The organisers of the Osaka Asian Film Festival have released the outline of their 2022 edition with confirmation that there will be in-person screenings and, for the second year running, online screenings. Many of these online screenings will be available to international audiences. Details below!
The physical portion of the festival will take place from in cinemas around Osaka from March 10 to 20 as it graces screens at the traditional venues Umeda Burg 7, Cine Libre Umeda, ABC Hall and the National Museum of Art, Osaka. This is where the majority of the film fest’s programme will be held as audiences will be able to enjoy carefully-selected bunch of films from across Asia that will show the latest trends in filmmaking, stories, and styles. Sections include spotlights on Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as the Competition section and on dedicated to Japanese films.
As mentioned at the top, there will be online screenings featuring Japanese indie films and many of these film will be available to international viewers. This part runs from March 3 to 21 via the festivals online portal, OSAKA ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL ONLINE where people can stream them.
As mentioned on the site, many of the films have been screened at the OAFF in the past and now is the perfect time to reintroduce to the world. For many titles, this will be their online debut and, once again, many available to a worldwide audience!!!
So far, only one film has been announced and it is this year’s opening film for the streaming portal.
<Online Opening Film>
Torso 
トルソ 「Toruso」
Release Date: July 10th, 2010
Duration: 104 mins.
Director: Yutaka Yamazaki
Writer: Yutaka Yamazaki, Yuki Sato (Script),
Starring: Makiko Watanabe, Sakura Ando, Sola Aoi, Arata Iura, Renji Ishibashi, Miyako Yamaguchi,
This is the first film planned, directed, co-written, and more by Yutaka Yamazaki, a veteran cameraman and cinematographer for Japanese TV documentaries and films. His work as cinematographer stretches from Naomi Kawase (Still the Water, Shara) to Miwa Nishikawa (The Long Excuse) but it can most often be seen in Hirokazu’s Kore-eda’s films stretching from After Life, to Distance, Nobody Knows, Still Walking, I Wish, and After the Storm. His film covers themes of love and sexuality and is said to be show with an eye for “sensitive and detailed images captures an element of the female mentality.”
Sounds intriguing and he has the style!
A must-look aspect of the film are the leading ladies as, playing the film’s half-sisters are leading actresses Makiko Watanabe (Love Exposure, Still the Water) and Sakura Ando (Shoplifters, 100 Yen Love). They are supported by a stellar cast. Trailer and story below!
Synopsis: Hiroko (Makiko Watanabe) is an office lady who has an aversion to people. She is quite content with leading solitary life, her only companion being her “Torso,” a limbless inflatable male doll which she treats like a real boyfriend. In contrast, there is her free-spirited half-sister Mina (Sakura Ando), who lives life as if she is in pursuit of human warmth. Fed up with her boyfriend’s violence and infidelity, Mina comes knocking on Hiroko’s door and begins a cohabitation with Hiroko and her Torso which sets off a heart-breaking tale that reveals their deep sorrow and anxiety over the course of a summer.
Check out more details on the official festival website and check back with me as I will be covering the event!