When the Curtain Rises In honor of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month, the EIGASAI’s 21st edition will run from July 4 to August 26, 2018 with 15 full-feature films of diverse genres selected for more than 100 screenings across five major cities nationwide.

EIGASAI 2018 officially kicks off with the encore screenings of the live-action film adaptation of Yuki Suetsugu’s manga series Chihayafuru, at Greenbelt 1 Cinema 2 on July 4. The Opening Night Gala will be held on the same day at the Greenbelt 5 Gallery, graced by this year’s opening film director Nori Koizumi, who is also scheduled to give Director’s Talks on July 6 at the Ateneo de Manila University and July 7 at Greenbelt 1 Cinema 2.

EIGASAI brings another Japanese independent film to Manila, entitled Of Love & Law. This documentary film is about a couple who operates Japan’s first openly gay firm. It won the Best Film Award at the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival’s Independent Japanese Cinema category. Director Hikaru Toda will be present at the Philippine premier on August 4 at CCP during the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, an allied festival of EIGASAI.

A film screening of Japanese playwright-director Oriza Hirata’s Manila Notes will also be held. The original play has since been translated into 15 different languages and this particular collaboration will be Tanghalang Pilipino’s third play for its 32nd season, which opens on November 30, 2018. EIGASAI invited Oriza Hirata to give a one-time special talk during the EIGASAI at CCP Dream Theater on August 17 along with the screening of When the Curtain Rises, an adaptation of his novel about a high school drama club in a provincial town.

With strong interest in Japan’s martial arts and Samurai culture, the Japan Foundation, Manila also brings one of the greatest films ever made – Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai to be screened at the UP Film Institute – Cine Adarna leg of EIGASAI in August, to coincide with The Spirit of Budo: The History of Japan’s Martial Arts exhibition which will be held at the National Museum of the Philippines from July 21 to September 26.

Completing the line-up are nine more films with English subtitles that were carefully selected by the Japan Foundation Asia Center and the Japan Foundation Manila.

Tora-san in Goto “The EIGASAI has grown into one of the largest international film festivals in the Philippines, attracting more than 26,000 viewers last year. Film is a fascinating and powerful medium that journeys across borders and inspires all walks of life. Celebrating the Philippine-Japan Friendship Month, and as part of the Japan Foundation, Manila’s commitment to promote art and cultural exchange between the Philippines and Japan, we are pleased to showcase once again the best of contemporary and classic Japanese films. We hope Filipinos enjoy accessing and experiencing Japanese culture through films, and also expand understanding through several talks organized in collaboration with the Japan Foundation’s theater, exhibition and dialogue projects,” shared Hiroaki Uesugi, Director of the Japan Foundation, Manila.

Survival Family Screening venues are scheduled in Manila, Cebu, Davao, Bacolod and Naga: Greenbelt 1 Cinema 2, Makati City (July 4-8), Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City (July 4-6), CCP Complex, Pasay City (August 4, 5 during Cinemalaya and August 17), Cinematheque Centre Manila, Ermita, Manila (August 5), UP Film Institute – Cine Adarna, UP Diliman, Quezon City (August 15-18), SM City Davao Cinema, Davao City (July 12-15), SM City Naga Cinema, Naga City (July 27-29), SM City Bacolod Cinema, Bacolod City (August 9-12), and Ayala Center Cebu Cinema, Cebu City (August 23-26). Another EIGASAI SpinOff in the regions maybe organized later in the fiscal year.

Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis, except screenings at Greenbelt 1 Cinema 2 (P100 per screening) where tickets are available online https://www.sureseats.com or at the cinema ticket booth starting June 27.

Follow the official EIGASAI Facebook: @eigasaiPH for updates.

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