I was the filmmaking volunteer for the first ever edition of the Zipangu Fest and attended every single event.
The Fest opened with a collaboration with Close-Up (film library - http://www.closeupfilmcentre.com/) - Nippon Year Zero. A programme focused on Japanese 60's and 70's experimental shorts:
Sparse and lingering - an interesting study of innocence and the essence of civilization.
A study of loss and homosexuality. Mysterious and darkly comic.
Archive footage re-arranged in different contexts - Jonouchi was known for re-arranging the footage and music for every single screening.
Emotional and impressive. Depiction of Shinjuku Station as a centre of turmoil during the 60's.
Great Society
Dir. Masanori Oe, 1967, 17min, Video
Archive footage re-arranged to explore the different points of view of the Japan/U.S.A relationship. Normally, Oe would have 6 projectors going at the same in different combinations and music for every single screening.
Not only did we have the pleasure of watching some rarely screened shorts - we also got to watch it projected in the film's original print! A sold-out room that was bubbling with anticipation - people had to be turned away.
30.11.2010 | Tania Martins's blog
Cat. : 16 mm film 60's 70's political Administrative units of Pakistan Bethnal Green Working Man's Club CDATA cinema Close-Up Contact Details Dir Donald Richie experimental fest festival film http://www.closeupfilmcentre.com Janouchi Japan Japanese Japanese Cinema london Masanori Oe Nippon Nippon Year Zero Oe print projector Richie screening Shinjuku Station shorts Social Issues Social Issues United States XML Zipangu Zipangu Fest FESTIVALS