. In total, the festival is screening no less than five (!) films by this hard-working Japanese filmmaker. Besides the aforementioned opening film, they are: Confession, Ghost Cat Anzu, Let's Go Karaoke! and Swimming in a Sand Pool.

With five international and seven European premieres, the festival has a particularly exclusive and international programme. For instance, Afterschool Anglers Club, Gifts from the Kitchen, Promised Land, Sin and Evil and Till the Day I Can Laugh About my Blues will be screened outside Japan's borders for the first time.

For anime fans, the colourful The Colors Within, the award-winning Ghost Cat Anzu, the magical The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes and the darker Who Said Death Is Beautiful? will be shown in the Netherlands for the first time. Of course, the annual Animation Shorts will also be back.

The festival not only provides a stage for the latest Japanese films, but visitors can also dive back into history. This year's retrospective is dedicated to Masumura Yasuzo. The festival will screen five restored films, including All Mixed Up, which recently had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

True to tradition, this year Rotterdam will again feature a silent film with live music. Ito Daisuke's A Diary of Chuji's Travels will be uniquely accompanied by the Rotterdam Kinematic Ensemble.

Workshops and more

Besides film, CAMERA JAPAN also focuses on other Japanese (visual) arts, culture and food. Thus, festival visitors can let their creativity run wild during workshops on traditional instruments (koto), Japanese paper (washi), woodworking (kumiko), various ceramics workshops, making mochis and onigiris, among others. Finally, you can immerse yourself in the Japanese language at the ONK Japanese Language Festival. Also, interesting exhibitions, the traditional film brunch and the Kids Day.