A firm favorite here at ScreenAnarchy, each year sees the assembled masses of Tokyo's more out-there and alternative filmmakers make the trip up to Hokkaido and descend on the tiny snow covered town for five days of blood, guts, sex, and violence, whilst also catching the odd film or two.
While the program is a real mixed bag that sees established filmmakers mingling with hard-grafting independents looking to find an audience for their work, there's always something special to be found. In the Special Invitation program Matsuo Suzuki's A Farewell To Jinu and Miki Takahiro's Have A Song On Your Lips will represent Japan alongside big name Hollywood fare that has yet to be released in Japan.
It's not about the major releases however, at Yubari it's best to get your hands dirty digging through the good, the bad and the ugly to uncover a gem or two amidst the snow. With that being said, here are some of the most exciting prospects on offer at the festival.
A Farewell to Jinu (dir. Matsuo Suzuki 2015)
Matsuo Suzuki’s fifth film, and his first since 2007’s Welcome to the White Room, has been honored with opening the festival on the evening of the 19th.
The film stars Matsuda Ryuhei as Take, a banker who develops a phobia towards money and moves to a small, isolated village in an attempt to start a new cash-free life. Devoid of amenities but populated by a quirky population of local oddballs, Take must learn to deal with the eccentric residents if he’s to succeed in his new existence.
Based on a manga series by Igarashi Mikio, this comedy-drama is getting its world premier at Yubari.
Haruko's Paranormal Activity (dir. Takeba Lisa, 2015)
Takeba Lisa walked away with the Grand Prix in the Fantastic Off Theatre Competition at last year’s festival thanks to her charmingly quirky feature film debut The Pinkie. Taking home the cash prize and a promise to put it towards her next film, Takeba has delivered bringing along sophomore effort Haruko's Paranormal Laboratory.
Having already played in Rotterdam last month the film gets its Japan premiere here. The fantastical story of a girl, Haruko, who falls in love with her TV set which transforms into a man, the film looks every bit as delightfully off-kilter as the director’s previous effort.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (dir. Alejandro González Iñárritu 2014)
Japan has always been last to the party when it comes to Hollywood offerings, and so Yubari offers local residents the chance to get a first look at the films that will be making it big in cinemas over the coming months. There’s a fine selection of foreign product, and coincidentally, some of the biggest Oscar contenders, in the Special Invitation category this year with The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, Chef, and Closing Film Into The Woods. While it would be a shame to spend your time in Yubari watching stuff that will go on general release when there’s so much here that will likely never see the light of day again, I’ll be finding the time to catch Birdman.
The Maidroid (dir. No Zin-soo 2015)
There'll no doubt be more than a couple of pink films around the festival but this one comes from Korea and features Aino Kishi, star of Kekko Kamen, Samurai Princess and numerous adult works. The story concerns a lovelorn geek who one day receives a beautiful housemaid robot in the mail. Director No Zin-soo’s fantasy comedy is playing in Competition which suggests there may be something more to this tale of a man’s desire, love and setbacks.
Dawn (dir. Kawamura Kiyoto 2014)
Takeda Rina broke onto the movie scene in High Kick Girl! Thanks to her black belt karate skills. She’s regularly taken on action-orientated roles in the likes of Karate Girl, Kunoichi and Iguchi Noboru’s Dead Sushi, before slowing down the pace and earning accolades for her appearance in festival favorite The Tale of Iya. The actress was present at Yubari last year with two films, Danger Dolls and School Girl’s Gestation; always one to watch, she’s back again with Dawn.
In a film by Kawamura Kiyoto, Takeda stars as Haru, a women in a stale marriage with a man she met when she was a student and he was a teacher. When her husband is killed in a car accident one night, Haru discovers that he was on his way to meet another woman, a student at the school where her husband worked…
Haman (dir. Okabe Tetsuya 2015)
Not a lot of info on this one but it's the tragedy of a girl turning into a monster and according to the director, “Life, Sex and Love underlie this dark fantasy film.” It’s the debut feature of experienced assistant director Okabe Tetsuya who has worked with the likes of Miike Takashi, Nakamura Yoshihiro and Yamashita Nobuhiro.
Kirimi and the Merman (dir. Kobayashi Devi 2015)
Director Kobayashi Devi is an established favorite at Yubari having won the Audience Award in 2009 with Obake no Mariko and again in 2013 with Banana Vs. Peach. Described as a ‘sidesplitting’ comedy, his latest stars Katakuri Waka as bad girl Kirimi who loses her brother in the March 11th disaster. Assuming the merman to be her brother she takes it home to live with her. The film co-stars Okuno Eita, soon to be seen in Sono Shion’s Love and Peace.
The Yellow Handkerchief (dir. Yamada Yoji 1977)
The festival pays its respects to legendary actor Takakura Ken, who sadly passed away last November, with a screening of this 1977 Yamada Yoji road movie classic. Takakura plays Yusaku, a murderer fresh out of jail and on his way home to Hokkaido where his wife may or may not be waiting for him. Ending up in a car with a young broken hearted man and a girl he has picked up, the youngsters travel across country unaware of their hitchhikers secret.