Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2020 Special Online Screening Event

Date: 2020 June 24 20:06

Posted by Joe

With social distancing still in place across the UK virtual events are proving to be a popular alternative. Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival have just sent us details of their 2020 offerings, which include a free online screening event on Saturday 25th July 2020 at 11am and 6pm (UK time).

They've got a line-up of fun films that range from stop motion to 2D and it's all for free. All people have to do is go to the Kotatsu Festival YouTube channel at either 11am or 6pm to watch the films.

Animators include current names like Miho Yata and Arisa Wakami and veteran animator Fusako Yusaki. So why not tune in on Saturday morning or evening to enjoy some insight into animation?

Full Story

Press release as follows:

Thank you to everyone who showed an interest in our online screening.

We are happy to announce the date and details!

Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2020

July 25, 2020 Free Online Screening

http://www.kotatsufestival.com/index.html

On July 25, at 11am & 6pm, a special edition of the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival will be held on YouTube in honour of its 10th anniversary. The festival will use its YouTube channel to present a free online screening of shorts from an all-female line-up of directors ranging from university students to the current crop of animators working today and an animation industry legend who we are celebrating with a centrepiece presentation featuring an interview we have recorded with her.


The Animators


Fusako Yusaki (湯崎夫沙子)



Yusaki is an award-winning claymation pioneer who emerged in the 1960s after moving to Milan and establishing her own independent studio, Studio Yusaki. Her works consist of commercials, films, and children's television programmes which were made for public broadcasters such as RAI and NHK. Yusaki's famous works include clay animation advertisements for the liqueur Fernet-Branca, and popular TV character Peo the blue dog. We have programmed four of her works, Uog, Polis, Oto and La Rosa Dei Venti, and we have an interview with her where she talks about her career.


Miho Yata (やたみほ) Image from The King of Amechau Country.



Tokyo-based Miho Yata is a graduate of Shirayuri Women's University, and is currently a full-time lecturer there. Since 1999, she has produced many animations and content, producing for TV commercials, teaching materials, picture books and illustrations, as well as holding workshops on animation, and visual toys. Her works are based on the art of knitting and her most famous work is Knit & Wool, which airs on NHK E-TV for kids early in the morning. We have programmed The King of Amechau Country to show what she can do.


Arisa Wakami (若見ありさ) Image from Birth - The Dance of Life



Arisa Wakami is a professor at Tokyo Zokei University and a lecturer at Joshibi University of Art and Design. More importantly, she is an animator and works with both hand-drawn and stop motion animation who has utilised a range of "materials" from people to sand on glass boards. Her works cover films, TV programmes and workshops and they feature poetic imagery and have been screened at famous festivals around the world. We have programmed Blessing, 0-5, chorus and her part of Birth - The Dance of Life.


Mone Kurita (栗田百嶺) Image from A day when became a Asparagus man



Kurita represents the next generation of animation talent. A recent graduate of Tokyo Polytechnic University, she combines colourful hand-drawn images with computer manipulation. Her work, A day when became a Asparagus man, has been selected for the Tokyo Anime Award Festival. We have selected that wonderful work and her film Brassiere Cat as the titles we will screen.


We will also have a selection of graduate works from some of the students at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts (titles confirmed shortly).

This screening is free to watch. This has been made possible with supported from Film Feels Connected and is supported by Film Hub Wales as part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), made possible by the National Lottery.

The Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival relies on sponsors and donors to help us deliver screenings. If you would like to show your support, you can do so with a voluntary contribution at the festival's Patreon page. Alternatively you can support the festival without paying extra money by signing up to Easyfundrasing and choosing to support Kotatsu. When you shop via Easyfundrasing website, a percentage of your purchase will be automatically donated to the festival. If you are shy, you can choose a setting that allows you to be an anonymous supporter.

About Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival

Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival is a charitable organisation run by a small team of volunteers. It has been running since November 2010 and its mission is to bring Japanese animation and culture to audiences. The festival screens a wide variety of films and runs animation workshops and masterclasses with leading animators from Japan as well as providing educational and cultural learning opportunities. It has expanded over the years and can be experienced yearly at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff and the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 2020 marks the first online edition of the festival. Tetsu's Armature and Cloth Cat Animation are our kind sponsors.

More info:
Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Registered Charity Number 1187288
info@kotatsufestival.com
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About Film Hub Wales

Film Hub Wales aims to bring more films, to more people, in more places around Wales. Part of the BFI Film Audience Network and supported by National Lottery funding, FHW regularly develops inventive ways for people in Wales to go to the cinema with its independent member venues.
Film Hub Wales (FHW) is one of eight UK wide 'hubs' part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN) and supported with National Lottery funding, with Chapter appointed as the Film Hub Lead Organisation (FHLO) in Wales. We aim to develop the exhibition sector through dedicated research, training and audience development project support. Since Film Hub Wales set up in 2013, we've supported over 225 exciting cinema projects, reaching over 465,000 audience members.

We are also proud to lead on the UK inclusive cinema strategy on behalf of BFI FAN.

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About the BFI Film Audience Network

Supported by National Lottery funding, the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), is central to the BFI's aim to ensure the greatest choice of film is available for everyone. Established in 2012 to build wider and more diverse UK cinema audiences for British and international film, FAN is a unique, UK-wide collaboration made up of eight Hubs managed by leading film organisations and venues strategically placed around the country. FAN also supports talent development with BFI NETWORK Talent Executives in each of the English Hubs, with a mission to discover and support talented writers, directors and producers at the start of their careers.

BFI FAN Film Hubs are:

• Film Hub Midlands is led by Broadway, Nottingham working in partnership with the Birmingham-based Flatpack
• Film Hub North is led collectively by Showroom Workstation, Sheffield, HOME Manchester and Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle
• Film Hub South East is led by the Independent Cinema Office
• Film Hub South West is led by Watershed in Bristol
• Film Hub Scotland is led by Glasgow Film Theatre
• Film Hub Northern Ireland is led by Queen's University Belfast
• Film Hub Wales is led by Chapter in Cardiff
• Film Hub London is led by Film London

Website

About the BFI

The BFI is the UK's lead organisation for film, television and the moving image. It is a cultural charity that:

• Curates and presents the greatest international public programme of world cinema for audiences; in cinemas, at festivals and online,
• Cares for the BFI National Archive - the most significant film and television archive in the world,
• Actively seeks out and supports the next generation of filmmakers,
• Works with Government and industry to make the UK the most creatively exciting and prosperous place to make film internationally.

Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter. The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Josh Berger CBE.

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About Chapter

Chapter is one of Europe's largest and most dynamic arts centres with cinemas, theatres, exhibition spaces, studios, a café, award-winning bars, over 60 cultural workspaces and more.

Chapter has an international reputation for excellence, innovation and collaboration. It offers an ever-changing programme of the best performance, films and exhibitions from Wales and from around the world.

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About Film Feels Connected

This event is part of Film Feels Connected, a UK-wide cinema season, supported by the National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Film Feels Connected is a season designed by Major Programmes to spotlight innovation across BFI FAN, to promote online activity during lockdown and to help cinemas, festivals and societies access support to try out new activity.

Explore all films and events at filmfeels.co.uk

Website: https://filmfeels.co.uk/
Instagram: film.feels
Twitter: @filmhubmidlands

Source: Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2020