Okinawa International Film Festival

 The 1^st day of the festival saw 550 artists and directors walk on the red carpet, and 53,000 spectators. This red carpet is the world’s longest. The event lasts for 8 days and has 57 sponsors. During these eight days, 74 works from 9 countries were shown, with 20 works competing for awards. The event was seen by a record-setting 420,000 people!

  Mr. Osaki, President of Yoshimoto Kogyo and chairman of the executive committee, said “I want to see Okinawan industry sing and dance on a daily basis!”

This event is a powerful force in Okinawa. Involving 41 municipalities, this event shows off the charms of Okinawa to the world. In the beginning some saw it as an event that came from the mainland, but in time the locals took over responsibility for it. This year, for the first time, all of the movies were free.

　

 This is more than just a movie-watching event. There is also a market and an exhibition hall with 50 companies represented. The booths become more and more authentic every year, and they are not only interesting for industry insiders, but also crowded with parents and children.

 This year the “Creator’s Factory” talent search was held for the first time.

It’s designed to find the stars of tomorrow in directing, filming, and acting.

Producer and actress Kiki Sugino won the highest award for “Odayaka” and Yoshimoto Kogyo will fully support her next work.

 The event also gives birth to new businesses. Using “Pashaoke” (an auction-style shopping appli) one could purchase the right to walk down the red carpet with NON STYLE (a pair of Japanese comedians). For a good price, a woman was able to proudly walk down the world’s longest red carpet with her head held high. The proceeds went to a group in Ginowan city that promotes children’s dance and is sponsored by Yoshimoto Kogyo.

 Competition jurist and director of Batman Forever Joel Schumaker said that, “There is no other festival like it.” Many film festivals are finished once the awards have been handed out and seem like “fake” events put on by the entertainment industry, but the Okinawa Film Festival is different. It is more like a school arts festival involving artists, directors, the industry, and spectators. It involves movies, music, plays, and videos.

  At the same time, the Okinawan Elementary School Film Festival is held, featuring seven works by elementary students. The schools are supported by visits from Japanese comedians. There is also a competition to make the best commercial promoting local charms called the “Jimot CM Conpe.” In this competition, the 41 municipalities of Okinawa and 46 mainland prefectures choose 87 plans from over 1000 ideas and put them into action. It’s a local event into which people invest their time and passion.