Starting May 2nd and ending May 7th is the 6th edition of the Italian Cinema Festival in Tokyo which has become the most anticipated Italian cinema event in the country of the rising sun: over the years has been able to match the allure of a great event with a very commercial edge. Over half of the films screened during this event have eventually been bought for Japanese territories.
The Festival, organized by Filmitalia in partnership with Asahi Shimbun-the Japanese colossal editorial whose daily newspaper ranks second for the volume of copies in circulation- and in collaboration with the Italian Embassy and Italian Culture Institute in Tokyo, this year was granted the High Patronage of the Presidency of the Italian Republic, an official confirmation of the level of prestige this event has earned.
The event which began in the year 2001, in concurrence with the Italian year in Japan, is a key moment for our Film industry in the world’s second ranked International audiovisual market. Our own international market ranking third, after United States and France.
This event over the years, besides winning over the attention of the local Press and Japanese distributors, has seen the number of its spectators increase fivehold since its first edition, making last year’s edition reach a total of 12,000 people. r /> The 2006 edition will present a high profile selection of the most recent Italian productions: twelve films will be screened in the prestigious Asahi Hall open to the Japanese general public along with major Japanese film buyers and local press.
A large Italian film delegation accompanied by Giovanni Galoppi, the President of Filmitalia and Mr.Gaetano Blandini, the Head of the Italian Film Board-Direction Cinema Ministry of Cultural Heritage Activities will travel to Japan for this event, and be in attendance throughout the duration of the festival. The delegation will be composed of directors, actors, actresses and film producers: Marco Tullio Giordana, Giuseppe Piccioni, Sandra Ceccarelli, Barbora Bobulova, Maria Pia Calzone, Andrea Renzi e Dino Abbrescia and Umberto Massa.
Lastly, an added feature in this year’s Festival edition are 12 Shorts which have been selected in collaboration with the National Syndicate of Film Journalists (SGNC) . Each of these Shorts will be screened before each of the feature films