If flying ninjas and telenovellas are your cup of tea, then rejoice as two great international film festivals hit Sydney. The
18th Greek Film Festival appears from the 13th to 30th October and
The 15th Japanese Film Festival appears from the 17th to 27th November.
Erotic dramas, over-the-top comedies and touching documentaries all make the list this year. From blockbuster smashes to independent fan favourites, the festival programs offer something for everyone.
15th.japanesefilmfestival.net/
The Japanese festival has stories of samurai accountants, 400-year-old-ghosts and a world ruled by women. The festival also takes a wander through its history, with films such as
Yamakoshi: The Recovery of a Tiny Japanese Village, a timely documentary exploring the aftermath of the 2004 Great Chuetsu Earthquake and
Oba: The Last Samurai, the story of Captain Sakae Oba during the battle of Saipan in World War II, a theme rarely seen in Japanese film.
www.greekfilmfestival.com.au/
Many of the films in the Greek festival reflect the current economic and social turmoil of the nation. The opening film,
No Need For Lies tells the story of a newly appointed Minister of Health and Welfare and his spin doctor as they dupe the public in a series of misadventures.
Biloboa tells a tale of an international corporation with dubious intentions for the community of a small island and the documentary,
Shooting Vs Shooting, looks at the role of journalists in the Iraq War and the high cost of life many have paid to cover this news.
Japan and Greece have experienced a turbulent year, but have forged ahead by celebrating their culture and passion for the arts with some memorable 2011 releases. Whether confronting or hilarious, all the films in the festivals have been dutifully selected by passionate directors with a desire to support the film industry in their country and movie-goers have been given an opportunity to see films that would never get an Australian cinema release.
