Zipangu Fest and Close-Up present avant-garde Japanese films from the 60's and 70's

by Chris MaGee

Jasper Sharp's Zipangu Fest is fast turning into one of the most exciting Japanese film events of the year. It was recently announced that Zipangu is teaming up with video archivists and publishers Close-Up to present a programme at Zipangu titled "Nippon Year Zero: Japanese Experimental Film from the 1960s-1970s".

Four filmmakers will be represented for this programme: U.S. writer and film historian Donald Richie and his 1962 film "War Games" and 1967's "Dead Youth", Motoharu Jonouchi's 1974 film "Shinjuku Station" and 1968's "GEWALTOPIA Trailer", and Masanori Oe's 1967 film "Great Society". This last film is presented on six screens and explores through found footage the influence of the United States on the global community. (Check out an image from "Great Society" above.)

If you're in London then make sure to head out to Zipangu Fest and this programme specifically on November 23rd at the Bethnal Green Working Men's Club. These are films that rarely (if ever) get screened publicly, so don't miss out! If you aren't lucky enough to be in the UK then check out a clip from Motoharu Jonouchi's "GEWALTOPIA Trailer" below.