In March of this year Japan was struck by an earthquake, followed by a devastating tsunami. It’s obvious that the annual film festival, Camera Japan, will pay attention to this big disaster. But the festival – taking place between September 22 and 26 in Rotterdam, and traveling to Amsterdam after – will surely also have a positive note. Their extraordinary program stills the appetite of Japan-o-holics and tickles Tokyo-dummies at the same time.

written by Esther Muñoz Grootveld

Films
First and foremost Camera Japan is about film. Lovers of Asian cinema should by no means take a rain check. This year’s central theme is ‘Made in Japan’. Exploring what can still be considered Japanese and what not, expect films influenced by Japan, documentaries about Japan and of course films made by Japanese directors. The festival opens in Rotterdam on the 21st of September with the documentary ‘We don’t Care About Music Anyway’, giving an insight into Tokyo’s sizzling underground music scene. But there is lots more to see. Like ‘Bunny Drop’, a movie about a man who suddenly has to take care of a 6-year old girl. Or ‘Deadball’, a hilarious and insane splatter sports comedy. Or what about ‘Shirome’, a scary flick of a girl band lost in the woods, that reminds me of Blair Witch Project. That’s just the start of it. Trailers of all feature films, as well as documentaries, can be found on their website.

Trailer Deadball

After the Quake
To show support to the victims of the disaster in Japan, Camera Japan has initiated ‘After the Quake’. This art initiative encourages everyone to express in their own way how they feel about what happened in Japan during the quake disaster and what has been happening since. Submissions will be exhibited during the festival in a special installation. Feel like showing your support too? Audience at the venue is very welcome to participate and add their work on site.

What else?
To offer the full Japan experience there is a program of activities, spanning from photography to fashion and architecture. A must-see is the presentation by world-renowned architecture office MVRDV on the 25th of September in Lantaren/Venster. During the festival a series of street shots by photographer Yamada Kaoru is on show, showing the most remarkable Tokyo species. And if you are into fashion, don’t miss the Harajuku fashion show on the 24th of September.

Camera Japan
22-9 / 25-9, Rotterdam, Lantaren/Venster
30-9 / 2-10, Amsterdam, Kriterion
2-10 / 5-10, Amsterdam, Melkweg (retrospective)

visit the website:
Camera Japan

Esther Muñoz Grootveld is strategic consultant in design and fashion and will be living in East-Asia for the next year.