We're back in business... and getting ready for a big night on March 10th!

by Chris MaGee

Well, we're back in business here at the J-Film Pow-Wow after a month of being off. Well, it hasn't actually felt like a month of rest and relaxation. During the break I've been kept insanely busy preparing for the Shinsedai Cinema Festival launch event on Saturday, March 10th here in Toronto at CINECYCLE (129 Spadina Ave.).

The night kicks off at 7:00PM when the doors open and there's a bit of a reception before we announce the opening night film of the 2012 Shinsedai Cinema Festival! It's a great one, but you'll have to come out to CINECYCLE to find out what film it is!

We'll also be running a charity raffle for Tohoku Relief. We've got a ton of great prizes (most of which I'd love for myself!)and what's best is that $1 from every raffle ticket sold will go to help the Niji-Iro 'Rainbow' Cinema Support Project, a charitable initiative that organizes free film screenings and provides free hot catered meals to families in the Tohoku region who are still living in temporary housing a year after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

The main feature of the night will be the comedy omnibus film "Quirky Guys and Gals" (above, and trailer below) from the makers of "Survive Style 5+" and "Fine, Totally Fine". That will be followed up with a live DJ set by our friend Brandon Hocura from Invisible City Sound System.

It's be a great night, so please come out to say hi to Chris and some of the Pow-Wow crew and mingle with lovers of Japanese film, art, music and culture! More details here, and a full list of the great raffle prizes we have here.