Jasper Sharp brings Japanese film to the Raindance Film Festival

by Chris MaGee

Since the Shinsedai Cinema Festival a couple of weekends ago I've had to sit on this news. As many of you know Shinsedai co-programmer Jasper Sharp also programs the Japanese films at the Raindance Film Festival in London. I asked Jasper what films he had on tap for the 17th annual offering of the fest and he told me, but I've had to keep quiet on it... until now. Today Raindance announced their full line-up for the fest, running from September 30th to October 11th at the London's Apollo Cinema, and it looks, like Jasper has outdone himself yet again by bringing an eclectic mix of the best new Japanese films to the UK.

Check out this line-up: Yuki Tanada's coming of age comedy/ drama "Ain't No Tomorrows" Masayuki Miyano's absurd take on the Japanese sex industry "Lalapipo", Yasunobu Takahashi indie road movie "Locked Out", Sion Sono's 4-hour epic "Love Exposure", Yukiko Sode's portrait of a misanthropic young woman "mime-mime", Hajime Kadoi's death row drama "Vacation", Tokachi Tsuchiya's hard-hitting labour documentary "A Normal Life, Please!", Momoko Ando's directorial debut "A Piece of Our LIfe", and last but not least female pinku eiga director Sachi Hamano's "Lily Festival".

Momoko Ando won't just have her film "A Piece of Your Life" (above) included in this stellar line-up though. The London-educated daughter of actor director Eiji Okuda will also be sitting on the Raindance Film Festival jury, although I hope they've put safeguards in place that she doesn't keep voting for her own film (I kid!)

To get a look at the full line-up for the 17th Annual Raindance Film Festival click here.