Japanese Film Festival 2020 Festival Report by The Japan Foundation, Sydney

Japanese Film Festival 2020 FESTIVAL REPORT

CONTENTS

MESSAGE JFF PROGRAM CATAGORIES 2020 IN A NUTSHELL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS AUDIENCE MARKETING PUBLICITY FESTIVAL PARTNERS LOCATIONS & DATES FINAL COMMENTS

4 6 8 10 12 14 20 32 33 34

MESSAGE

The 24th Japanese Film Festival (JFF) has concluded, and on behalf of The Japan Foundation, Sydney, I would like to express my gratitude for your support in another successful festival. This year presented unprecedented difficulties for the Festival due to the ongoing pandemic and the difficulties associated with scheduling physical film screenings, closed state and country borders and more. Despite these challenges, our team remained dedicated to bringing the best in Japanese cinema to Australia, and we were thrilled to be able to bring the Classic and Satellite programs to cinemas despite the pandemic. This year's Main program went online with the all-new JFF Plus, which allowed audiences from across Australia to watch 30 films streaming online for free. The JFF Plus program streamed new releases as well as past JFF favourites in a total of 20 countries from November 2020 to February 2021, bringing viewers across the globe together during this difficult time through the power of Japanese film. Other new additions included extending the Classics program to Brisbane in January 2021 and a limited tribute series dedicated to the late director Nobuhiko Ōbayashi in Sydney in March 2021. Now, more than ever, we thank you for your support in bringing Japanese cinema to Australia. We look forward to seeing you again at the next JFF. SHONO Keiji

Director The Japan Foundation, Sydney

JFF PROGRAM CATEGORIES

PLUS

CLASSICS

A brand-new program for JFF 2020, JFF Plus offered new releases from Japan as well as favourites from past JFFs streaming online for free. Users from anywhere in Australia could sign up for a free JFF Plus account with an email address to access the 30 films and eight director introduction videos recorded especially for the program.

This year’s Classics program, titled Provocation and Disruption: Radical Japanese Filmmaking from the 1960s to the 2000s, featured eight boundary-shattering masterpieces from avant-garde Japanese auteurs. Due to COVID-19, the program had to be extended into early 2021.

TOTAL NUMBER OF VIEWERS Nationwide

AUDIENCE SCREENINGS 33,606 60

CITIES TOURED (3)

Canberra Brisbane Sydney

AUDIENCE SCREENINGS 491 4 685 12 3,762 16

SATELLITE

ŌBAYASHI

Formerly known as the Regional film program, the Satellite program travelled to 10 cities from late 2020 to early 2021 (season extended due to COVID-19). The program is run in partnership with local organisations and offers free screenings of four fanfavourite films.

A limited tribute series in March 2021 celebrating the late director Nobuhiko Ōbayashi at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Sydney. Ōbayashi’s final four films were screened for free, tying in with the director’s earlier works screened in the 2020 Classics program.

CITIES TOURED (10) AUDIENCE SCREENINGS Bunbury 410 3 Alice Springs 518 3 Cairns 213 3 Townsville 483 6 Newcastle 320 4 Coffs Harbour 381 3 Gold Coast 540 3 Adelaide 168 3 Darwin 741 4 Hobart 300 3

CITY TOURED (1)

Sydney

AUDIENCE

866

SCREENINGS

JFF IN A NUTSHELL

TOTAL NUMBER OF...

140 SCREENINGS

FILMS

CITIES (IN-CINEMA)

FULLY-BOOKED (IN-CINEMA)

43,484

TOTAL AUDIENCE

33,606

PLUS

4,938

CLASSICS

866

ŌBAYASHI

4,074 SATELLITE

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS JFF PLUS WATCH PARTY

FUNERAL PARADE OF ROSES POST-FILM PANEL DISCUSSION

To celebrate the launch of JFF Plus, audience members across Australia were invited to participate in an online watch party. Participants joined JFF team members to watch the opening film of JFF Plus, Project Dreams: How to Build Mazinger Z's Hangar, together at the same time from the comfort of their homes. People who posted about watching the film on social media with the hashtag #JFFAU2020 were entered in a giveaway to win a JFF 2020 t-shirt. Despite being apart, we were able to celebrate the launch of JFF Plus together with fans from all over Australia!

Following the February 20 screening of Funeral Parade of Roses in Sydney as part of the JFF Classics program, special guests Maija Howe, Bhenji Ra, Jen Atherton and Charlotte Mars participated in a panel discussion focused around queer identity and non-conformative gender representation in cinema. As a film that delves into these topics, the discussion addressed how they are reflected in Funeral Parade of Roses and why this film is still relevant today.

JFF 2020 team getting ready to participate in the JFF Plus Watch Party with viewers across Australia.

JFF Classics Funeral Parade of Roses panel discussion with panelists Maija Howe, Bhenji Ra, Jen Atherton and Charlotte Mars in Sydney.

OUR AUDIENCE This year’s JFF Plus online program presented the opportunity to reach audiences Australia-wide, broadening our viewership significantly when compared to previous years. Our average audience age of 25-34 remained consistent with previous years, and saw an increase in male viewers with the shift online for JFF Plus. JFF audiences continue to be highly satisfied with the Festival across our diverse programs, and were particularly enthusiastic about the new addition of films streaming for free.

30000 25000

65+ 55-64 45-54

15000

35-44

10000

25-34

DEEPENED UNDERSTANDING OF JAPAN

AGE

20000

5000

86%

18-24

GENDER

2% Non-Binary 56% Male 42% Female

FIRST TIME VS PATRONS First time Returning

45.7% First time

54.3 % Returning

CULTURAL BACKGROUND 23.5% Japanese

76.5% Non-Japanese

AUDIENCE SATISFACTION 51.7%

Excellent 27%

Very Good 16%

Good Ok Poor

3.4% 1.3% 13

MARKETING WEBSITE BREAKDOWN 74.3% Mobile 20.7% Desktop 5% Tablet

121, 390 unique users cost per user $0.82! 217,205 sessions 2m22s browsing time E-NEWS

JFF PLUS SIGN UPS

JFF Plus streaming platform sign ups

43% increase in JFF e-newsletter subscribers in 2020

5,154

7,558

Over 5,000,000 impressions on Facebook! TWITTER

3,446 followers

FACEBOOK

38,606 1,832 new likes

1,946 new subscribers

INSTAGRAM

4,216 1,527 new followers

MARKETING SOCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

MARKETING AUDIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Mosman Daily

PUBLICITY

Thursday 26/11/2020

The 2020 JFF campaign achieved stand-out media coverage across Australia despite press clip unprecedented restrictive conditions, including a significantly reduced campaign lead time, lack of associated film talent to secure media leads, and an absence of ticket giveaways due to all programs in 2020 being offered for free. Despite these hurdles, JFF secured 482 media spots in 2020, an increase in coverage of 2.5% compared to the 2019 Canberra City News Thursday 26/11/2020 Festival. This included an increase in digital media and a national TV spot promoting the JFF Plus program. Page: Section: Region: Circulation: Type: Size:

33 General News Canberra, AU 42001 Suburban 192.00 sq.cms.

press clip

ARTS IN THE CITY

Winton’s ‘Breath’ inspires a rock song By Helen Musa

bookings at japanesefilmfestival.net

ONE of Canberra’s most talked-about alternative rock bands, Sputnik Sweetheart, who won the title of Triple J Unearthed Feature Artist in June, has a new single, “Rolling”, coming out December 3 on all streaming services. Led by frontwoman Nette France, the lyrics were inspired by Tim Winton’s coming-of-age novel, “Breath”.

“WOMEN of Steel”, a rousing and often humorous story about the 1980-1994 campaign for jobs by Wollongong women has been directed by 30-year career steelworker Robynne Murphy. Screens at ARC Cinema, NFSA, 6pm, Wednesday, December 2, book at fan-force.com/screenings/women-of-steel-nfsa/

THE appointment of Tara Cheyne to replace Gordon Ramsay as ACT Arts Minister has been greeted with cautious optimism by arts community members. Before entering the Legislative Assembly, Cheyne served on the Belconnen Arts Centre board and as chair of the Belconnen Community Council and has since been a member of the Speaker’s art acquisitions committee. COMEDY writers Michele Conyngham and Patrick Davies Trumper have joined forces with science communicator, Dr Phil Dooley, to create “Dramatis Scientificae”, a site full of skits, interviews with scientists, articles, and parody and satire fusing comedy with genuine learning. Recent posts include “Adventures Abroad in Science”, featuring fusion scientist Adelle Wright from the ANU and “Date with a Doctor”, a silly sketch about

“Tremble All You Want”… Japanese Film Festival, December 4-13. prejudice. Accessible at dramatisscientificae.com THE 24th Japanese Film Festival returns from December 4-13 with a free streamed festival featuring over 25 Japanese films including features, documentaries, as well as stop motion and animated shorts. The program showcases Tokyo International Film Festival Audience Award winner, the quirky rom-com “Tremble All You Want”, and Kinema Junpo’s top-10 listed drama, “One Night”. As well, the festival celebrates the subversive in “Provocation and Disruption: Radical Japanese Filmmaking from the 1960s to the 2000s”, a free classics program. All details and

Page: Section: Region: Circulation: Type: Size:

5 General News Sydney, AU 33732 Suburban 118.00 sq.cms.

Next week There’s a lot to look forward to in the weeks ahead. BOURKE STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL ONLINE ART AUCTION Bourke Street Public School is hosting its biennial online art show – a sale of works by young and upcoming artistic talent. Live bid on your favourite framed original class artwork or preorder prints, tea towels and greeting cards with your child’s class artwork. There is also limited edition Beck Feiner tea towels, totes and more. Concrete Playground Online. Dec 1. For details, visit: www.32auctions.com/bourkestreetonlineartshow

RETURNING to the stage for the first time this year, the Canberra Sinfonia, conducted by Leonard Weiss, is focusing on two pieces by Australian composer Natalie Nicolas, “The Business of Recovery” and “The End”, both originally written for string quartet, alongside a hidden 19th century gem by Franz Lachner. Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, 2pm Saturday, December 5, book at canberrasinfonia.com CANBERRA artist Paul Easther achieved a certain fame with his 2013 Bald Archy Prize entry, a painting of Prime Minister Julia Gillard enjoying a fag outside the Lodge, titled “Becoming Famous is the Worst Thing That Can Happen to You…” Now he tells us he’s just published “Paparazzi”, a digital magazine that showcases abstract photos he took around his own house during the pandemic.

Canberra City News

JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL PLUS: ONLINE AND FREE The Japanese Film Festival returns in 2020 with JFF Plus: Online Festival, a free streamed Festival featuring 25 of the best Japanese films, from tales of time travel to a geisha-inspired musical comedy, See the award-winning documentary Peace (2010) or One Night (2019, pictured). Free. Online. Dec 4-13. For details, visit: https://watch.jff.jpf.go.jp/ Mosman Daily Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) licenced copy

AUS: 1300 1 SLICE NZ: 0800 1 SLICE

service@slicemedia.com

ABC Weekend Breakfast

Ref: 1363817229

ANTIDOTE FESTIVAL RELEASES LIVESTREAM TICKETS Sydney Opera House will offer audiences around Australia and the world the opportunity to experience its Antidote festival online via a livestream. Digital tickets for the annual festival of ideas, action and change, are now on sale for audiences.

Cheers

The Reel Bits

Weekend Edition

Nichigopress

City Walker

Sydney Morning Herald

City Hub

Filmink

EXHIBITION NAME

TOTAL CIRCULATION

42,066,026 “...a beautiful film that says a lot about Japanese society…” FilmInk on 0.5mm

TOTAL MEDIA BREAKS

476

“Watching these short films was a delight…” - Film Focus on Takeshi Yashiro stop motions animations

“An exquisitely detailed animated film…” 4 of 5 stars College Adelaide on The Girl from the Other Side

“...showcases so much more than just a fish market famous for tuna auctions; it truly is an example of human excellence.” FilmInk on Tsukiji Wonderland

“...a sweet, touching film bound to appeal to the romantic at heart.” Perth Now on Little Nights, Little Love

TOTAL INTERVIEWS SECURED

INCREASED COVERAGE FROM 2019

2.5% “Sweet, beautiful, and very innovatively animated.” Hursto’s Five Minute Films on Norman the Snowman short animations

COVERAGE HIGHLIGHTS PRINT

RADIO

ONLINE

FESTIVAL PARTNERS JFF partners offer invaluable support to the JFF community and keep the Festival vibrant year after year. Supporting the Festival goes beyond financial or promotional assistance - it means championing foreign cinema and celebrating cultural diversity. JFF facilitates the gathering of Australian, Japanese, and foreign brands, resulting in a home-grown, multicultural event.

JFF x JAPAN AT HOME While it was not possible to offer event activations for the Main program this year, JFF Plus offered exciting opportunities for online partnerships. To this end, JFF and Japan at Home celebrated the at-home streaming experience with a series of film-inspired Japanese recipes for JFF audiences to cook and enjoy at home while watching the JFF Plus films. Links to Japan at Home friendly certified Japanese food supporter shops assisted in promoting local businesses that stock Japanese food, resulting in a partnership that not only supported foreign cinema in Australia but also celebrated cultural diversity at the local level.

Magnum's pre-film animation on screen in Sydney.

Butterfly

Konnichiwa

JFF x UNILEVER MAGNUM For the 2020 Classics program, which was extended into 2021 due to COVID-19, JFF partnered with Magnum to showcase one of two delightful animated films under the ‘Pleasure Tales’ anthology of shorts created by Magnum before each Classics screening in Sydney. These manga and animeinspired shorts fit in wonderfully with this year’s Classics theme of boundaryshattering cinema, resulting in a successful partnership for both parties.

Photo coutesy of SOMAG Townsville 21-22 November

JFF Satellite would not be possible without our local co-organisers, many of whom come back to be a part of the festival year after year. With the support of organisations such as local governments, university clubs and local chapters of the Australia Japan Society, the Satellite program is able to offer free films screening in regions around Australia, promoting Japan and Japanese cinema far and wide. In this difficult year of COVID-19, being able to reach local communities with the help of our co-organisers was more important than ever. With their support promoting the festival, creating conversions with our audience and on-site venue assistance, we were able to connect with cinemagoers in a year when many face-to-face opportunities were not possible.

Photo coutesy of City of Bunbury Bunbury 4,5 & 12 September

Photo coutesy of UoN JEC Darwin 19-20 February

Newcastle 28-29 November

Photo coutesy of AJS of Tasmania Hobart 22-24 February

THANK YOU TO OUR 2020 PARTNERS

PLUS

CLASSICS

SATELLITE

JFF 2020 LOCATIONS & DATES

PLUS Nationwide

4-13 December 2020

Online | watch.jff.jpf.go.jp

Canberra

5-6 December 2020

National Film & Sound Archive

Brisbane

8-27 January 2020

Queensland Gallery & Modern Art

6 February - 3 March 2020

Art Gallery of NSW

CLASSICS

Sydney

SATELLITE Bunbury

4, 5 & 12 September 2020

Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre

Alice Springs

26 & 27 September 2020

Alice Springs Cinema

Cairns

15 November 2020

BCC Cinemas Cairns Earlville

Townsville

21 & 22 November 2020

BCC Cinemas Townsville Central

Newcastle

28 & 29 November 2020

Event Cinemas Kotara

Coffs Harbour

5 & 6 December 2020

Jetty Memorial Theatre

Gold Coast

6 December 2020

Event Cinemas Robina

Adelaide

9 - 11 December 2020

Palace Nova Cinemas Eastend

Darwin

19 & 20 February 2021

BCC Cinemas Casuarina

Hobart

22 - 24 February 2021

Village Cinemas Glenorchy 33

FINAL COMMENTS

Photo coutesy of Goodbye For Now Productions

From our in-cinema programs to our first-ever venture into online streaming with JFF Plus, 2020 was an exciting year of change despite the many difficulties posed by the ongoing pandemic. For the 24th year of JFF, we launched JFF Plus, an initiative that allowed Australians across the country to watch new releases and favourites from past JFF years from the comfort of their homes, entirely for free. And, while local and international border closures meant that we could not bring over special guests, the online Festival offered a number of director interviews and commentary videos to supplement the robust, 30-film program, bringing the full JFF experience to our fans both near and far. While we could not see everyone in person for the Main program, which remains a highlight of JFF every year, we are grateful to have been able to bring the Classics, Satellite and Obayashi programs to cinemas around the country, including Canberra, Brisbane and Sydney. In a year of so many hardships, it was a joy to reconnect with our dedicated community of cinemagoers before and after film screenings. This year brought many changes, and we are looking forward to what the future holds for Japanese film. Thank you for your support in 2020, and we look forward to seeing you again in cinemas and online across Australia to celebrate the best in Japanese filmmaking in 2021. 34

2020 FESTIVAL TEAM Program Director Yurika Sugie Programmers Susan Bui Simonne Goran Anne Lee Aurora Newton Assisted by Isabella Abelardo Annabella Gorga

ONLINE Facebook: @japanesefilmfest Instagram: @japanesefilmfest Twitter: @japanfilmfest japanesefilmfestival.net

CONTACT The Japan Foundation, Sydney Level 4, Central Park 28 Broadway Chippendale NSW 2008 02 8239 0055 japanesefilmfestival@jpf.org.au