In honour of Philippines-Japan Friendship Month, EIGASAI’s 22nd edition runs from July 3 to August 25, 2019—with 17-full-feature films of varying genres selected for more than 135 screenings across seven major cities nationwide. Expect a variety of film genres—romance, comedy, action/adventure, horror, mystery, feature, historical dramas and all-time favourite anime films to complete this year’s lineup.
This year’s opening film features Samurai Marathon directed by Bernard Rose, based on Akihiro Dobashi's novel Bakumatsu Marathon Samurai about the Ansei Tooashi, known as Japan's first marathon.
Annaka feudal lord Katsuakira Itakura (Hiroki Hasegawa) holds a run across mountain roads to get his samurai warriors into shape. However, the Bakufu central government views it as a rebellion and dispatches assassins to the castle. Meanwhile, Annaka domain accountant Jinnai Karasawa (Takeru Satoh) senses that something is amiss with the Bakufu. Japan’s renowned actor Takeru Satoh gives a subtle and stirring performance as the lead actor, providing action-filled, energetic experience for audiences.
Together with the Cultural Centre of the Philippines (CCP), the Japan Foundation’s continued support towards independent filmmakers brings another Japanese independent film to Manila: Lying to Mom, winner of the Best Film Award at the 31st Tokyo International Film Festival’s Independent Japanese Cinema category. The film is a drama mixed with humor depicting a family attempting to recover from sorrow. Katsumi Nojiri, who worked as an assistant director on The Great Passage and The Lies She Loved, among others, makes his directorial debut with his own original script.
Director Katsumi Nojiri will be present at the Philippine premiere of Lying to Mom on August 3 at CCP during the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, an allied festival of EIGASAI since 2016.
Screening venues are scheduled in Metro Manila, Tacloban, Legazpi, Iloilo, Davao, Pangasinan and Cebu: Red Carpet Cinema, Shangri-La Plaza (July 3-14), Robinsons Place Tacloban (July 18-21), SM City Legazpi (July 18-21), SM City Iloilo (July 25-28), Abreeza Mall Davao (August 1-4), Cultural Center of the Philippines (August 2-11), SM City Rosales, Pangasinan (August 8-11), Cine Adarna, UPFI (August 14-17), Ayala Center Cebu (August 15-18), and Gateway Cineplex, Cubao (August 22-25).