JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO LAUNCHES JULY 27^th TO OFFER BAY AREA SCREENINGS OF THE BEST IN RECENT JAPANESE LIVE-ACTION AND ANIME CINEMA

More Than 15 Titles To Premiere At NEW PEOPLE Cinema In A Special Week-Long Film Festival Set To Launch In Conjunction With

The 2013 J-POP Summit

San Francisco, CA, July 11, 2013 – The Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, the first fully-dedicated annual Japanese film celebration for the S.F. Bay Area, will launch in just a couple of weeks at NEW PEOPLE Cinema, San Francisco’s famed pop culture movie theatre located inside of the NEW PEOPLE J-Pop entertainment complex in the heart of the city’s Japantown.

Kicking off on Saturday, July 27^th, in conjunction with the 2013 J-POP Summit Festival, and running thru Sunday, August 4th, the Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF) is the first fully-dedicated annual Japanese film event for the S.F. Bay Area and will screen more than 15 acclaimed live-action and anime films representing some of the best in recent Japanese cinema. Several notable Guests of Honor, including directors Miwa Nishikawa (Dreams for Sale) and Shinsuke Sato (GANTZ, Library Wars), as well artist “Zero Yen” architect Kyohei Sakaguchi will also appear in-person for the premieres of their latest projects.

Tickets are $13.00 per film. NEW PEOPLE Cinema is located in San Francisco’s Japantown at 1746 Post St. (Cross St. is Webster St.) A complete schedule and advance ticket information is available on www.jffsf.org.

The Japan Film Festival of San Francisco starts during the 2013 J-POP Summit, taking place Saturday July 27^th and Sunday July 28^th across the historic Japantown district to celebrate the phenomenon of Japanese pop culture with a colorful array of live bands and artists, panel discussions, film premieres, edgy fashion shows, electronic dance events, celebrity appearances and more. Full details are available at www.J-POP.com.

Notable Film Premieres Include:

DREAMS FOR SALE - S.F. PREMIERE!!!

** Featuring special in-person appearance by Director Miwa Nishikawa

Saturday, July 27^th, 7:00pm

Co-presented with the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco

Written and directed by Miwa Nishikawa (SWAY and Dear Doctor), Dreams for Sale is a richly evocative drama about a couple that lose everything in a fire and attempt to make a fresh start by swindling others. A wife and her husband Kanya run a small eatery in a corner of Tokyo, but on the 5^th anniversary of its opening, a fire erupts in the kitchen and burns the place to a cinder. In desperate need of cash, the pair embarks on a hilarious and heartwarming marriage scam in an attempt to put their lives back on track.

Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/dreams-for-sale

EVANGELION 3.0 YOU CAN (NOT) REDO - U.S. PREMIERE!!!

Saturday, July 27^th, 11:00am

Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo, aka “Evangelion: The New Movie: Q,” is the third of four feature films released in the Rebuild of Evangelion saga, by famed anime director Hideaki Anno. Catch the action in this exclusive U.S. premiere!

Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/evangelion3

HOW TO BUILD A MOBILE HOUSE - U.S. PREMIERE!!!

** Featuring special in-person appearance by “Zero Yen Architect” Kyohei Sakaguchi

Saturday, July 27^th, 1:30pm

Presented by MUJI USA

With the appearance of the famous "Zero Yen" architect, Kyohei Sakaguchi, the documentary, How to Build a Mobile House, delves into the roots of dwelling and living through the unique activities of this artist/architect who "does not build."

Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/kyohei-sakaguchi

LIBRARY WARS - U.S. PREMIERE!!!

Friday, August 2^nd, 7:00pm & Saturday, August 3^rd, 1:10pm

** Featuring special in-person appearance by Director Shinsuke Sato

Library Wars is based on the bestselling novel by Hiro Arikawa. Set in the year 2019 in Japan, a new law is passed to crack down on free expression. But to oppose this oppressive crackdown, the Library Force is created to protect libraries. A fierce battle soon ensues between these two groups. Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/shinsuke-sato

PLATNUM DATA - U.S. PREMIERE!!!

Thursday, August 1^st, 7:00pm & Saturday, August 3^rd, 7:00pm

J-Pop artist Kazunari Ninomiya (Gantz, Letters from Iwo Jima) stars in Platinum Data, the biggest film to be released in Japan in 2013. Ryuhei Kagura (Kazunari Ninomiya) is a criminal scientist and after solving series of complex cases, he is assigned to investigate the murders of several people connected to new DNA forensics technology. But trace of evidence analyzed through the DNA forensic system soon identifies him as the offender. With no such memory, he decides to flee and the pursuer becomes the pursued. Is Kagura guilty or innocent? Platinum Data holds the key… Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/platinum-data

RENT A FAMILY INC. – JUST ADDED!!!

Wednesday, July 31^st, 7:00pm

Co-presented with The San Francisco Film Society

This funny documentary by Danish filmmaker Kaspar Astrup Schröder (The Invention of Dr. Nakamatsu) follows Ryuichi, a Japanese family man who operates a professional stand-in business called “I Want to Cheer You Up Ltd,” that rents out fake relatives (i.e. spouses, parents, and friends) to customers that desperately need to cover up a secret. But Ryuichi himself leads a double life by not telling his family about the business he is running. Will Ryuichi come clean to his family in order to cheer up his own family situation?

Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/rent_a_family_inc/

Additional Live-Action Film Screenings & Premieres:

HELTER SKELTER - S.F. PREMIERE!!!

Saturday, August 3^rd, 4:20pm

Sakuran director Mika Ninagawa's live-action adaptation of the eponymous shojo manga by Kyoko Okazaki utilizes brilliantly colored visuals to depict the descent of an outwardly perfect but inwardly unstable star that reigns over the entertainment world. Co-presented with the Center for Asian American Media. Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/helter-skelter

HIMIZU - S.F. PREMIERE!!!

Sunday, August 4^th, 1:10pm

Sion Sono's award-winning masterpiece is set after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and follows the attempts by a 14-year-old boy to escape his dismal surroundings and the strange string of events that set him on a new course. Co-presented with the Center for Asian American Media. Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/himizu

LESSON OF THE EVIL – S.F. PREMIERE!!!

Saturday, July 27^th, 4:20pm & Tuesday, July 30^th, 7:00pm

Directed by Takashi Miike, Lesson of the Evil is a twisted psycho thriller based on a bestseller novel by Yusuke Kishi. Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/lesson-of-the-evil

RUROUNI KENSHIN - S.F. PREMIERE!!!

Sunday, July 28^th, 6:30pm & Thursday, August 1^st, 4:00pm

A new live-action film adaptation of creator Nobuhiro Watsuki 's smash hit samurai manga.

Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/rurouni-kenshin

SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO – WEST COAST PREMIERE!!!

Sunday, August 4^th, 3:20pm

A stunning live-action adaptation of the famed space saga, originally created by Leiji Matsumoto, which laid the foundation for the entire Japanese science fiction anime genre.

Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/space-battleship-yamato

Additional Anime Film  Screenings & Premieres:

BERSERK THE GOLDEN AGE ARC II – Special Encore Presentation!!!

Sunday, July 28^th, 3:50pm

The exciting second film in the BERSERK GOLDEN AGE ARC TRILOGY based on the bestselling manga series. Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/berserk2

HUNTER X HUNTER: PHANTOM ROUGE - U.S. PREMIERE!!!

Saturday, August 3^rd, 11:00am

Hunter X Hunter: Phantom Rouge is based on the mega-hit manga series by Yoshihiro Togashi, which has sold over 60 million copies worldwide.

Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/hunter-x-hunter

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN THE MOVIE: THE LOST TOWER - U.S. PREMIERE!!!

Saturday, July 28^th, 1:30pm

The latest feature film action/adventure featuring the world’s most popular ninja – Naruto!

Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/naruto-shippuden-the-lost-tower

TIGER & BUNNY: THE BEGINNING – Special Encore Presentation!!!

Friday, August 2^nd, 4:00pm

The hero-inspired big screen action of the smash hit anime property – Tiger & Bunny – returns to the Bay Area for a special encore screening.

Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/tiger-bunny-the-beginning

WOLF CHILDREN – S.F. PREMIERE!!!

Sunday, July 28^th, 11:00am & Sunday, August 4^th, 6:15pm

From Mamoru Hosoda, the visionary and award-winning creator of the acclaimed anime films, Summer Wars and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, comes a beautiful tale of love and triumph. Info & tickets available at: http://jffsf.org/2013/wolf-children/

NEW PEOPLE Cinema is a 143-seat cinema located in the underground floor of NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco. Equipped with a cutting-edge HD digital projection and THX^®-certified sound system, NEW PEOPLE Cinema is home for local film festivals and entertaining events. www.newpeoplecinema.com

About J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL

The J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL is an annual Japanese Pop Culture celebration that features live bands and artists from Japan, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion and DJ dance events, and celebrity appearances. The Festival is hosted by NEW PEOPLE in cooperation with the Japantown Merchants Association. In 2012, the two-day event attracted 65,000 attendees.

More information about the J-POP Summit Festival is available at J-POP.com.