Press releases

MINSK, 9 November (BelTA) - It is great that a lot of people in Minsk show interest in the Japanese cinematography, Makiko Kamiya, film historian of the national film center, lecturer at the universities of Japan, said at a press conference held on 9 November to discuss the retrospective of Japanese films at the 22^nd Minsk International Film Festival Listapad, BelTA has learned.

“I am really glad that so many people in Minsk are interested in the Japanese cinematography. At screening of a Japanese film at the Pobeda cinema house, I was really delighted to see such a crowd,” the film expert said.

According to Makiko Kamiya, the retrospective of the Japanese films of the previous century that included seven pictures provided a rather wide range of films. “For the Japanese these are very important films. We have thoroughly selected them. I think it is good to people to understand what variety of films the Japanese cinematography has,” the film historian said.

The retrospective screening of the best films marks the 120th anniversary of the Japanese film company Shochiku. The retrospective has been organized by JTI Company in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan in Belarus and the Japanese Foundation.

Shochiku Company was founded in 1895 as a kabuki production company. The company grew quickly, expanding its business to many other Japanese live theatric styles. The company began making films in 1920. It also produces and distributes anime films.

According to a representative of JTI Company, a retrospective screening has been organized in Minsk for the fourth time. The popularization of the Japanese culture is one of the main areas in JTI social responsibility policy.

The 22nd edition of Listapad International Film Festival will be held in Minsk on 6-13 November. The main organizer of the festival is the center of visual and performing arts "ART Corporation”. Founders are the Culture Ministry, the Minsk City Hall, with the participation of the Belarusian TV and Radio Company, National Film Studio Belarusfilm, Belarusian Union of Cinematographers. The festival is held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Belarus.

The festival is accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) as a competition festival among the films from the Baltic states, Central Asia, Central and Eastern Europe.