Dear friends of the Japan Film Festival Hamburg,
It has been a difficult few months while the JFFH team has considered a way to safely organise the filmfest this year despite the restrictions placed on the art scene. In the end, after taking into consideration the health of our guests and viewers, Nihon Media decided that Japan Filmfest Hamburg cannot be held this year in its usual form as a traditional film festival. However, this unusual situation has also provided the opportunity to completely rethink the festival, as well as to open it to a worldwide audience, leading to the decision to hold JFFH 2020 as a purely online event for the very first time.
Under the motto ‘Breaking Free – From Japan with Love’, we will be releasing JFFH from its shackles and broadcasting Japanese cinema around the world. For 14 days, fans of Japanese cinema all over Germany and abroad will have the chance to enjoy the newest Japanese films from the comfort of their own homes. For the first time, in close collaboration with our partner Leihkarte.de, we will be streaming our entire programme of over 50 films, consisting of around 40 film blocks and varying from colourful anime and ambitious short films to rich arthouse experiences and wild genre hits. In order to allow fans the chance to take full advantage of this offer, the JFFH 2020 will be extended to a full two weeks, taking place from August 19th to September 2nd
Our online ticket will cost 5 euros per block, and can be purchased from our festival website, www.jffh.de. More details about this and our film programme will be announced here soon. A large portion of ticket sales will go directly to the Japanese filmmakers, many of whom are facing hardships due to the corona crisis. The purchase of a ticket therefore not only helps support the festival, but Japanese cinema as a whole.
In addition to our line-up of films, we will also be releasing free video content about the film festival and exciting interviews with Japanese filmmakers.
Please come and celebrate the creative energy and staggering diversity of Japanese cinema with us, especially in a time where cultural experiences are so difficult to come by. From Japan and Hamburg with love!
Please bear with us,
Your Japan-Filmfest Hamburg team.
