Kazuko Kurosawa, Yuichi Kitamura, Hiroshi Osaki, Itsuji Itao
and Hiroshi Shinagawa

Leading Japanese entertainment group Yoshimoto Kogyo officially announced the 3rd Okinawa International Movie Festival at their Tokyo headquarters yesterday, which will be held in Japan’s sunny south from March 18 to 27, 2011. A comedy heavyweight responsible for legendary acts like Downtown, Yoshimoto Kogyo also employs Australian comedian Chad Mullane. He appeared both on the screen and in person at this year’s festival, which attracted a bumper 380,000 over nine days. With smiles still firmly fixed on their dials, the Yoshimoto Kogyo faithful were proud to announce that the festival will be once again based around the theme of ‘Laugh & Peace.’

In attendance were directors Itsuji Itao, Yuichi Kimura and Hiroshi Shinagawa, actress Kazuko Kurosawa, and Okinawa International Movie Festival executive committee chairman Hiroshi Osaki. The group reminisced happily on their films, and memories at previous Okinawa International Movie Festivals.

Osakan comedian and director Itsuji Itao exhibited his film The King of Jailbreakers at the inaugural festival in 2009, and received official invitations for it from the 14th Pusan International Film Festival, and 53rd Asia Pacific Film Festival. ‘It was pleasing to have people at overseas film festivals, who have no conception of my work, appreciate my it from a completely new perspective,’ he said. ‘I got lost for a moment on the long red carpet at the Okinawa International Movie Festival. Where do they keep such a massive thing? (laughs)’

Fellow director Yuichi Kimura screened his films Counterfeit and What a Wonderful Life!! at the first and second festivals respectively. ‘I was really happy to see so many Okinawans gather at the festival, and I was impressed with way they celebrated. When I was having a barbeque with some of the locals on a day off, I asked if they were going to fry up some goya (bitter melon, an old staple in Okinawa) and was surprised to hear them respond ‘that bitter stuff? no way! (laughs)’

Director Hiroshi Shinagawa’s film Drop became a smash hit in Japan, drawing over 1.3 million since he exhibited it at the first festival in Okinawa. ‘Everyone in the film business was really nice, and I enjoyed every day when I was filming Drop. I hope everyone will love Manzai Gang, which is due out next year, in the same way. I was happy to receive the opportunity to dine together with Mr Kimura and Mr Itao at the Okinawa International Movie Festival,’ he said.

Kazuko Kurosawa was the lead actress in Miss KUROSAWA Film, which screened at the second festival and achieved the double crown of Laugh Category Uminchu Prize Grand Prix, and the Jury Special Prize Golden SHISA Award. ‘When they read out the award, I thought ‘you’re kidding.’ I regretted not even using a hair iron on the day, and stepping onto the dais with my hair all over the place. While everyone was out enjoying the night in Okinawa, I was eating a convenience store meal. I thought to myself, ‘what an unsociable person I am’(laughs)!’

Submissions are currently being invited for the Laugh and Peace Categories in the full length program, as well as ideas for commercials to run in the CM Competition, which will be based around the theme of local pride. More information is available (only in Japanese at this stage) at the festival website. For more information in English, please visit the 2010 festival website.