The Japan Film Festival Los Angeles will be held from Sept. 18 to 20 at the Hang on to the Dream Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave. in Hollywood, and Japan House Los Angeles, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood.
The schedule is as follows:
Friday, Sept. 18
All screenings at Hang on to the Dream Theatre
6:30 p.m.: Opening short film screenings
8:20 p.m.: Local night screenings (short films)
Saturday, Sept. 19
All screenings at Hang on to the Dream Theatre
11 a.m.: “Bite to Bite” with director Q&A
Kelly Lipscomb’s film chronicles the journey of one giant bluefin tuna from the frigid waters of Nova Scotia to the sushi tables of Japan as two lifelong Canadian fishermen and a scientist from Texas set off to follow their fish halfway around the globe to the world-famous Tsukiji seafood market in Tokyo.
12:40 p.m.: Short film screening
2 p.m.: “California Scenario” with director Q&A
When single parents Jacob and Laura separately bring their struggling children to Isamu Noguchi’s sculpture garden to grapple with shared family legacies of survival, they discover the possibility of building something new together … one day. Directed by James Takata.
4:05 p.m.: Short film screening with director Q&A
5:25 p.m.: “Mikusu Modan” with director Q&A
Yuto, 18, leaves a juvenile reformatory determined to start over. He is welcomed by Hiro and Sono, who run an okonomiyaki restaurant, and begins working there as he tries to rebuild his life. But when he is once again betrayed by his parents who had refused to take him back, Yuto reconnects with old friends, and the new life he has fought for begins to slip away. Directed by Toshizo Fujiwara.
7:35 p.m.: Horror Night screening with director Q&A
Sunday, Sept. 20
All screenings at Japan House Los Angeles
11 a.m.: Samurai performance
11:15 a.m.: Special performance, short film screening, bilingual talk by Marisa Hamamoto and Infinite Flow Dance
12:05 p.m.: Short film screenings
2 p.m.: Directors/actors talk event
3 p.m.: “Persona Non Grata: The Story of Chiune Sugihara” with director Q&A
The true story of a Japanese diplomat, Chiune Sugihara, who issued more than 2,000 visas to Jewish refugees in Lithuania in 1940, saving over 6,000 lives. Directed by Cellin Gluck.
6 p.m.: Award ceremony (invitation only)
JFFLA’s Virtual Festival will feature films via streaming.
Info/tickets: https://jffla.eventive.org/schedule