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Friday, December 31, 2010

Thoughts on 2010, and its recap (part 2)

CONTINUED FROM PART 1

July


Pia Film Festival and Skip City D-Cinema Movie Festival happened. One in Tokyo, the other in Saitama.

I was happy to see Kazue Fukiishi at the premiere of Gegege Nyobo in Pia.

Director Takuji Suzuki speaking to Kazue Fukiishi. Gegege No Nyobo world premiere at the Pia Film Festival


She didn't see me, though.



My short film from last year, KINGYO, screened at the Skip City D-Cinema Movie Fest. At that time, ten months have passed since KINGYO had its world premiere at the Venice Film Fest, fitting that it would finally return to Japan for a screening.




KINGYO team (with temporarily adopted members) after screening in Skip City Film Fest
After the KINGYO screening

With Torigoe the Sound Guy
Torigoe the sound guy for KINGYO (and EXHALATION)


My other 2009 short film LOVE SUICIDES, also screened in the Fuji Television headquarters at Odaiba. Had a post-screening discussion with famed film critic Tadao Sato.





August


Returned to Malaysia.

Shot a 1-min epic short film for Prada called NOW starring Moon Lai from Tiger Factory, and Arika Lee from Love Suicides.

Directing fills me with angst

Moon Lai is pensive

Moon Lai and Arika, happy to finish the shoot


The 1-min short film can be seen in the Prada website. And various Japanese Prada shops.

I then went to Hong Kong for the InDpanda International Short Film Festival, my experimental short THE WHITE FLOWER (shot it in July 2009) was having its world premiere.

Me, pointing at the still photo of my film, THE WHITE FLOWER

Zhu Dan and Toru Inamura in THE WHITE FLOWER
Zhu Dan and Toru Inamura in THE WHITE FLOWER


September


Went to the Tokyo Game Show 2010.

Me with Rei Ayanami cosplayer booth girl


Graduated from my Masters.

My Masters Degree

Me, parents and Prof. Ando


My uncle, dad's youngest brother, suddenly passed away. My memories of him.

October


A one-minute extract of LOVE SUICIDES won the Special Jury Mention at the Filminute festival.

I went to Hamburg for the screening of THE TIGER FACTORY at the Hamburg International Film Festival.

in front of Kunsthalle Hamburg


My trip was sponsored by the Honorary Consul General of Malaysia in Hamburg, Datuk Edgar Nordmaan (seen here with his wife the Datin).

With Datuk Edgar Nordmaan, Honorary Consul General of Malaysia, and his wife the Datin


Alas, most of my photos in the Hamburg trip were lost when my comp died.

Returned to Hamburg, rested a day, flew off to Pusan for the world premiere of my short film, INHALATION in the Pusan International Film Fest.

With Former First Lady of Japan, Miyuki Hatoyama
With the former First Lady of Japan, Miyuki Hatoyama

Bowie Tsang with the INHALATION poster
Taiwanese actress Bowie Tsang with poster of INHALATION

With Taiwanese actress Zaizai Lin 林辰唏
Taiwanese actress Zaizai Lin


Princess Ubol Ratana of Thailand was also in the film festival.

Princess Ubol Ratana at the Thai Reception of Pusan International Film Fest 2010

Dancing with Juliette Binoche?




INHALATION won the award for Best Asian Short Film.




With Dad, after the Pusan International film Fest closing ceremony


Returned to Tokyo for the Tokyo International Film Festival where both THE TIGER FACTORY and INHALATION were screened.

With Vivian Hsu, before the Green Carpet event 2
Vivian Hsu

With Yoshino Kimura, Tokyo Intl Film Fest ambassador
Yoshino Kimura

With Sylvia chang 张艾嘉
Sylvia Chang

With Taiwanese actor Wilson Chen
Wilson Chen

Meeting Lin Zaizai again in Tokyo
Lin Zaizai again

Ming Jin speaks


In the end, THE TIGER FACTORY received a jury special mention.

My glamour pose after the Tiger Factory/Inhalation screening


I also found out a few days later that both of my short films, KINGYO and LOVE SUICIDES, won awards at the Doi Saket International Film Festival in Thailand. KINGYO for best editing, LOVE SUICIDES for best directing.

October was one hell of a month.

November


Bad case of food poisoning.

Spent most of the month working on the first draft of my feature-length screenplay.

I then headed off to Torino for the final session of the screenwriting workshop.

Me, on top of Torino

me, pitching 2

me, pitching


There were some major student protests during my last day at Torino. Even interrupted the closing party. Awesome.

Major student protest in Torino


December


Returned to Tokyo.

Less than 24 hours, flew off to Manila for the Cinemanila International Film Festival, where INHALATION and THE TIGER FACTORY were showing.

With godfather of Filipino films Kidlat Tahimik
Godfather of Filipino independent cinema Kidlat Tahimik

Me with Raymond Red
Filmmaker Raymond Red

Me and Tikoy before Inhalation/The Tiger Factory screening
Me with Cinemanila Film Fest founder before the screening of INHALATION and THE TIGER FACTORY


Returned to Tokyo.

A week later I headed to Dubai for the Dubai International Film Festival (recap of entire festival here). Two years ago, the Dubai Film Fest was the very first film fest I attended as a director.

The view from my hotel room
Me. 2008.


This time, it was for the premiere of EXHALATION. Finally.

Me, before the opening ceremony
Me. 2010.

Casting my shadow over the red carpet

Me and Hou Chi-Jan





Festival ended on December 20. I came back. Ten days have passed.

It's now 8:03am. I now click the 'PUBLISH POST' button.

Tell me about your year if you want to.

Here's to a great 2011.