The dazzling short films of artist Keiichi Tanaami to screen in Toronto for Japan relief

by Chris MaGee

Our short break here at the J-Film Pow-Wow was partially percipitated by our planning of a benefit screening of Yosuke Fujita's comedy "Fine Totally Fine". The event was a huge success and all the proceeds have been submitted to Pictures Dept. president Yuko Shiomaki's relief fund Support Japan - Gambare... but that's not the end to the fund raising events coming up in Toronto. Far from it, and it's a good thing because the aftermath of Japan's March 11th earthquake and tsunami will need our attention for months (and years) to come.

Naomi Hocura, the woman who brought us the astounding Seconds Under the Sun Japanese art animation program that has toured the country during the past two years, as well as hooking up with yours truly for a series of underground screenings under the ANGURA! umbrella, is mounting her own benefit screening for Japan relief on Saturday, April 23rd at Cinecycle (129 Spadina Ave.) at 8:00PM. Keiichi Tanaami Animation Retrospective will see Hocura joining forces with France-based distributor c-a-r-t-e blanche to bring together the ten short films of pop artist Keiichi Tanaami, many of which have never been seen in Canada before. (Read our original report of Keiichi Tanaami's films here.)

The very best thing about this event is that for your $8.00 ticket price ($5.00 for students) you will see this amazing and rarely seen films, and you'll also feel great knowing that 100% of proceeds raised will be going to the Japanese Red Cross to help aid the victims of the recent disasters that have plagued Japan. You can get additional details on the Keiichi Tanaami Animation Retrospective here... and make sure you don't miss your chance to help!