2nd Irish Film Festival in Tokyo, 31 May – 13 June 2024
A showcase of top Irish cinema in Tokyo
The Embassy of Ireland is delighted to announce the much-anticipated 2nd Irish Film Festival in Tokyo, taking place from 31 May to 13 June, 2024, at the prestigious Yebisu Garden Cinema in central Tokyo.
Building on the remarkable success of last year’s inaugural event, the 2024 festival promises to captivate audiences with a curated selection of eight outstanding Irish films.
Irish cinema has gained significant global recognition in recent years with successes in the Academy Awards and many more festivals around the world, establishing Ireland as a powerhouse in the international film and animation industry. To celebrate and support this growth, the Embassy of Ireland, in collaboration with its generous sponsors in Japan, as well as Tourism Ireland and Screen Ireland, and film distributors Mermaid Films and Valeria, is delighted to present a range of new and classic popular films that exemplify the remarkable creativity and storytelling skills of Irish filmmakers.
The Irish Film Festival Tokyo 2024 will feature a line-up spanning decades of Irish cinematic achievements. The festival will include Japan premières of Dance First (2023), Tarrac (2022), and a heart-warming 2013 documentary, The Irish Pub. Other highlights include the short animated film Late Afternoon by Oscar-nominated studio, Cartoon Saloon and a digitally remastered version of John Huston’s classic The Dead, based on Dubliners by James Joyce. Also featured will be An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl) with bilingual subtitles, and acclaimed documentaries, Young Plato and Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan.
Attendees will be treated to a rich tapestry of Irish storytelling through these diverse films. A selection of the screenings will feature special events with artists and experts connected with the film themes. Each of the films will be screened twice throughout the festival.
Ambassador of Ireland, Damien Cole, welcomed the event, saying: “We are delighted to celebrate the second year of the Irish Film Festival in Tokyo. We hope Japanese audiences will enjoy this opportunity to appreciate Irish film-making talent and also to gain insights into Ireland and Irish culture through its vibrant film industry. We hope this event will build on Ireland’s strong cultural ties with Japan and lead to ever more cultural and people-to-people exchanges.”
Screening Schedule:
31 May (Fri) – 13 June (Thu), 2024. For details on screening times please visit the official website at: www.irishfilmfes.jp
Venue and ticket sales:
YEBISU GARDEN CINEMA. For ticket sales, please see: www.unitedcinemas.jp/ygc/index.html
Featured Films:
- Tarrac (Japan Première/ Opening film)
- Dance First (Japan Première/Talk Event)
- The Irish Pub (Japan Première)
- Late Afternoon (Short Animation [1])
- The Dead (Digital Remastered Version)
- An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl)
- Young Plato
- Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan
[1] Cartoon Saloon studios 25th anniversary screening. For info Song of the Sea - Theater Info | THEATERS
Special Events:
In addition to film screenings, the festival will feature a series of engaging special events, including talks, musical performances, and a special Bloomsday celebration, providing a deeper dive into Irish culture and cinema.
Talks
6 June Following the screening of Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan, Radio DJ and TV host Peter Barakan will talk about the life and work of beloved Irish musician, the late Shane MacGowan. (Discussion in Japanese).
17 June After the screening of Dance First, Professor Minako Okamuro of Waseda University will talk about the Irish authors featured in the film, Samuel Beckett and James Joyce. (Discussion in Japanese).
Musical Performance
4 June Enjoy live performances of traditional Irish music, bringing the vibrant sounds of Ireland to Tokyo by Kozo Toyota and friends after screening of The Irish Pub.
Bloomsday Celebration
13 June Following the screening of The Dead, join us for a special Bloomsday celebration. This event will showcase how Bloomsday is celebrated in Ireland, honouring the legacy of James Joyce and his seminal work, Ulysses. To learn more about Bloomsday, click here: https://www.bloomsdayfestival.ie/what-is-bloomsday/.
Further Information:
For further information about the Irish Film Festival, please visit the official website at www.irishfilmfes.jp