The Japan Film Festival Los Angeles marked 20 years of gathering and celebrating new and inventive works from both sides of the Pacific.
Some 17 features and nearly 40 short films were showcased around Southern California.
The festival wrapped with an awards ceremony Sept. 14 at Japan House in Hollywood.
JFFLA Director Naoyuki Ikeda said the festival is a labor of love for himself and all those who work to bring the films to local audiences.
“Hopefully, this will attract Japanese and Japanese American filmmakers to spread our culture and stories across the world,” he said.
–Mikey Hirano Culross