Why a film festival in nara?
Nara: The founding capital of Japan in 710A.D, Nara was once the end of the Silk Road, a place where trade goods, culture, and arts from around the world mingled and merged with Japan. Our chance now is to keep that connection strong and alive in today’s world.
“If I called out to everyone as a whole, what is the connection in that? But If I called out to everyone name by name, that for me is the feeling of connection.”
In putting on this International Film Festival, we aim to allow filmmakers and film goers alike the opportunity to communicate, experience new tastes, watch films, and experience life in the rich, traditional atmosphere of Nara.
“If I called out to everyone as a whole, what is the connection in that? But If I called out to everyone name by name, that for me is the feeling of connection.”
In putting on this International Film Festival, we aim to allow filmmakers and film goers alike the opportunity to communicate, experience new tastes, watch films, and experience life in the rich, traditional atmosphere of Nara.
We hope, visitors from not only the world over, but locals too will enjoy Nara’s pastoral grace, and form lasting connections with each other. Nara is still a place of life and beauty, and we hope this gathering will be the start of a rebirth of the city as not only place of global exchange, but also as individuals, to have an opportunity to become re-enveloped in our time.
“There is an ancient place called Kofukuji in Nara with 52 stone steps, I thought, why not put a red carpet there? Although, It is not the red carpet that is important. It is the feeling that you are there and exist that is important: the existence of your roots. It isn’t that you are outside your roots, but rather, that you have brought your roots with you onto that carpet.”
The ancient rustic settings of Nara, the collaboration of our team, the gathering of nationalities from all all over the world be it Directors, enthusiasts or tourists, to the tireless volunteers who share our vision and help us to make this festival into what it actually is:
"Time to tie our roots to something new"
"Time to tie our roots to something new"