5th OKINAWA INTERNATIONAL MOVIE FESTIVAL

The Okinawa International Movie Festival 2013, the event’s 5^th edition, officially began on a bright and sunny day today at 3 pm.

After months of preparation amid growing excitement and support from the people of Okinawa, the stars of some of the most humorous and entertaining movies around strode out under beautiful blue skies to cheers from thousands of fans lined up alongside the red carpet route.

The spectacle saw actors and directors from 10 countries and regions stride along the crimson path for the most well-attended opening event in the history of the festival.

And with ideal weather on a path that borders the sandy beaches of Ginowan, the festival’s theme of “Laugh & Peace” in a tropical Japanese setting had never been better encapsulated.

Some 550 guests took the walk in front of media and local residents, including ex-AKB48 star Atsuko Maeda, who is now branching out into acting for her solo career, renowned American director Joel Schumacher, and Taiwanese actress Peijia Huang, star of ‘Cha Cha for Twins.’

Maeda looked delicate wearing a stylish silver print dress and stopped to speak with as many cheering fans as she could.

Some of Japan’s most famous characters such as manga’s Crayon Shin-chan and Pon de Lion entertained the family crowd, while three Miss Okinawa’s provided some local glamor.

Members of girl-group NMB48 brought some of the loudest cheers early on during the 2-hour event, but the biggest names were saved for the end when the Jury consisting of Joel Schumacher (President of the Jury), director Claude Gagnon, musician Demon Kakka, and actress Kaori Momoi delighted the crowd in advance of the Opening Ceremony.