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On March 6, at the opening ceremony, Kamikura Tsuneyuki, Chairperson, Osaka Executive Committee for the Promotion of Moving Image Culture, gave an opening speech:

“Aiming to be Asian film’s gateway to the world, Oaff has now reached its 15th edition. Films are made to convey to contemporary society what people are thinking now, and we have strived to introduce these films to as wide an audience as possible. Oaff, however, has not been able to realize a number of our planned projects this year. To fight against an invisible enemy, and to minimize the possibility of tragedy, we decided to cancel all filmmaker-in-person events so as to reduce the chance of possible coronavirus infection. Upon asking filmmakers’ understanding, we have decided to focus on our fundamental purpose: screening films which show the many other things which are happening around us.”

On March 15 the winners of this year’s edition were announced.

“Happy Old Year,” directed by Thailand’s Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, was named as the winner of the Grand Prix best picture award at the Osaka Asian Film Festival, which concluded its virus-impacted 15th edition at the weekend.

While many festivals around the world have been postponed or cancelled due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the Oaff pressed on, albeit with restrictions.

“To fight against an invisible enemy, and to minimize the possibility of tragedy, we decided to cancel all filmmaker-in-person events so as to reduce the chance of possible coronavirus infection. Upon asking filmmakers’ understanding, we have decided to focus on our fundamental purpose: screening films which show the many other things which are happening around us,” the festival’s chairman , Kamikura Tsuneyuki said in his opening address. “Upon asking filmmakers’ understanding, we have decided to focus on our fundamental purpose: screening films which show the many other things which are happening around us.

What is better than one romantic love story? Two romantic love stories. This seems to be the motto Crisanto Aquino implemented in “Write about Love”, a film that he wrote and directed, and which led him to win awards for both of these capacities, along 6 more at Metro Manila Film Festival last year.

“Write about Love” is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival

A rookie female writer, who also works in her family’s clothes business and loves mainstream romantic stories, manages to sell one of her scripts to a film studio. However, being so young in the business, the company asks her to develop the script more and introduces her to a more experienced, indie film-writer. The two begin collaborating in the story, but their differences immediately create some issues. As the two continue working and spend time together, they get to know each other better and a kind of consensus is gradually built.

Osaka Asian Film Festival is held yearly under the theme of “From Osaka to All of Asia!” We are pleased to announce the line-up of the 15th edition of Oaff.

The number of selected films is 64 in total, the highest number ever for the festival, and they include 14 World Premieres, 12 International Premieres, and 3 Asian Premieres. Films from 23 countries and regions, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Poland, France, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Italy, the USA, Mexico and Japan, will be screened.

Opening Film

The Garden of Evening Mists

by Tom Shu-yu Lin (Malaysia) Japan Premiere

Closing Film

Kamata Prelude

by Nakagawa Ryutaro, Akiyama Mayu, Yasukawa Yuka, Watanabe Hirobumi (Japan) World Premiere

Competition

This section will present 15 films chosen from films completed on or after 1st October 2018 and unreleased in Japan. The international jurors will choose the winners of the Grand...