JAPAN CUTS returns for the third year in a row! Known for being the only large-scale annual Japanese film festival in North America, JAPAN CUTS brings Japan’s newest films to New York City with 27 screenings, 18 premiere films, 7 special guests, and 2 parties. Presented by Japan Society from June 30-July 12, JAPAN CUTS is chock full of exclusive Q&As with filmmakers, special events and more. Films screened between July 1-5 are co-presented with the New York Asian Film Festival and the awesome team at Subway Cinema.

There’s an incredible lineup of films this year. My picks are BE SURE TO SHARE (ちゃんと伝える) and CYBORG SHE. You might say “Wait, CYBORG SHE? Didn’t Kwak Jae-Yong direct MY SASSY GIRL? Isn’t he Korean?” Yes, Yes, and Yes! Just imagine MY SASSY GIRL with cyborgs in love, time travel, the end of the world, and Japanese people. Imagine hard!

Directed by Sion Sono, BE SURE TO SHARE stars AKIRA from Jpop boyband EXILE in first lead role. You might say “Wait, Sion Sono? Didn’t he direct SUICIDE CIRCLE that had 54 schoolgirls all commit suicide together by jumping in front of Tokyo subway train? Isn’t EXILE those pretty boys singing mindless pop music for teenage girls?” Yes, Yes, and Yes! I guarantee BE SURE TO SHARE is the heartfelt movie that you never would think Sion Sono and AKIRA could pull off alone, much less together. Check out the trailer. If it was an America movie, Tom Hanks would be in it.

I’m interested in Sion Sono’s other film in the festival, LOVE EXPOSURE. It’s back to Sion Sono’s, ummm…, regular unusual style. At 4 hours long, it’s not for the those with weak butts, but at least I heard it’s got lots of sex. Everyone I know that has seen it raves about it and I mean EVERYONE. One person I know has seen it three times in it’s entirety, and another person, a Hong Kong director of note, has told me it’s hands down the best film coming out of Japan this year. With that kind of word of mouth, no wonder it’s SOLD OUT. >.<

And don’t miss 20TH CENTURY BOYS if you’re free on the Fourth of July! I’ve been seeing people using this strange hooded figure as their profile pic on Facebook for months (weird people, that is). I’ve learned he’s the strange “Friend” from 20TH CENTURY BOYS, another manga-turned-into-real-life movie. With parts 1 and 2 screening back to back, I expect a little cosplay marathon in the audience. I don’t know if 20TH CENTURY BOYS will repeat the success of DEATH NOTE here in the US, but we’ll find out soon…

JAPAN CUTS screening schedule 2009:
Tuesday, June 30
7:30pm Crime or Punishment?!?

Wednesday, July 1
6:30pm Vacation
9pm The Magic Hour

Thursday, July 2
6:15pm Fish Story
8:45pm All Around Us

Friday, July 3
4pm Vacation
6:15pm Love Exposure (SOLD OUT!) — Followed by the Exposure Party!

Saturday, July 4
11:45am 20th Century Boys: Chapter One
2:30pm 20th Century Boys: Chapter Two–The Last Hope

Sunday, July 5
12pm The Magic Hour
2:45pm All Around Us
5:30pm Pride
8:15pm Be Sure to Share (Filmmaker in attendance)

Monday, July 6
6:30pm Achilles and the Tortoise
9pm Halfway

Tuesday, July 7
6:30pm Love Exposure

Thursday, July 9
7pm Confessions of a Dog (Filmmaker in attendance)
7:30pm Panel Discussion: How to Make a Film in Japan & Beyond

Friday, July 10
6:30pm Ain’t No Tomorrows
8:15pm Non-ko (Filmmaker in attendance)

Saturday, July 11
12pm Crime or Punishment?!?
2:15pm Confessions of a Dog (Filmmaker in attendance)
6:15pm UrumaDelvi Collected Shorts (Filmmaker in attendance)
8pm Cyborg She — Followed by the Cyborg Party!

Sunday, July 12
12pm Buy a Suit (Filmmaker in attendance)
1:45pm Achilles and the Tortoise
4:15pm Non-ko (Filmmaker in attendance)
7pm Halfway

All screenings are at Japan Society, 333 E47th St, New York City.

Buy Tickets Online or call the Japan Society Box Office at 212-715-1258.

Visit www.japansociety.org/film for the full festival line-up, schedule, trailers, and tickets.