Anime Blog Tracker

House of Sayuri (サユリ, Koji Shiraishi, 2024) [Fantasia 2024]

An excited family discover the perils of buying a “used” home in Koji Shiraishi anarchic haunted house horror House of Sayuri

Windows on Worlds

Aug 7, 2024 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Chicago Japan Film Collective – House of Sayuri

I actually stumbled upon knowledge about the Chicago Japan Film Collective (CJFC) back in 2023. Due to moving and timing though I wasn’t able to attend the screenings,…

Phoenix Talks Pop Culture Japan

Nov 20, 2024 • Subscribe

Kizumonogatari – Koyomi Vamp – (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2024]

An evocative experience that succeeds in giving the vampire and the well-explored themes a fresh coat of drama and sexiness.  

psycho-cinematography

Jul 29, 2024 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Baby Assassins: Good Days (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival]

Yugo Sakamoto successfully mixes up the formula that structured his previous two action narratives. Highly Recommended.

psycho-cinematography

Aug 3, 2024 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Dreams of Fire (2021) review [Fantasia Film festival]

“McKie’s film is not only the best dance-film of recent years but might very well be one of the best Japanese films to be released this year.”

psycho-cinematography

Aug 25, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2024 Programme

In Montreal July 18 to Aug, 4.

Windows on Worlds

Jul 14, 2024 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Tokyo Revengers (2021) Review [Fantasia Film Festival]

“An exciting blend of satisfying violence, tensive moments, surges of pleasing lightheartedness, and touching emotional moments.”

psycho-cinematography

Aug 16, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia, Tokyo Revengers

Shin-Ultraman (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]

Higuchi and Anno deliver an impressive love letter to their childhood, yet their devoted love, which is sensible in every aspect of the narrative, might not be able…

psycho-cinematography

Jul 28, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Director Spotlight #6: “House of Sayuri”

Born on June 1, 1973, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Shiraishi made his mark on the film scene with Violent Man (1997), co-directed with Akihiro Kasai, which won the Screenplay…

News - Chicago Japan Film Collective

Nov 1, 2024 • Subscribe

Hell Girl

The Fish Tale (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]

A very heart-warming and touching narrative that shows that a subject does not necessarily need to make use of the neurotic solution to inscribe himself within the societal…

psycho-cinematography

Jul 31, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Hold Me Back (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]

“Ohku delivers, once again, a refreshing and highly touching romance-comedy.”

psycho-cinematography

Aug 13, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Convenience Story (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]

Miki delivers a great psychological mystery narrative, yet it might not be for everyone.

psycho-cinematography

Aug 6, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Love, Live, and Goldfish (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]

“While Makabe’s narrative does not offer anything truly new or groundbreaking, what it does brings to the table is served with excellence.”

psycho-cinematography

Aug 6, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Georama Boy Panorama Girl (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]

‘Seta’s poetically composed narrative blows a fresh breeze into the ‘traditional’ Japanese romance genre.’

psycho-cinematography

Sep 18, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

The Mole Song: Final (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]

Miike’s narrative delivers everything a fan of the previous narratives desires and even succeeds in inviting newcomers to delve into Reiji’s past exploits.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 24, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

My Broken Mariko (2022) [Fantasia Film Festival]

Tanada offers a compelling exploration of the emotional turmoil a female subject caused by the sudden death of someone important.

psycho-cinematography

Aug 12, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]

A very engaging samurai narrative that does not only offer an intriguing glance at one of the most important crossroads of Japanese history, but also a melodramatic exploration…

psycho-cinematography

Aug 9, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia, The Samurai

The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]

A very engaging samurai narrative that does not only offer an intriguing glance at one of the most important crossroads of Japanese history, but also a melodramatic exploration…

psycho-cinematography

Aug 10, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia, The Samurai

Jigoku-no-hanazono ～Office Royale～ (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]

“An absurd and crazy cocktail full of violence and funny twists and unexpected turns.”

psycho-cinematography

Aug 19, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Experience the Thrill of HOUSE OF SAYURI This Sunday!

Join us this Sunday, November 17, at the historic Music Box Theatre for a night to remember! The 2024 Chicago Japan Film Collective presents…

News - Chicago Japan Film Collective

Nov 15, 2024 • Subscribe

Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2022 Programme

Runs in Montreal July 14 to Aug. 3

Windows on Worlds

Jul 5, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Fantasia Film Festival: 7 Films not to miss.

This year, we, once again, explored the wide selection of films screening at the festival to select some films that we, psychocinematography, duly recommend to the audiences.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 26, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2023 Programme

In Montreal July 20 to Aug. 9.

Windows on Worlds

Jul 7, 2023 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2021 Programme

In cinemas and streaming across Canada Aug. 5 – 25

Windows on Worlds

Aug 2, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021) [Fantasia Film festival]

“A great animation film that offers an emotional and moving celebration of the strength of the bond between a daughter and a mother.”

psycho-cinematography

Aug 22, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko

Sayuri サユリ (2024) Director: Koji Shiraishi [Chicago Japanese Film Collective 2024]

Director Koji Shiraishi subverts J-Horror tropes he helped create with his comedy-horror Sayuri サユリ (2024) where a grandmother/grandson duo fight the titular ghost for control of a house. [Chicago…

Genkinahito

Nov 14, 2024 • Subscribe

Five Films Not To Miss [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]

Let us present 5 Japanese films that should already be high on your to-watch list.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 8, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Fly Me To The Saitama: From Biwa Lake with Love (2023) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2024]

A fun romp that works well as an introduction to the cultural diversity that enriches the Japanese archipelago.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 24, 2024 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

What To Do With Dead Kaiju (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]

“An extremely well-structured genre-blend that does not only provides the laughs and giggles with its pleasant political satire, but also allows the spectator to immerge himself into the…

psycho-cinematography

Aug 3, 2022 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

House of Flying Daggers (2004) [Film Review]

House of Flying Daggers; or, Triangle Love Affair      I want the wind to stop and think . House of Flying Daggers is one of the few…

Watching Asia Film Reviews

Dec 11, 2021 • Subscribe

Special - Japan Cuts Film Festival 2024

  Table of Contents Hello everyone, Once again this year, the Heroic Purgatory podcast is covering the Japan Cuts 2024 film…

Heroic Purgatory

Jul 21, 2024 • Subscribe

Scotland Loves Anime Film Festival 2024 Details

The good folks from Scotland Loves Animation have sent us details for the 2024 run of their festival. The long running and much loved festiv...

Otaku News - World Edition

Sep 16, 2024 • Subscribe

River (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]

If you like low-key humour and some time-twisting fun, you should not miss Yamaguchi’s latest.    

psycho-cinematography

Aug 1, 2023 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Follow The Light (2021) review [Fantasia Festival 2021]

The narrative might not offer anything new at a thematical level, but stands out due to his refusal to spell things out and, instead, imply certain subjective truths…

psycho-cinematography

Aug 3, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Taiwan Film Festival in Australia Returns for 2024

In Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, and Adelaide 25th July to 14th September.

Windows on Worlds

Jul 24, 2024 • Subscribe

Perfect Nervous (2024) Dir: Masaru Sano [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024]

Perfect Nervous (Dir: Masaru Sano, 2024) is a gorgeous short film with fantastical elements as it tells a life-affirming story wherein two young women with incurable body-altering diseases…

Genkinahito

Mar 25, 2024 • Subscribe

Japanese Films at the Vancouver International Film Festival 2024

A Preview of the Japanese Films at the Vancouver International Film Festival 2024 – September 26th to October 06th – will screen HAPPYEND, Super Happy Forever, Living in Two…

Genkinahito

Sep 17, 2024 • Subscribe

BFI London Film Festival Confirms Complete Programme for 2024

The BFI London Film Festival returns to cinemas across the city 9th to 20th October. East Asian highlights this year include the latest from Jia Zhangke, Hong Sang-soo, and Tsai…

Windows on Worlds

Oct 7, 2024 • Subscribe

Japanese Cinema at the BFI London Film Festival 2024

The good folks from the BFI have just sent us details of the upcoming Japanese films that'll be show cased at the BFI London Film Festival 2...

Otaku News - World Edition

Oct 9, 2024 • Subscribe

Japanese Films at the Rotterdam International Film Festival 2024

A Preview of the Japanese Films Programmed for the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2024

Genkinahito

Jan 15, 2024 • Subscribe

Japanese Films at the Berlin International Film Festival 2024

A Preview of the Japanese Films at the Berlin International Film Festival 2024 (February 15-25)

Genkinahito

Feb 13, 2024 • Subscribe

Japanese Films at the BFI London Film Festival 2024

A Preview of the Japanese Films at the BFI London Film Festival 2024 – October 9 to 20 – with films plucked from festivals from earlier in the…

Genkinahito

Sep 9, 2024 • Subscribe

The Colors Within

Insomniacs After School (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]

Ikeda’s narrative contains all the right ingredients, but the final mixture is not able to give the narrative the emotional impact it looks for.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 29, 2023 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia

Kakegurui 2: Ultimate Russian Roulette (2021) review [Fantasia Festival 2021]

“Hanabusa’s second outing proves to be as enjoyable and thrilling as the first.”

psycho-cinematography

Nov 23, 2021 • Subscribe

Girl from Phantasia, Kakegurui

A Preview of the Japanese Films at Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024

A Preview of the Japanese Films at Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024 (March 01 – March 10) – trailers and synopses.

Genkinahito

Feb 19, 2024 • Subscribe

Swimming, Sumiko

Film Festival Week: Wasurenagumo

Wasurenagumo was Production IG’s 2011 young animator training project. I’ve looked at some of these before including Harmonie, Aki no Kanade and Ojisan no Lamp. There have also…

Anime Reviews

Aug 14, 2021 • Subscribe

Li'l Spider Girl, Aki no Kanade, Death Parade, Harmonie, Little Witch Academia

Kanazawa Film Festival 2012

If the world ends this year, it won't be because of the whole "2012: End of Days" thing. It will have nothing to do with the Mayan…

Japachickyburgers

Sep 8, 2012 • Subscribe

A different kind of Tokyo film festival

A 2-day international film festival is taking place this weekend in Tokyo, featuring short films from Japan, Norway, Kyrgyzstan, and more. Damah International Film Festival moved to Tokyo…

Japan Subculture Research Center

May 14, 2023 • Subscribe

Scotland Loves Anime Film Festival 2024 With London Expansion Details

The good folks from Scotland Loves Anime have sent us an update for their anime film festival. They've just revealed more details of the spe...

Otaku News - World Edition

Oct 23, 2024 • Subscribe

Snowdrop スノードロップ Director: Kota Yoshida [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024]

Snowdrop スノードロップ, by director Kota Yoshida, is a socially conscious domestic drama/character study that looks at the welfare system via a woman chased by the trauma of abandonment…

Genkinahito

Mar 5, 2024 • Subscribe