The , often shortened to NIFF, is a biennial film festival held in Nara, Nara, Japan.
When Nara-based filmmaker Naomi Kawase won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007 with the film The Mourning Forest, which is set in the Tawara district of Nara, she proposed holding an international film festival in Nara. Having realized the meaning of international film festivals, Kawase wanted to repay her hometown for its kindness and enliven the town with cultural events. Attracting many supporters and volunteers from Nara, the Nara International Film Festival Organizing Committee (an incorporated non-profit organization) was established. The first Nara International Film Festival was held in 2010 with the financial support of mainly local companies, government subsidies, and contributions from individuals who donated ÃÂ¥10,000 for a NIFF membership.
Films in this category must be a directorâÂÂs first or second feature as well as Japan premiere. The first-prize winner will be honored with a Golden SHIKA Award and also be granted with a privilege to make the next NARAtive project film
Student film competition category
This category introduces student films, videos, and moving image arts regardless of genre or length. The first-prize winner will be honored with a Golden KOJIKA Award.
NARAtive project is designed to promote Nara to the world by making a film in Nara. âÂÂNARAtiveâ is a created word by combining Nara and narrative. Young and emerging talented directors are invited to make films set in Nara. Leading professional film crews and local communities support their shootings. In principle, the right of NARAtive film production is given to the winner of Golden SHIKA Award at each festival. ItâÂÂs a continuous project. The purpose of the project is to cultivate young filmmakers who will bear the next generation and to contribute to the revitalization of local communities.
âÂÂHedi Schneider Is Stuckâ (2015/ Germany, Norway) Director: Sonja Heiss
âÂÂPURE WHITEâ (2015/ Japan) Director: Yoshihiro Sakamoto
âÂÂTHE BEEKEEPER AND HIS SONâ (2016/ Switzerland, Canada) Director: Diedie Weng
âÂÂHow to Win at Checkers (Every Time)â (2015/ Thailand, USA, Hong Kong, Indonesia) Director: Josh Kim:
âÂÂGolden Kingdomâ (2015/ USA) Director: Brian Perkins
âÂÂOld Stoneâ (2016/ China, Canada) Director: Johnny Ma
âÂÂNahidâ (2015/ Iran) Director: Ida Panahandeh
âÂÂNAMI TO TOMONIâ Director: Bilal Kawazoe
âÂÂBOKU TO DAGASHI NO IEâ Director: Kenta Tanaka
âÂÂPASSING SHOWERâ Director: Masamoto Inada
âÂÂTOKERUâ Director: Aya Igashi
âÂÂCHILDREN ON SOME DAYSâ Director: Tomohiro Hirota
âÂÂTHE SCENE OF YOUTHâ Director: Sho Kurihara
âÂÂHIDE & SEEKâ Director: Kimie Tanaka
âÂÂCHOCOLATE CAKE AND HORYUJI TEMPLEâ Director: Keita Mukai
âÂÂKAWASAKI VELODROMEâ Director: Sayaka Mizuno
Worried about the fact that no movie theater is located in the prefectural capital of Nara, NIFF Organizing Committee holds a monthly screening at various places to help Nara citizens make a habit of going to the movies. Generally, screenings are organized on the second Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each month. A navigator appears before and after the screening, giving preshow introduction and post-show discussion with audience.