Summary

Welcome to Asia!

”Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival” is an event that was held each year ever since its foundation in 1992. This year, we celebrate our 15th anniversary. Our film festival was founded with a mission to seek for equal rights for the homosexual community when the homosexuality was not as well understood in our society as it currently is. Over the years, the size of the event has grown and the quality of the films has improved. The event has drawn more and more heterosexual audience. It has become a “Festival” where the sexual minority enjoys their beings as well as an “Art Event” where the heterosexual audience can experience the rich Lesbian and Gay culture. In 2004 and 2005, with a backup from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the festival enriched its programs even further. There are about 150 sexual minority themed film festivals in the world. Among them, in terms of annual attendance, the Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival ranks with the one in Hong Kong as the largest event in Asia with the last year's 14th film festival drawing as many as 6454 attendees. For the popular films, tickets were sold out and some people took standing rooms. For this year's festival where we face another milestone as it is the 15th festival, the theme “The Beauty of Asian Films and The Beauty of International Films ” was selected in order to focus the fact that the festival takes place in “Asia” where the hottest topics keep popping up. This year's festival includes 35 films from 14 countries.

Greetings from the Director

It is the time of the year for the Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. During this year’s festival, which is a milestone as it is the 15th festival, we show 35 films from 14 countries. The quality of the films has improved over the years and I believe that this years’selection will meet your expectation. The film festival in 2006 focuses its theme on “Asia,” which is the current center of the attention in many aspects of our lives. We selected the excellent films from Japan, Chinese-speaking countries, and Idea. Of course the selection includes superior sexual minority themed films from the West and Russia. We have selected films that are funny, heartrending, a little sexy, and cute. I believe they will bring the most pleasurable moments to you. The festival is also jammed with unique events such as parties and talk shows. Let’s enjoy the beginning of the wonderful summer at the festival. I am looking forwarding to welcoming you at the festival. The 15th Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival Director, Hideki Miyazawa

Highlights of the Festival

It is time for the Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival! This year’s festival, which is a milestone for it being the 15th festival, will take place for 7 days at the Tokyo Women’s Plaza Hall on Saturday July 8th and Sunday July 9th and at the Spiral Hall from Thursday July 13th through Monday July 17th. This year’s theme is “The Beauty of Asian Films and The Beauty of International Films.” In recent years, “Asia” has been getting more and more attention in many aspects of our lives. This year, we would like to rediscover the meaning of our festival as the one taking place in the special place like “Asia.” We are pleased to showcase colorful 35 films from 14 different countries at the festival. “Asian Beauties,” which starts at Tokyo Women’s Plaza Hall on July 8th, includes films that depict the current “Asian” society from the point of view of the past and the present of the Japanese society and “the Asia and the West encounter”. “Saving Face” tells a story of romance and life of a second-generation Chinese Lesbian in New York. “Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema” by Stanley Kwan presents a sequence of homo-romantic scenes from the films from the Chinese-speaking countries. As for a Japanese film, “g8-2” by internationally renowned director Hiroyuki Ooki will be shown. “S/N,” which documented the performance by the artist group “DUMB TYPE” in 1994, will be shown with the talk show as a HIV program. “World Beauties” starts at the Spiral Hall on July 13th. ”20 centimetros” makes the opening film. It depicts a bittersweet life of well-hung transsexual Marietta with gorgeous drag musical numbers. The closing film on the 17th is “Girl Play.” It is a real-life portrait of a girl who falls in love with another girl who was cast as her lover while rehearsing for a play. Other films shown at the Spiral Hall are: “eXposed: The Making of a Legend ” documented the backstage of the Gay Porno film production. “Ya lyublyu tebya” is a groundbreaking film where the homosexual love is positively depicted for the first time in Russia. “Sancharram” is a story of a beautiful adolescent romance between girls in India. “Sommersturm” tells a story of teenagers who belong to a boat team. “Masahista” offers sensual visions of tropical nights in the Philippines. “Latter Days” is a pure love story between a handsome leading character and a man who keeps rigid discipline. At the Spiral Hall Foyer, we will show “Living Together. ” Also at the Spiral Hall Foyer, you will find a retail booth and a photo exhibition booth in addition to a free drink bar. The “Rainbow Reel Award” will be given to one of the submitted entries. The audience will take part in the voting process for this award. The film that got the most votes will win “Rainbow Reel Award.” The winner will receive a prize money of 100000 yen and “Final Cut Pro Express” from Apple Computer Inc. The award will be announced and presented during the Closing Event. Don’t miss our other festival events! Events like interviews with the director and actors or talk shows on the HIV related topics are under consideration. Join us for the annual official party “Le Grand Bal”, which will be held in the evening on the 15th at the “cay” in the Spiral Hall. Please enjoy a midsummer night at the party with our superb guests. Please bring your friends! We are looking forwarding to having you at the festival.