#jffh

[sexy-necromancing-bird]

I JFFH NOTHING IS REAL

[wakamiho]

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A post shared by Miho Wakabayashi (@waka_miho)

‪昨晩の #JFFH Kino3001でのシザーチンP上映前に友松監督からのクソ長いメッセージを通訳の山守さんがほぼ全文読み上げて下さいました。‬ ‪その抜粋です。‬ ‪笑いすぎてむせてる人いたw‬ (3001 Kino) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx4pVCWHdNG/?igshid=yfrpt0iaot57

[thequillsink]

Japan Film Fest Hamburg JFFH 2021 Short Film Reviews. Published  Published by grimoireofhorror.com and The Yurei August 12, 2021

One of the biggest highlights of the Japan Film Fest Hamburg rests within the diverse selection of short films. For the audience, this means getting the chance to see original shorts seldom screened outside of Japan and unlikely to ever release in the West. The fest embracing multiple genres, too, ensures a varied experience. This year, we decided to dive into a handful of the shorts and share our thoughts to help viewers know which options should not be missed!

I See You

I See You is a 2019 stop-motion animation horror film created by Ryo Sato, Ayana Tashiro and Masafumi Uemura for Laputa Art Animation School. An abandoned house is for sale, but it is said to be haunted. The cleaning staff, who are hired to do a complete cleaning of the foreboding house, is not deterred from the insidious reputation. Predictably, their confidence slowly begins to crumble as inexplicable events begin to happen.

The short is beautifully smooth in its stop-motion animation, showing true dedication to the artistic craft itself in the medium of film. The story itself is a great introduction to horror for a younger audience, highlighting darkly comedic undertones perfectly paired with an overall spooky atmosphere. The unsettling score, as well as a Tim Burton-escque style to the character designs, also complement this charming style. This is a noteworthy display from the relatively unknown creators and should not be missed.

Blood Blade

Blood Blade is a 2019 action horror short and the first film by Hiroshi Okada – he wrote, filmed and directed this whole production. The heroine Momo brings down “Oni”, monsters and demons in human form, with her sword in a splendid way – stylish to say the least. Together with her inexperienced friend, Kaori, she must prevent an army of immortals from being built up.

Reminiscent of a 90’s anime OVA, Blood Blade delivers style over substance with over-the-top action and narrative. Lacking much depth and with only adequate performances, the short seems more of a starting point for Hiroshi Okada as a rudimentary experience. Regardless, I am excited to how the young filmmaker develops from here.

KA.TA.MI.

KA.TA.MI. is a 2020 short film, directed by Time Ryōsuke. Ryōsuke also directed the 2014 I, Dolphin Girl, also currently being shown at Japan Film Fest Hamburg this year. Katami Watase is young, ambitious girl with aspiration to become a cinema actress. For this, she needs talent, belief in herself and support from friends. The interview turns tense as the aspiring actress begins to feel personally attacked.

The film delivers a compassionate and spirited speech about what it take to make it in film. At only five minutes, the short is one note as a relatively singular vision, but the message is both inspirational and empowering, serving the purpose of the meaning sufficiently. Expounding the importance of community support, the short is an impassioned love letter to cinema that will resonate with cinephiles.

Anna’s Love

Anna’s Love is a 2019 horror short and the first film from director Kōji Takahashi. While looking for a cheap apartment, a young man, Masato, comes across a tempting offer. However, the people behind this enticing offer – the widowed landlord and his daughter, Anna, whose family roots stretch as far as Transylvania – are surrounded by a dark secret.

This short is a wonderfully visual experience, showcasing stylish cinematography and an impactful use of contrasting colours. The practical effects are deployed in a stunning way, and the excessive amount of blood perfectly macabre. Sadly, the narrative does lack some depth in its characters and is largely aimless. In spite of its shortcoming, Anna’s Love is a poignant horror piece from Kōji Takahashi, a fascinating take on vampiric lore.

Dream to Accept Reality

Dream to Accept Reality is a 2020 supernatural horror short directed by Yūta Shimotsu. On a visit with her grandparents, a young woman is shocked to find her losing control of her senses and begins to expect the supernatural.

A personal favorite of the batch of shorts, Dream to Accept Reality boasts an incredibly dark atmosphere, enhanced perfectly with an atmospheric score and fluid cinematography. In particular, the sound design is an idyllic mix of ambient and industrial sound that wavers between fitting and disorienting. In addition, the performances are executed perfectly, maximizing the tension of the production in the time they have. Ultimately, if you see one short during Japan Film Fest Hamburg, I suggest it be this one. I await on tenterhooks for future projects from Yūta Shimotsu!

Children of God – Shinji and Rinka

Children of God – Shinji and Rinka is a 2019 action thriller short from Kazuaki Kashima. Shinji and his daughter Shizuku are ambushed by a crazy yakuza (Rinka) who kidnaps the young girl as a hostage. Requesting 100 million yen for Shizuku’s safe return, Shinji begins a desperate pursuit whilst unaware he is not the only one after Rinka.

Compact yet effective, Children of God is a perfect example of how to craft a coherent short film with an impactful narrative. A crazy scenario, the work avoids becoming confusing from discerning performances and a fully realized script. The conclusion suggests this may not be the end of the end, however, to build excitement towards the possibility of a follow up or feature length film. An enjoyable, energetic crime romp, Children of God will leave audiences wanting more as the insinuated sequel may offer!

Oh! Who Do Recover

Oh! Who Do Recover is a 2019 action comedy from first-time director Narushi Takeda. A young school girl is surprised by a man in black while smoking in a shrine. Not far away, a teacher friend and a detective have an argument over a discarded cigarette until the man in black appears before them as well. If there’s one thing he can’t stand, it’s improperly disposing of garbage. Resembling a spirit of vengeance, he flashes an archaic katana in a rage.

Heavy themes of environmentalism permeate this short story. The personification of the deity Acala, known to attack those deemed evil or unrighteous, targets people who litter in this case. The film takes a light-hearted comedic approach to convey a message of consideration to the environment and personal responsibility to nature.

Out-There

Out-There is a 2020 horror thriller short written by Shingo Takeda and directed by the duo of Takeda and Shinsuke Fujioka. Anxiously awaiting the return of their partner from work, a young man kills time by chatting with a friend over video chat. However, the situation turn horrific when the man realizes he is not alone and a spirit is looming in the background.

The film exhibits influence from classic J-horror Ringu on its proverbial sleeve, showing incredible similarities in tone, build up and character design. Despite this, the short is not a rehash of another intellectual property and utilizes this likeness to create something different yet equally disturbing. Overall, Out-There embraces the best of J-Horror and condenses it down into an effectively thrilling horror experience.

Stool Doll

tool Doll is a 2020 independent piece of extreme cinema from director Santarō Shinohara. Yoshio Tobari believes he has found the perfect woman in Hanaka. However,  Hanaka is a creation of the troubled man’s own ‘love’, a nasty concoction of the man’s own brown excretions.  

The short is an austere production, unabashed by social normalcy to tell a unique story. This film is not for everyone considering graphic scenes of coprophilia emphasizing sexual kink. Likely to leave a bad lingering taste for most, the distinct story is perfect for those who enjoy extreme cinema which challenge norms (or test the boundaries).

Genius Director

Genius Director is a 2020 short film directed by Shingo Kanemoto who also directed Dosuemon (2020) also available at Japanese Film Fest Hamburg. Juzo Onigawara’s ego is bigger than any other director’s. On the set of his latest film, he is rage incarnate, proceeding to dominate everything and violate everyone. Humiliation or physical violence is his common tactic, but his actions takes a particularly dark turn when he summons a young actress to his apartment for ‘private lessons’.

The portrayal of Juzo as a reprehensible character is delivered perfectly, becoming the embodiment of every negative trait a director could possess. From assaulting staff to sexual misconduct, the set is the definition of toxic workplace environment taken to the extreme. Although his actions are played off as comedic hijinks, they are certainly not without deserved consequences. Overall, Genius Director is an unflinching and unapologetic experience aimed at those who love their comedy as dark as possible.

Shrouded at Dusk

Shrouded at Dusk is a 2019 thriller from director Hiroyuki Mahara. Young Eriko makes house calls as a prostitute, but her day starts of nightmarish thank to a dark request from her first client. Unnervingly, the troubled man asks her to wear special clothing for a tribute to his daughter who committed suicide. Hesitant at first, Eriko obliges and the peculiar man provokes memories of her own father.

Poignant in its delivery, this short deals with situations that some people may find distressing. The subject of regret, hatred, incest, child molestation, suicide and revenge are all explored in this film to great detail as a shocking display of two people mutually using each other to try and escape their past. If you can handle such topics, I highly recommend watching this short.

Talala

Talala is a 2019 anime directed by Hiroshi Takizawa. It follows a dreamy young girl who loves to play music and experiences fantastical events leading into a a magical summer day.

The short presents the psychedelic adventures of a young girl in her own ethereal world, passing the day as she pleases. Accompanied by beautifully innocent music, and following a carefree story, it is a film which works successfully through the fun, childlike tone. In conclusion, the short was cute enough to melt my icy heart and tap my foot along to, providing wonderfully colourful animation to boot.

[pompomwormin]

JERMA IS ALMOST 37???

[umseb]

hi, hope ur doing well! for clarification, seb controlling the lights show at the stones concert happened the sunday night of silverstone,, sorry, just noticed ur tags jffh

oh! thank you so, so much for letting me know (and for posting our boy looking precious)! 💚 i hope life's treating you with kindness as well c:

[cosmeticdna-news]

ハンブルク日本映画祭2021にて『Cosmetic DNA』、ジャンル作品特別賞を受賞！

ハンブルク日本映画祭2021（ JFFH 2021）に出品していた 『Cosmetic DNA』が、 ジャンル作品特別賞受賞を果たしました ！

受賞作品発表動画の2分30秒頃から、 大久保健也監督の喜びのコメントをお聞きいただけます。 ドイツ、そして欧州各国の映画ファンから高く評価された 『Cosmetic DNA』 、世界から熱い注目を集めています。

[bubbled-clouds]

hi hi hi!! i have not answered all your asks yet, so sorry, but just hoping you know that i appreciate them so much and they always make me smile :)) you’re super cool and nice, and it makes me happy to get to talk to you. i’m shit at doing feelings stuff but i love you bee and have a nice rest of the day :) 💙

*sobs* honestly in tears rn maybe it’s bc i woke up earlier than usual but- jdyf a s h no need to apologize answering my asks isnt a must! idk why everyone thinks it is??? jffh i’m soo happy they make you smile and !!!! it makes me happy to talk to you too!!!! ydgg a h !!!!!!!! i love you too 🥺🥺🥺 *smooch* 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛🫂 🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂

[brummiephotography]

#baskervillehouse #brumisbrill #birminghamarchitecture #bhamgram #wearebirmingham #birminghamlife #brumhour #bhamnow (at Baskerville House) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0F7zX-jffH/?igshid=ze5m8pmuhjus

[y-o-u-r-lips-my-lips]

hola jffh actitudes que te molesten en las personas?

Detesto a la gente que tiene que apagar la luz de otros para brillar, no sé si me explico. También a las personas que no dicen las cosas a la cara pero viven hablando de ellas. Por último las personas que se toman confianza que tú no les has dado.

[wakamiho]

‪#JFFH ３日目‬ ‪ヒドラ、スモーキングエイリアンズ、ファニードライブ、ファイティングカメラマン、デッドコップ、ミッドナイトストレンジャー、ヒューマニティー‬ ‪みました^_^‬ ‪どれも盛り上がってましたよー！‬ ‪今日はまだまだみます♪‬ (Hamburg-Mitte, Hamburg, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx2tjpIHQJ9/?igshid=1e3kpoheej31n

[thequillsink]

A Beast in Love (2020) film review  Published by grimoireofhorror.com and The Yurei August 1, 2021

One of the more unique entries in this years Japan Film Fest Hamburg (JFFH), A Beast in Love (2020) is the latest film from the mind of Koji Shiraishi.  Prolific in horror, having explored a multitude of sub-genres throughout the years, Koji Shiraishi is most known for his entries into ‘mocumentary horrors’ such as Noroi (2005), Karuto (2013) and A Record of Sweet Murder (2014).

What is it?

Set in a quiet countryside bar, an eccentric woman (disguised as a man) turns into a cutthroat killer – attempting to kill each and every patron. Her goal? To win the heart of her crush who also found his way to the locale populated by peculiar individuals.

What Worked?

A lively rendition from the modest cast works with the story’s bizarre tone, featuring an outstanding performance from Shohei Uno and Shunsuke Tanaka. Shohei Uno gives an aggressively energetic display as the crossdresser (as referred to in the film). Additionally, Shunsuke Tanaka’s capability to switch from timorous to ferocious is impeccably smooth; his character, Chuya Nakata, reminiscent of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde – always terrified of turning violent towards those around him. Overall, the performances across the cast act as the perfect allure to the chaos that Shiraishi is able to craft.

The cinematography exhibited is striking in its implementation, mixing a use of open wide angles and tight close shots to capture both background ambiance and character reactions. Furthermore, the film brilliantly utilizes a luminous colour palettes to make the visuals pop. Bright and oversaturated, in a complimentary sense, the visual flair is utilized from the opening credits- backdrops always awash in light and paint.

An astonishing soundtrack accompanies the film. Offering a diverse mix of genres, each scene is perfectly scored to capture the mood – frenetic or nuanced depending on the scene. In the same manner, an interlaced composed score compliments the overall flow, particularly through the tense and action pact moments.

Darkly comedic in undertones, the obscure situations play out in a serious fashion, further enhancing the bizarre factor and therefore (for myself at least) the overall success of the humor. However, there are moments that push to the extreme, including moments that are borderline gross-out, for those who really enjoy when comedies that push the limits of good taste (golden shower, anyone?).

What Didn’t Work?

The opening of the film is abstract and lacks any explanation. For this reason, the beginning is confusing to a degree – the group lacking any reason or belonging. Although these details fill in naturally, it is rather slow in pace at first and can be off-putting. Thankfully, the overall narrative is not difficult to grasp as key information is clarified towards the end of the second act.

Where Can I Watch It?

Viewings of A Beast in Love (2020) will be available online during JFFH. Available from August 18th to September 1st, tickets will be available via their website.

Overall Thoughts

There is no denying A Beast in Love is a provocative piece of cinema. It is quite different from the usual films released by Koji Shiraishi but still taps into what he knows best. That is, a intelligent mystery that is able to hold appeal in audience interpretations while avoiding any plot-holes that would, under a lesser filmmaker, sink the film.

Personally, the extreme nature of the film coupled with its ludicrously dark humour made for a highly enjoyable watch – I found myself laughing throughout. However, the film feels limited by runtime and I did find myself wanting more of certain aspects. Regardless, anyone checking this one out is certain to have a good time if you are willing to embrace the chaos!

[verytendou]

JFFH I WAS GOING TO DO FASHION WEEK

[nyansegland]

ハンブルグ日本映画祭にて、「ぼくらの自由研究」がオンライン上映されました。 https://jffh.de/ja/festivals/21-jffh-2020/our-research-project.html

[tacogrande]

i just listened to the love is a battlefield cover and i felt so pumped throughout the whole thing i LOVE THEM SO MUCH THEY SOUND SO BEAUTIFUL TO GETHER JAY IM SO OVERWHELMED BY THEIR LOVE

GOD IM SO MAD AT HOW THEY WASTED THAT EP, THAT COVER MAKES ME SO HAPPY THO JFFH

[padesign]

PA Design cũng đú trend với bảng màu phim Joker. Mình nghe đồn phim có yếu tố tâm lý nặng nề lắm. Theo như bảng màu phim dưới đây thì mình cũng cảm nhận được: màu lạnh và trầm, đục chứ không hề tươi sáng tẹo nào. Nên cơ bản mình cũng chưa dám xem 😅 #PAdesign #vaGabond #thietkelogo #thietkenhandienthuonghieu #joker #jokerpalette Nguồn: ADsangtao.com https://www.instagram.com/p/B3qUL3-jfFH/?igshid=fu4951alqu7b

[britishhiphop]

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Peep this awesome video. Jack Light - Balloons and a Bong (Official Music Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfFh-NJL5XM