Japan Foundation UK announces a touring programme of Japanese auteur films

by Chris MaGee

The Japan Foundation London has done a lot to bring lesser known films to the attention of of the Bristish public through their annual touring programme. Each year they pull together a line-up of films around a specific theme; for example this past year they toured "Back to the Future: Japanese Cinema Since the Mid-90s", which focused on some of the best films from Japan from the past 15 years. Now, the Japan Foundation UK has announced its 2012 touring programme, "Whose Film is it Anyway? Contemporary Japanese Auteurs", a programme of work by filmmakers who write, direct, and often produce and edit, their own films.

Which films can UK audiences look forward to when the programme begins touring the country, starting with a run between February 3rd and February 16th at London's ICA? The programme stretches as far back as 1963 with Shohei Imamura's "The Insect Woman" and goes right up to today with Katsumi Sakaguchi's dark drama "Sleep" (above). In between film fans will be able to see everything from deeply felt relationship tales like Ryosuke Hashiguchi's film "All Around Us" to Takatsugu Naito's hilarious low-key comedy "The Dark Harbour".

Head to the Japan Foundation London's website here to see where in the UK audiences will be able to catch this great line-up of films.