The second annual 2017 Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival was held April 7 – 13, 2017. All screenings where held at Row House Cinema. 2017’s film programming expanded to include six feature films and a shorts program. The expansion proved to be the right decision as more people came than the 2016 festival.
Samurai Cat
Directed by: Takeshi Watanabe
2014, 100 Minutes, Cats
OPENING NIGHT FILM
PITTSBURGH PREMIERE
Hired to kill the pet cat of the head of a rival clan, the deadliest samurai in Japan falls in love with the cat instead. The dog-loving clan who hired him seeks revenge.
Ghost In The Shell
Directed by: Mamoru Oshii
1995, 83 Minutes, Anime
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
Highly influential animated cyberpunk thriller about a female government cyber agent hunting down a mysterious computer virus.
Harakiri
Directed by: Masaki Kobayashi
1962, 133 Minutes, Samurai
An unemployed samurai arrives at a Lord’s manor, begging to be allowed to commit ritual suicide. Chaos ensues.
Why Don't You Play In Hell?
Directed by: Sion Sono
2013, 120 Minutes, Action Yakuza Comedy
An over-the-top tribute to guerrilla filmmaking and romanticized Yakuza films by Japanese “bad boy” director Sion Sono. Things get bloody when the film crew makes a movie with the Yakuza head’s daughter.
Sailor Moon R: The Movie
Directed by: Kunihiko Ikuhara
1993, 78 Minutes, Musical
PITTSBURGH PREMIERE
Sailor Moon comes to the big screen in her first dazzling movie! Join Sailor Moon on an adventure to save not only the world, but also her true love!
House
Directed by: Nobuhiko Ôbayashi
1977, 88 Minutes, Horror
A hallucinatory head trip about a schoolgirl and six classmates at her ailing aunt’s country home who encounter evil spirits, a demonic house cat, a bloodthirsty piano, and more!
Ghiblies: Episode 2
Directed by: Yoshiyuki Momose
2002, 24 Minutes, Short Comedy
Glimpses into the life of some employees of an animation studio which may – or may not – happen to resemble Studio Ghibli.
