By Chinami Daima
The North American Post
The annual Seattle International Film Festival will show about 480 films from May 19 to June 12 including seven Japanese films and five short movies featuring various themes.
“A Bride for Rip Van Winkle,” directed by Shunji Iwai, will be shown at 9:30 p.m. on May 24 and 3 p.m. on May 26 at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian. The heroine is played by Hana Kuroki, who won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2014.
“Creepy,” directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, will be shown at 3:30 p.m. on June 3 and at 8:45 p.m. on June 11 at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian and at 8 p.m. on June 7 at the Kirkland Performance Center. The movie includes noted actors and actresses such as Hidetoshi Nishijima, Yuko Takeuchi and Haruna Kawaguchi.
“Our Little Sister,” directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, will be shown at 6 p.m. on May 20 at SIFF Cinema Uptown Festival and at 8:30 p.m. on May 21 at Lincoln Square Cinemas. The warmhearted family drama was nominated at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
“Tsukiji Wonderland” directed by Naotaro Endo will be shown at 6 p.m. on May 31 at the SIFF Cinema Uptown Festival and at 6:30 p.m. on June 2 at Lincoln Square Cinemas. The world-premiere documentary was shot in Tsukiji, the biggest wholesale seafood market in the world, and closely covers the people working there throughout the year. It also shows the passion they have for Japanese food culture.
“We Are X,” directed by Stephen Kijak. will be shown at 8:30 p.m. on June 5 at the Ark Lodge Cinemas and at 9:30 p.m. on June 8 at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian, featuring the Japanese rock band X Japan.
“Tag,” directed by Sion Sono, will be shown at 11:55 a.m. on May 27 and at 9:30 p.m. on June 2 at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian and at 9:30 p.m. on June 7 at the SIFF Cinema Uptown Festival.
“While the Women Are Sleeping,” directed by Wayne Wang from Hong Kong, will be shown at 11 a.m. on May 27 and at 9:30 p.m. on June 2 at the AMC Pacific Place 11 and at 8:30 p.m. on June 6 at the Kirkland Performance Center.
“The Lasting Persimmon,” “Moom,” “Cassette Girl,” “Don’t Tell Mom” and “Track” are Japanese short films that will be shown during the festival.
More information including a parental guide can be found at www.siff.net/festival-2016.
