Virtual New York Japan CineFest 2022 Film Festival

ABOUT

Join us for a virtual festival featuring short films from some of the most exciting voices in Japanese cinema! Registration is open now. In addition to the festival's main lineup featuring over 20+ short films, the JICC, Embassy of Japan has a curated collection of festival highlights available below.

New York Japan CineFest (NYJCF), now in its eleventh year, is a film festival of short films from up-and-coming filmmakers in Japanese cinema. It has been presented in New York City at the Asia Society and since 2015 has expanded by holding screenings around the U.S. and in Japan. The festival focuses on highlighting independent filmmakers in Japanese cinema and their unique, creative visions. For more information about this year's JICC festival highlights, see below.

JICC HIGHLIGHTS

⚠️ Please note that some films may be Not Rated. Viewer discretion is advised.

just another summer day | ただの夏の日の話

When she woke up, with her body feeling so heavy, she couldn’t remember a single thing from the night before. Not where she was nor what she did. The only hints she had were the view from the window, showcasing a city that didn’t seem to be Tokyo, and a middle-aged man sleeping besides her. The girl, Hizuki, had no memories of why she came to Kiryu with him. ‘Just’ a summer day with that man was about to start.

In Japanese with English Subs | Japan | 2021 | Not Rated | 25 min | Slice-of-life | Directed by MATSUOKA Yoshika

Mare

In a world which became a wasteland of toxic gas, there's a painter who lives in isolated shelter. He draws paintings of oceans. Why does he make these paintings? What happened to the world? This is a story about our near future, with environmental pollution and sheltered life.

In Japanese with English Subs | Japan | 2022 | Not Rated | 8 min | Animation, Sci-Fi | Directed by ISHIDA Tamaki & KAWABE Akito

MaTcH

An old Japanese mother, Haruko comes to Tokyo from Osaka to see her 30 years old son, Shuji. Her purpose of the visit is setting up a matchmaking for him because he is still a single man. However, Shuji already uses a matching app to find his partner. On the other hand, Haruko cannot trust the app, so she tries to convince him quit using it. There is a huge gap occurs in between the parent and child.

In Japanese with English Subs | Japan | 2022 | Not Rated | 20 min | Drama, Family | Directed by KATSUYAMA Masaki

Mi

This film is the journey of father and son. Zak, the composer told me this composition was inspired by his then-2 year old son, and wanted to make this film about the young son entering into this unknown world, and him being a guide, as best as a father could be. In this film, I pursue capturing these memories and feelings of being a father.

In Japanese with English Subs | Japan | 2022 | Not Rated | 5 min | Animation, Family | Directed by NAKAMURA Masayoshi

Siblings | ふたり〜あなたという光

Nozomi is an older sister who has a younger sister, Kie with mental disability and has not revealed Kie’s existence to her lover, Takashi. One day, Takashi gets confused when he was informed of Kie when he proposes to her. From there, they face one after another the worries peculiar to her family with disability, despairing in her life far from "normal", and she tries to give up her marriage to Takashi. However, something happens which made her reconsider her own life.

In Japanese with English Subs | Japan | 2021 | Not Rated | 40 min | Drama, Family | Directed by SATO Yoko

Submittan

In the future city of Submittan, people over 80 years old are forced into 'retirement' to a remote mountain area, as the city deals with increased population. The burden falls on the shoulder of an immigrant artist, who is tasked to design a propaganda poster to convince citizens of this new registration.

In Japanese with English Subs | Japan | 2022 | Not Rated | 19 min | Sci-Fi, Drama | Directed by KIMURA Susumu

The Voice Actress

Kingyo, a veteran voice actress working in Tokyo, possesses a unique ability to see the soul in all things, living and inanimate. The voice acting world is changing and Kingyo must find a way to reconcile her way of living with the modern industry.

In Japanese with English Subs | Japan | 2022 | Not Rated | 15 min | Drama, Fantasy | Directed by Anna J. Takayama