Welcome to the third and final part of this week’s trailer post
You can find the first part here and the second part here
It has been movies to the max with morning sessions dedicated to watching them and afternoons/evenings dedicated to writing about them. It is rewarding and there are always gems on the festival circuit that might not get theatrical distribution. Last year was Sekai, which I have yet to see in the wild. That was one of my absolute favourites of 2023.
What are the rest of the films released?
Given Winter Mix (movie 2024) 
映画 ギヴン 柊mix 「 Eiga Gibun Fukumix」
Release Date: January 27th, 2024
Duration: 70 mins
Director: Noriko Hashimoto
Writer: Yuniko Ayana (Screenplay), Natsuki Kizu (Original Creator)
Starring: Masatomo Nakazawa (Haruki Nakayama), Shogo Yano (Mafuyu Sato), Takuya Eguchi (Akihiko Kaji), Yuma Uchida (Ritsuka Uenoyama), Fumiya Imai (Hiiragi Kashima), Taito Ban (Shizusumi Yagi),
Animation Production: Lerche
Website Twitter: @given_anime ANN MAL
This is the first of a two-part animated film sequel to the Given TV anime which is an adaptation of the same-named manga.
Synopsis: Ritsuka Uenoyama found his passion for music and life reinvigorated by Mafuyu Sato’s singing voice and presence. The two gradually get closer, especially when a the band “Given” is formed and the two begin dating. The band enter a contest and their main rivals are “syh”, a group formed Mafuyu’s childhood friend Hiiragi Kashima and drama builds from there.
Kemonote 
獣手 「Kemonote」
Release Date: January 27th, 2024
Duration: 77 mins.
Director: Taichiro Natsume
Writer: Taichiro Natsume, Yasunori Kasuga (Screenplay),
Starring: Takahiro Fukuya, Misa Wada, Yota Kawase, Yuya Matsuura, Yudai Uenishi, Taro Suwa,
Website Twitter: @ubKXFxZYvUoamdI
Lead actor Takahiro Fukuya used to work on the business side of movies but found the work environment dispiriting and so he made this film… initially with his own money but then through crowdfounding.
Synopsis: Osamu is struggling through life as a day labourer. One day, he and his ex-girlfriend Koyuki are threatened with violence and forced to commit a robbery by a man named Inui but the robbery fails and Osamu loses his left hand. In its place is put flesh that takes an unusual shape. Caught between a desire for revenge and mutating hand, Osamu and Koyuki leave the city.
Let It Be: Bloom 
在りのままで咲け 「Ari no Mama de Sake」
Release Date: January 27th, 2024
Duration: 29 mins.
Director: Yurugu Matsumoto
Writer: Yoshika Kuwae (Screenplay), Misaki Mizumura (Original Story),
Starring: Misaki Mizumura, Tomoyuki Sato, Satomi Yagihashi, Yoko Matsuda, IROHA,
Website Twitter: @arinomamadesake
Lead actress Misaki Mizumura planned, wrote, and stars in this film. The theme is about pursuing dreams even after motherhood and aims to give people hope that they can balance responsibilities as many of Mizumura’s decided to end their acting careers at the age of 30. Director Matsumoto has a long career in film and TV and has worked as an assistant director on films by Nobuhiko Obayashi (Hanagatami, Seven Days). He was also the assistant director on Joy of Man’s Desiring.
This film is a partner piece to another one, Ari no mama de Susume, released December 01st 2023.
Synopsis: Yukiko has been acting since childhood and the passion for pursuing that profession has never faded. Even with a 4-year-old daughter, she still works hard to achieve something great and she is given a chance, but her husband and mother-in-law are not supportive and think that she is too old for dreams. This prompts Yukiko to leave the family home with her daughter to try and figure out her next step…
Everything, Everywhere 
すべて、至るところにある 「Subete, Itaru Tokoro ni Aru 」
Release Date: January 27th, 2024
Duration: 88 mins.
Director: Lim Kah-Wai
Writer: Lim Kah-Wai (Screenplay),
Starring: Shogen, Adela Sou, Ying Kiang,
Twitter: @cinemadrifter
Lim Kah-Wai went with his Asian crew to the Balkans to shoot two films, Nowhere, Now Here and Somewhere, Some When. In that last title, he had Adela Sou as his lead. She returns in this final instalment of the Balkans trilogy. She is joined by Shogen (December) who I can’t remember from that last movie but he has worked with Lim on Your Lovely Smile.
Synopsis: Eva travels from Macau to the Balkans for Somewhere, Some When and she met Jay, a film director. A pandemic and wars have occurred since she was last in the region but she finds out that Jay had completed a film she appeared in and she goes searching for him.
Sono Kodo ni Mimi o Ateyo 
その鼓動に耳をあてよ 「Sono Kodo ni Mimi o Ateyo」
Release Date: January 27th, 2024
Duration: 95 mins.
Director: Takuro Adachi
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
Synopsis: This documentary is the 15th released by Tokai TV and it covers the ER at Nagoya Ekisaikai Hospital, the largest hospital in Aichi Prefecture. The hospital’s motto is “no refusal, no emergency,” and it can receive up to 10,000 hospitals a day. When the numbers rose to record levels during the Covid-19 pandemic, the ER found itself under new pressure. This documentary covers that time period where staff worked hard to manage effective delivery of patient care.