5th OKINAWA INTERNATIONAL MOVIE FESTIVAL

The first full day of action at the Okinawa International Music Festival saw a wide range of events across multiple stages and cities that offered something for everyone, with crowds filling venues despite the sky itself applauding with rounds of thunder in the afternoon.

At midday two very different films were shown simultaneously in Theater’s 1 and 2. In the latter, Taiwanese director Jim Wang recounts her own experiences of growing up as a twin in the coming-of-age comedy drama, “Cha-Cha for Twins.” Actress Peijia Huang, actor Oreo Ou Yang and the director expressed their delight at being invited to Okinawa, their first trip to Japan, for the festival. Full report to follow here on the News page.

An hour later the most anticipated film of all began with gasps of delight as Atsuko Maeda walked on stage alongside Hiroki Narimiya and director Hideo Nakata. Nakata, famed for his work, “The Ring,” crafts another horror with “The Complex,” and the trio told tales of the fun and laughter needed on set to create an entertaining horror movie and keep spirits high even if the subject matter is scary. Full report to follow here on the News page.

Over on the beach stage, the announcer shouted “the day will clear up as soon as you begin” as models Elli-Rose, Mary Sara, Maggy, and Kozue Akimoto strode out the crowds delight. It turned out the announcer was right too, as the sun peaked through to brighten the catwalk, as BEAMS paraded their new collection and Sayuri Watanabe was selected from 3,000 applicants at the 5^th Apaman Shop Girls Contest.

In the evening the stars kept coming as “7 Days Report” opened with stage greetings from Aran Shirahama, Itsuji Itao and director Masahiro Kondo. Like Peijia Huang, Shirahama plays two characters in one film, both called Ryota, one of which is a clone of himself. Excited fans squealed with excitement with Shirahama’s every move.

Over at the Sakurazaka Hall in Naha, Duty Cyborg Itoman provided some of the most surreal comedy yet, with actor Dante Carver entertained the crowd at the Softbank stage at Laugh & Peace Town.