We are pleased to announce the full lineup and program details available in Thailand.
The CROSSCUT ASIA special edition is all about food, featuring seven "delicious" Asian films, including Wanton Mee, made by the leading Singaporean director Eric Khoo, whose films are screened regularly at international film festivals; Jay Abello's romantic comedy Namets! (Yummy!), which showcases the visually delightful cuisine of the Philippine island of Negros; and Aruna & Her Palate, an Indonesian food-themed road movie by Edwin, the acclaimed director who won the Golden Leopard at the 2021 Locarno International Film Festival.
Encore! CROSSCUT ASIA brings together a selection of carefully chosen films that attracted great acclaim when previously screened at the CROSSCUT ASIA section at TIFF. Fresh from her success with Netflix's A World Without, director Nia Dinata's Indonesian musical Three Sassy Sisters and Pete Teo Special, a series of pieces including music videos and an omnibus of short films by 15 Malaysian directors, are just two of the works screening in this richly varied program.
The festival's lineup of related content includes talks with film directors and interviews about food. The musician, actor, producer, director, and talented multi-hyphenate Pete Teo, whose Pete Teo Special is showing in the Encore! CROSSCUT ASIA section, will also make a special video especially for the festival. Other content will include various videos and articles. Further details will be available on the festival website.
Don't miss this "delicious" opportunity to catch great examples of Asian cinema!
Title: CROSSCUT ASIA Delicious! Online Film Festival
Organizers: The Japan Foundation Asia Center, Tokyo International Film Festival
Dates: Friday, January 21, 2022, 10:00 a.m. - Thursday, February 3, 2022, 11:59 p.m. (JST)
Subtitles: Japanese, English (some films have subtitles in various Southeast Asian languages)
Viewing: Free of charge (Some of the films will not be available in all designated countries)
Registration Starts: Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 12:00 p.m. (JST)
Further information and registration: https://crosscutonline.jfac.jp/english
Program 1: CROSSCUT ASIA special edition featuring "delicious" films from Asia
Seven films featuring the culinary cultures of Japan and Southeast Asia.
Aruna & Her Palate
Love Story / 2018 / Indonesia / 107 min / Indonesian
Subtitles: Japanese, English, Khmer, Thai, Vietnamese
Director: Edwin
Cast: Dian Sastrowardoyo, Oka Antara, Nicholas Saputra
Aruna is sent on a research trip to investigate an outbreak of avian flu. Joined by her friends, her trip becomes a culinary journey of famous regional dishes across Indonesia. The four friends taste black soup in Java and crab noodles in Kalimantan. The road trip movie is directed by Edwin, whose latest film Vengeance is Mine, All Others Pay Cash, won the Golden Leopard at Locarno Film Festival in 2021.
Balut Country
Drama / 2015 / The Philippines / 94 min / Filipino
Subtitles: Japanese, English, Indonesian, Khmer, Thai, Vietnamese
Director: Paul Sta. Ana
Cast: Rocco Nacino, Ronnie Quizon, Vincent Magbanua,
Archi Adamos
A son inherits a large duck farm from his late father. Having left home for life in the city to pursue a career as a musician, he returns to his hometown intending to sell the property, but the grand landscape begins to change his heart. Balut, a Filipino soul food, is a fertilized duck egg boiled after the embryo develops. The film was screened in CROSSCUT ASIA 2015.
Kampai! Sake Sisters
Documentary / 2019 / Japan, USA / 96 min / Japanese, English
Subtitles: English, Indonesian, Khmer, Thai, Vietnamese
Director: KONISHI Mirai
Cast: IMADA Miho, CHIBA Marie, Rebekah Wilson-Lye
The world of Japanese sake brewing has long been off-limits to women. In this uplifting and touching documentary, a new generation of women shine in the traditional and esoteric business, inspiring the viewer with the strength to face today's challenges. The film is a sequel to Kampai! for the Love of Sake, which toured the world after its premiere at the San Sebastian International Film Festival.
My Love is Soup
Comedy / 2020 / Thailand / 99 min / Thai
Subtitles: Japanese, English, Indonesian, Khmer
Director: Kriangkrai Monwichit
Cast: Hussawee Pakrapongpisan, Sassanee Virachat,
Pitisak Yaowananon, Suttida Kasemsan Na Ayutthaya
Minnie finds a job in a fancy restaurant despite her lack of cooking skills. After making a major blunder that jeopardizes the restaurant's reputation, she tries to restore it by finding the secret soup recipe of her great-grandfather, who was a royal chef. This heartwarming comedy entertains viewers with culinary images from Thailand's deep south, with its large Muslim population, as well as behind-the-scenes footage in a restaurant kitchen.
Namets! (Yummy!)
Comedy / 2008 / The Philippines / 94 min / Hiligaynon
Subtitles: Japanese, English
Director: Jay Abello
Cast: Angel Jacob, Christian Vasquez, Peque Gallaga
In Bacolod City on the island of Negros, the Philippines, an Italian restaurant is lost through debt and transformed into a restaurant featuring traditional local cuisine. This romantic comedy is a treat for the eyes, with splendid presentations of Negrense dishes that will delight epicureans. The film participated in the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, the gateway to success in thriving Filipino independent film circles.
A River Changes Course
Documentary / 2013 / Cambodia, USA / 83 min / Khmer, Jarai
Subtitles: Japanese, English
Director: Kalyanee Mam
A documentary portraying the lives of three young Cambodians, this film captures daily images of people eating, working, and making a living, while revealing the social problems of overfishing, deforestation, poverty, and debt. It won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize for documentaries at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.
Wanton Mee
Drama / 2015 / Singapore / 71 min / English, Mandarin
Subtitles: Japanese, English, Indonesian, Khmer, Thai, Vietnamese
Director: Eric Khoo
Cast: Koh Boon Pin, Bill Teoh, Tammie Chew
A middle-aged food critic captures Singapore's traditions and development, while rediscovering his career and life through interviews with street-food hawkers. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Eric Khoo, this ambitious docufiction features a rich variety of street foods, from diverse noodle dishes such as wanton mee and laksa, to foods that reflect the country's multiethnic diversity, such as fish head curry and nasi lemak.
Program 2: Encore! CROSSCUT ASIA
Encore screenings of films handpicked from past editions of CROSSCUT ASIA at TIFF
Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock & Roll
Documentary / 2014 / USA, Cambodia / 107 min / English, French, Khmer
Subtitles: Japanese, English
Director: John Pirozzi
Cast: Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Serey Sothea, Bayon Band
Through the eyes, words, and songs of its popular music stars of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock & Roll examines and unravels Cambodia's recent tragic past.
Invisible
Drama / 2015 / Japan, the Philippines / 134 min / Filipino, Tagalog, Japanese
Subtitles: Japanese, English
Director: Lawrence Fajardo
Cast: Allen Dizon, Ces Quesada, Bernardo Bernardo,
JM De Guzman
Invisible tells the story of four Filipino migrant workers in Japan, a crucial encounter that mirrors the difficult challenges that confront the "Pinoy" diaspora.
Pete Teo Special
Short films / 2008-2013 / Malaysia / 97 min / Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, English
Subtitles: Japanese, English
Directors: Ho Yuhang, Yasmin Ahmad, Amir Muhammad,
Linus Chung, Liew Seng Tat, Desmond Ng,
Kamal Sabran, Tan Chui Mui, Woo Ming Jin,
James Lee, Benji & Bahir, Johan John, Khairil Bahar,
Nam Ron, Suleiman Brothers(15Malaysia , and others
The Pete Teo Special presents a number of shorts (Vote!, Malaysia Day: Slipstream, Here in My Home, and I Go) in which musician, actor, producer, and director Pete Teo was involved, as well as 15Malaysia, which consists of 15 short films made by Malaysian filmmakers. Produced and released by Pete Teo in 2009, these 15 films revolutionized the media and political cultures in Malaysia.
Three Sassy Sisters
Musical / 2016 / Indonesia / 124 min / Indonesian, English
Subtitles: Japanese, English
Director: Nia Dinata
Cast: Shanty Paredes, Tara Basro, Tatyana Akman,
Rio Dewanto, Reuben Elishama, Richard Kyle
Usmar Ismail's Three Sisters (Tiga Dara) was first released in 1956. Nia Dinata, who grew up watching the film in reruns on Indonesian TV and was very inspired by it, has created an homage to her favorite director.
Trap
Drama / 2015 / The Philippines / 93 min / Filipino, Waray
Subtitles: Japanese, English
Director: Brillante Ma Mendoza
Cast: Nora Aunor, Julio Diaz, Aaron Rivera
In the horrendous aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan, survivors are left to search for the dead while keeping their sanity intact, and protecting what little faith there may be left.
Balut Country from the CROSSCUT ASIA special edition featuring "delicious" films from Asia is also available to watch as part of the Encore! CROSSCUT ASIA program.
Special Content (Related Content Program)
The festival also features a packed program of special "side dishes" and "main courses," including talks with directors and interviews about food. Find out what gets served up at embassies and ambassadors' residences in Tokyo as well as lunches in Southeast Asia and enjoy local footage and articles. Further information will be announced on the festival website.
Viewing Information
- The films are available to watch after registering on the festival website.
- The number of possible views/streams is limited for each film. Due to demand, films may become unavailable to watch.
- Viewing may be affected by your internet connection speed or device. Please stream the films with a stable connection to enjoy the best viewing experience.
- For other information on viewing conditions, please check the festival website.
About the Tokyo International Film Festival CROSSCUT ASIA section
CROSSCUT ASIA was an official section of TIFF between 2014 and 2019. Over six years, it showcased Asian films focusing on specific Asian countries/regions, directors or themes. The first three editions featured films from Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The fourth, fifth, and sixth editions were theme-based, highlighting works from young filmmakers recommended by maestros, films featuring Southeast Asian music, and films depicting supernatural powers in Southeast Asia from various perspectives. Last year, a booklet titled "CROSSCUT ASIA SPECIAL: All About Asian Cinema 2020" was published, introducing the Asian films screened at the 33rd TIFF and looking back at each edition of the CROSSCUT ASIA section co-presented by TIFF and the Japan Foundation Asia Center.
The Japan Foundation, Bangkok
The Japan Foundation is Japan's only institution dedicated to carrying out comprehensive international cultural exchange programs throughout the world.
With the objective of deepening mutual understanding between the people of Japan and other countries/regions, our various activities and information services create opportunities for people-to-people interactions. The Japan Foundation, Bangkok was founded in 1974 and has been active in Thailand to pursue these objectives. In addition to its Tokyo headquarters, the Japan Foundation has 24 offices in 23 countries (including two Asia Center liaison offices), as well as the Kyoto Office and two Japanese-language institutes in Japan. Visit our website at www.jfbkk.or.th
Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF)
The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) started in 1985 as Japan's first major film festival and the only Japanese film festival accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). Since then, TIFF has grown to become one of the leading film festivals in Asia. Every year in October, filmmakers and film fans of all ages gather in Tokyo to enjoy excellent films from around the world and TIFF's many colorful events. These include TIFF's affiliated media content market TIFFCOM, seminars for students, professionals, and businesspeople, and symposiums and workshops for networking with the world's film industries, developing international co-productions, and promoting the global film business.
Inquiries about Registration and Viewing (including press inquiries)
Tokyo International Film Festival
Promotion Group E-mail: [email protected] (English)
