Event Outline

The Osaka Asian Film Festival aims to facilitate human resources development and exchange, to invigorate the Osaka economy, and to increase the city’s appeal, through providing opportunities to watch excellent Asian films, supporting filmmaking in Osaka and attracting filmmakers from Asian countries and regions to Osaka. Promoting Osaka worldwide as a gateway city for Asian films, and engaging with many people from the fields of culture, art, education, tourism and business, from Osaka and all of Asia, OAFF works as an open platform to contribute to the development of Osaka and cinema.

Marking its 14th edition this year, OAFF, under programming director TERUOKA Sozo, will again select high-quality Asian films. The Competition section, which receives increased recognition every year, will again select films previously unreleased in Japan. The regular sections, Special Screenings and Indie Forum, and other special programs will also feature a wide variety of excellent Asian films.

OAFF attracts a large number of viewers from all over Japan and overseas, as well as from the local Kansai area. From Osaka to all of Japan and all of Asia, OAFF introduces many films and strives to make Osaka a hub of moving image culture.

Competition

This section will present the latest Asian films, which will have their Japan premieres at OAFF. From the films, the international jurors will choose the winners of the Grand Prix and Most Promising Talent Award.

Special Screenings

The Special Screenings will select much-talked-about Asian films.

Indie Forum

Indie Forum section features innovative and challenging films by rising directors every year. To support international promotion for Japanese films, Japan Society in New York City bestows the Japan Cuts Award for the best film in the section.

Special Programs

The Special Programs will feature a specific country/region or theme.

Osaka Asia Star ★ Award & Talk

This program selects one significant figure from the Japanese or Asian film industries, and bestows an award on him/her. Along with the award ceremony, an in-depth talk event with the awardee will be held to applaud his/her achievement.

Symposium

Theme: "Thai Films in Transition: Spiritual Homestay and Salvation"

Date: March 14 (Thu) 14:30 – 16:30

Venue: National Museum of Art, Osaka

Hosted by Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Kyoto University / Research in Film and Society in Southeast Asia (Refssea) / Osaka Executive Committee for the Promotion of Moving Image Culture (Osaka Asian Film Festival)

Co-hosted by National Museum of Art, Osaka

Indonesia Gala Screening + Discussion

Gala Screening of “Aruna & Her Palate” will be held, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers from Indonesia.

Date: March 14 (Thursday)

Gala Screening: Gala Screening at ABC Hall: 10:30

Discussion: Discussion at PINEBROOKLYN　After the screening

Co-hosted by CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA IN OSAKA, JAPAN

OAFF Poster Exhibition

We will exhibit posters of selected films from OAFF 2019 and past festivals.

Period: February 21 (Wed) - March 6 (Tue) (Closed in weekend)

Venue: Osaka City Hall (Yodoyabashi)

Period: March 1 (Fri) - March 7 (Thu)

Venue: Abeno Q’s MALL

Asian Book Fair

In collaboration with the mega bookstore MARUZEN & JUNKUDO Umeda, OAFF 2019 holds an Asian Book Fair.

February 16 (Sat) - March 30 (Sat)

Venue: MARUZEN & JUNKUDO Umeda, 5F Art Book section

Cooperation: MARUZEN & JUNKUDO Umeda