National Film Archive of Japan Calendar (April, 2021 – March, 2022)

New Challenges: Japanese Films in the 1980s

February 16 – March 28, April 8 – March 5, 2021　
→　February 16 – March 28, April 8 – April 24, 2021
The screenings on and after April 25 are cancelled. We will refund your reserved tickets. Application period for refunds: May 6 – June 5. For more information, please see this page (in Japanese).

This program will present representative Japanese films in the 1980s, the decade during which while the output of major studios decreased, new filmmakers and production companies emerged, transforming the entire movie industry.

Foreign Films Selection from the NFAJ Collection 2021

June 8 – 23, 2021
We have rescheduled the screenings although we had once cancelled them.

This is a program that showcases the choicest foreign films with Japanese subtitles from the NFAJ collection. A number of valuable films will be shown on the big screen of NFAJ.

EU Film Days 2021

May 28 – June 20, 2021 → June 24 – July 18, 2021
Due to the closure of NFAJ caused by the declaration of a state of emergency, the schedule has been changed. (Updated: June 2, 2021)

Co-organizers: The Delegation of the European Union to Japan, and the embassies and the cultural institutes of the EU member states in Japan

EU Film Days is a series showcasing films from the member states of the European Union (EU). Now in its 19th edition (13th to be held at NFAJ), EU Film Days brings together a wide variety of films, introducing the diversity of European society and culture to audiences in Japan.

In Memory of Film Figures We Lost in 2019-2020

July 8 – September 5, 2021 → July 20 – September 5, 2021
This event has been rescheduled due to the changes of the annual schedule. (Updated: June 2, 2021)

This program is organized as a memorial to Japanese cineastes such as directors, actors and crew, who passed away in the year 2019 -2020.

43rd Pia Film Festival

September 11 – 25, 2021

Co-organizers: PFF General Incorporated Association, Kawakita Memorial Film Institute, and UNIJAPAN

Pia Film Festival, which has been supporting young and upcoming filmmakers and introducing new talent to audiences both in Japan and overseas, now its 43th edition, holds again the “PFF Award Competition,” the biggest competition for “self-produced films (aka Jishu-Eiga)” in the world, special programs and screenings with film personalities as guest lecturers.

Silent Film Days 2021

October 5 – 10, 2021

This is an established program that shows silent films mainly from NFAJ collection with the live music accompaniment or the oral explanation of the benshi film narrator as many silent film festivals around the world.

Heinosuke Gosho Retrospective

October 19 – November 23, 2021

Beginning his directorial career at Shochiku-Kamata Studio in 1925, Heinosuke Gosho (1902-1981) produced a lot of masterpieces, such as The Dancing Girl of Izu (1933), in succession. After the war, he went on to direct memorable melodrama movies at Toho studio, Kabukiza Production, the Studio Eight (the production company he co-founded) and others. After 47 years since his last retrospective at NFAJ (then National Film Center) in 1974, this program will celebrate his enduring career by screening his films from the Kamata era to the last years.

Rescheduled Screening from the Programs of 2020:Shochiku, Toshiro Mifune, Setsuko Hara and Japanese Films in the 1980s

June 22 – July 4, 2021 → November 30 – December 26, 2021
We have rescheduled the screenings although we had once cancelled them. (Updated: October 13, 2021)

In this program, we will hold additional screenings of the sold-out or cancelled titles in four programs in 2020, namely Shochiku Cinema at 100, Toshiro Mifune Retrospective at His Centenary, and Setsuko Hara Retrospective at Her Centenary, and New Challenges: Japanese Films in the 1980s during which the seating capacity was reduced.

Exploring the History of Hong Kong Cinema

November 30 – December 26, 2021 → January 4 – January 30, 2022
The schedule has been changed. (Updated: October 13, 2021)

This program will present the unique history of Hong Kong movies, screening noted films and restored films mainly provided by Hong Kong Film Archive.

Flourishing Independent Filmmakers:
Japanese Films in the 1990s

January 4 – March 6, 2022 → February 1 – March 6, April 5 – May 1, 2022
The schedule has been changed. (Updated: October 13, 2021)

Facing the popularity of foreign films, the domestic market share of Japanese cinema declined in the 1990s. It was also the decade of social and economic turbulence caused by the end of the Cold War, the collapse of the bubble economy and other incidents. This program will show representative Japanese films in this era, from hit movies against this difficult situation to radical movies directed by newcomers who had drawn attention as independent filmmakers.

VAGABONDES : CINEASTES ET FRANCAISES
Histoire décadrée du cinéma français des pionnières aux nouvelles venues

March 15 – 27, 2022

This program will present diversity of French films, showing from classic ones to the latest ones. Mainly featured will be the works of female directors and the movies rarely seen in Japan. Restored films owned by Cinémathèque française will be included.

Kids’ Cinema: The Summer Vacation of 2021

July 30 – 31, August 6 – 7, 2021 @B1 Theatre

This is the program for children up to junior high school students. It intends to cultivate their aesthetic sensibility and image literacy through the wonder and joy of films on screen.
For more detailed information, please see the following page (in Japanese).

In Celebration of UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage  Magnetic Tape Alert:
What You Can Do Before We Lose the Huge Amount of Films on Videotape

October 16, 2021 @Nagase Memorial Theatre OZU
Co-operation: Directors Guild of Japan

Celebrating UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage(October 27), this special event provides the opportunity to learn the importance of moving image preservation.

V4 Countries Kids Film Festival

December 11, 2021 @B1 Theatre

Co-organizers: The embassies and the cultural institutions of V4 countries

Animation and other films of Visegrad Four (V4:  Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland), along with their cultures, are showcased for children in this program.

Temporary Exhibitions

Permanent Exhibition