Films list
STARTING with ZERO - 8 days to embrace the city of Nara and films!
Film Festival for the Youth, by the Youth:
Nara International Film Festival for Youth September 17-19
Showcase Films of Up-and-Coming Directors from Around the World:
Nara International Film Festival 2022 September 19-24
International Competition
We will screen GREEN JAIL, the film that the youth interns promoted and advertised on their own.
We gather films from young filmmakers from around the world. This is a competition where we show the great works that have passed our strict selection process. Exceptional films receive the Golden SHIKA Award (work of excellence) or the Audience Award. Award recipients have the privilege of submitting a proposal for the next NARAtive film project, and if their proposal is accepted, they will be chosen as the director of the film.
NARA-wave
A competition featuring student films from around the world.
We will screen 11 films, divided into 4 programs, A~D. Program B will have 4 films, A and C will each have 3, and D will have 1 film. Please be aware that the start time for each film's program is listed next to the film, and not necessarily the specific time that film will start.
A competition for films and movies made by students. Past films have received high praise at film festivals abroad, such as the Cannes Film Festival. The prize for the most exceptional film is the Golden KOJIKA Award. The winner has the opportunity to submit a proposal for the next NARAtive project, and if their propsal is accepted, they will be chosen as the director of the film.
A competition for films and movies made by students. Past films have received high praise at film festivals abroad, such as the Cannes Film Festival. The prize for the most exceptional film is the Golden KOJIKA Award. The winner has the opportunity to submit a proposal for the next NARAtive project, and if their propsal is accepted, they will be chosen as the director of the film.
In a foreign land far from family, a middle-aged Chinese woman struggles behind both walls of marriage and culture.
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11min.
After her father remarried, Yoon Seul lived with Jae Yoon who was about the same age as her.
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28min.
In the process of saving money to buy his beloved accordion, Erpan gradually became close to Ayisha, the daughter of the owner of the Musical instrument shop.
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36min.
NARAtive 2022
The NIFF’s Filmmaking Project
Film production project for connecting Nara to the world.
In Nara prefecture’s Kawakami Village, the Japanese inn ‘Asahikan’, stands among the mountains. It is here that NARAtive's first Japanese director, Daichi Murase, depicts the story of a family that runs a Japanese inn.
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30min.
NARAtive 2010 - 2020
The NIFF’s Filmmaking Project
Film production project for connecting Nara to the world. All screenings are [free of charge]!
Youth Juror Program
A Program for Teenagers to View Films as Jurors
Teenagers serve as jurors for feature films recommended by the Berlin International Film Festival Generation, as well as the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2022 Award Winning Shorts Program. At the closing ceremony, members of the Youth Jurors will announce which films they chose for the Award of Excellence in each category. This creates an opportunity to be involved with films from a “viewing” angle.
Youth Juror Program short films "IN DREAMS", "BAREFOOT EMPRESS", "NUISANCE BEAR", "THE VOICE ACTRESS" and "THE HANDS" will be screened as a five-part series.
Youth Juror Program short films "IN DREAMS", "BAREFOOT EMPRESS", "NUISANCE BEAR", "THE VOICE ACTRESS" and "THE HANDS" will be screened as a five-part series.
Stay Awake is a personal exploration of the roller coaster ride that families go on while trying to help their loved ones battle a disease that affects millions every day. [Berlinale Spotlight-Generation]
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94min.
Teenage girls who lived on the unforgiving streets of Bogota, close their eyes and dream up ALIS, a fictional classmate. [Berlinale Spotlight-Generation]
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84min.
Comedy Queen tells the story of 13-year old Sasha who refuses to cry despite suffering from immeasurable sorrow. [Berlinale Spotlight-Generation]
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93min.
Sign language interpreter Doh-young learns of his wife's delivery for the newborn bay during his live interpretation for a case briefing. In his own way, Doh-young conveys his warm feelings towards his wife and the newborn child. [SSFF & ASIA Selection]
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10min.
Youth Filmmaking Workshop
A film by teenagers who succeeded in completing everything from planning to filming and editing in just one week.
We invite a professional film director as an instructor, while the junior high school and high school students create the concepts, do the filming, and do the editing in this filmmaking workshop. We will screen the films that were created from their perspective. It's a way for us to develop the people who will connect with the world from Nara.
A film by teenagers who succeeded in completing everything from planning to filming and editing in just one week.
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(Free)
Youth Cinema Intern
We will screen GREEN JAIL, the film that the youth interns promoted and advertised on their own.
Youth Cinema Intern is a program for teenagers to learn how to distribute and promote a film. Films don’t reach the audience by simply being made. How do you get a film to be seen by the most people? How can you convey the charm of the film? In collaboration with a film distribution company, the teenagers face that question and took on that challenge.
A 90-year-old woman living on Iriomote Island, known as the "Island of the Dead," and the beautiful yet cruel nature of the island are shown.
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101min.
Invitation Films from Cannes
The winning films of the Cannes Film Festival 2020-2022 will be screened!
A partnership with the Cannes International Film Festival since 2016. We welcomed an award-winning short film from the festival and three award-winning films from Jeune Cinéma section of Cinéfondation and all those four films will be screened in one program.
A story about love and reconciliation between Yukari and her mother Shizue.
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50min.
Special Invitation Films
We will screen five films recommended by, related to, or planned by people related to the NIFF.
Films which have a connection with “Nara International Film Festival” will be introduced at Special screening program! In fiscal year 2022, a variety of films, such as a film performed by Masaya Kato, a Japanese actor, Asami Mizukawa, a Japanese actress and directed by Izumi Takahashi, or a sponsored film set in Nara etc., will be screened. Please enjoy all those unique works!
Sebastian and Pastora live in a Shuar village in the Upper Amazonia of Ecuador.
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121min.
Natsuko works at a nursing home. Every day is the same, and she wonders what the purpose of her life is.
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25min.
(Free)
A short film project "MIRRORLIAR FILMS" that screens unique works by popular and notable directors selected across age, gender, occupation, young and veteran, major and independent. In Season 4, 9 people including Asami Mizukawa, Eliza Ikeda, Takumi Saito, and Tsuyoshi Muro participated as directors.
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126min.
Grand Voyage with Africa
Cultural exchange program jointly organized by UNESCO and the Nara International Film Festival.
The world premiere. 9 women from 5 countries in Africa and a woman from Japan, total of 10 young directors challenged to make a short film set in Nara. We now have splendid works made in only two weeks using their objective point of view to see Japanese culture. Those 10 films (without making-of films) will be screened [free of charge]!
Finding peace is a therapeutic film. In a world where the Covid has put the whole world on pause, the Senegalese director tried to explore, to question and to experience the Japanese culture.
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10min.
(Free)
As a 24th generation Kikuoka, running the family practice in the wake of a global pandemic, he explains the role of traditional medicine in a modern world, with modern diseases.
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10min.
(Free)
While I was in Japan, the news that reached me from my country was not good. Japan was able to recover from the second world war. My country must also stand up and take its destiny in hand.
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12min.
(Free)
By definition femininity (also called womanliness) is a set of attributes, behaviours, and roles generally associated with women and girls. In this film, you will witness a conversation with conflicting views on the social perspective of womanhood.
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10min.
(Free)
Two artists; one living in Nara, Japan and the other in Nairobi, Kenya, make music together while exploring the similarities and differences in their creative lives.
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12min.
(Free)
The director of this film, Yang, is just another ethnic minority in Japan. She hopes younger generations won’t struggle with their own identity.
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11min.
(Free)
Kikuichi Cutlery has an over 750-year-old reputation of family tradition of fine craftsmanship. This documentary shares the story of the first female CEO of the historic legacy.
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9min.
(Free)
“The Bigger Picture” is a story of an eighty-three-year-old Japanese painter. He has painted the same building for more than 50 times now and still counting.
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11min.
(Free)
My presence in Japan allowed me to look at martial arts, disciplines par excellence of non-violence, and to focus on their teachings. I believe that endogenous solutions are possible.
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9min.
(Free)
In Wolof, Saaraba means Paradise. In Japanese, it means Farewell. In the streets of Nara, I put down my camera, I question nature, deer, and some people.
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10min.
(Free)
Okinawa Focus
"Okinawa Focus" featuring the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japan.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japan. In the "Okinawa Special" featuring this milestone, there are plenty of events including four films set in Okinawa will be screened, a dance performance by Ryukyuan dancer Shigeo Miyagi, and director Yoshihisa Katsurayama talks about the documentary that follows Taro Okamoto's love for Okinawa!
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to mainland Japan, under the cherry blossoms in full bloom at Kiyoharu Art Village in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Ryukyuan dancer Shigeo Miyagi dances and film director Naomi Kawase creates a fantastic fantasy.
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23min.
(Free)
Shouldn't I follow you? Even if my body breaks down, I will not be distraught.
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155min.
One thought that everyone thinks when they fall in love, "This love is the truth, the love of a lifetime." But most of the time, in the course of daily life, that feeling fades and is forgotten.
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92min.
Shrine and Temple Special Programs
These will be special screenings at Kasugataisha Shrine and Nara Kasugano International Forum.
Nara International Film Festival has been coordinated dedication film screenings with a cooperation from various shrines and temples in Nara. In this year, several films were screened at Kasuga Taisha and Nara Kasugano International Forum. Why don’t you feel a treasure inside your heart by watching movies at sacred places where a large number of people have been praying from ancient times.
Bike to Project Cinema
Popular program to generate electricity by ourselves for screening will be revived!
The screening will be suspended if you stop pedaling a bicycle!
This is a participatory screening which requires a team work to reach the climax…!
This is a participatory screening which requires a team work to reach the climax…!
A Hoolywood live-action film adaptation of Sega's world-famous “Sonic” video game series. Sonic, the blue hedgehog with the power to run the fastest in the universe, leaves his hometown and comes to distant Earth.
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100min.
(Free)