Tokyo gets ready for its 18th Annual International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival

by Chris MaGee

Things have been gearing up here in Toronto all week for the annual Gay Pride Week celebrations with hundreds of thousands of tourists coming from all over the world to take part in Sunday's big parade (and just in time for a garbage strike too!) Meanwhile on the other side of the globe the organizers of Tokyo's International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival are gearing up for their 18th year. The fest's programmers are bringing the best in contemporary and classic lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-themed films to theatres in both Shibuya and Shinjuku throughout the month of July, but the jewel in the crown of this year's line-up is Jirô Kawate's 1935 lesbian-themed film "Fukujusou (Pheasant's Eyes)" (above). Not a hell of a lot of info on this in English floating around online... and not much more in Japanese either, so if you're out there and you can give us more details on what sounds like a truly fascinating and groundbreaking film then clue us in in the comments.

Check out the English-language page for the 18th Annual Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival here.