TOSHIAKI TOYODA
Legal Issues
Some unfortunate news has come from Japan regarding director Toshiaki Toyoda.
Due to being arrested 10+ years ago for possession of drugs, he has been under the strict eye of the Japanese government, who a couple weeks ago, decided to raid his house trying to find drugs. They found no drugs at all, but did find a non-working antique gun which was passed down from his father. Usually, such things can be resolved without much fuss, but the Japanese government loves to set examples of celebrities to sway the public against committing crimes.
In this case, upon finding the gun and without checking its story, the police immediately called up the media while still in Toyoda's house, so the media could come and make Toyoda guilty within the public eye. They did this without even charging Toyoda of a crime, and then put him into a police cell for 10 days without charge. Japanese laws allow for people to be held for weeks without charge, on however small the crime, in order to set strict examples to the public.
In essence Toyoda was guilty from the first minute, and the police used the media to spread this false truth. This has both cost him massive legal fees in order to prove his innocence and also ruined his reputation. It's a sad state of affairs for such a talented filmmaker, so as we had coincidentally planned a re-release of his seminal film BLUE SPRING in May, we are now helping with putting money towards his legal fees through the sales of both Blue Spring and our previously released box set of his early works. So any purchase of the below titles will go towards his legal fees!
BLUE SPRING
Debuts on Bluray!
Toshaiki Toyoda's cult classic BLUE SPRING, adapted from the famous manga Aoi Haru by Taiyo Matsumoto gets its WORLD BLURAY DEBUT on May 13th!
One of the best examples of early 2000s Japanese cinema, Blue Spring is a brutal tale of youth anarchy in high school and launched the careers of many now popular actors such as Ryuhei Matsuda (The Raid 2), Hirofumi Arai (100 Yen Love) and Eita (Memories of Matsuko).
Out MAY 13th
ALL REGION – DUAL FORMAT DVD & BLURAY
New audio commentary by director Toyoda
Making Of from the film's original release
Pre-order now on Amazon – https://amzn.to/2BZHCRC
or the Arrow Films store – https://www.arrowfilms.com/product-detail/blue-spring-dual-format/TWFBD045
TOSHIAKI TOYODA – THE EARLY YEARS
Get ready for the release of BLUE SPRING by picking up a copy of our beautiful LIMITED EDITION release of 3 other films by Toshiaki Toyoda: PORNOSTAR, 9 SOULS and UNCHAIN
A 3 disc set in a lovely digipack, featuring loads of new and exclusive extras!
This is an ALL REGION release of 3 films which are NOT AVAILABLE ON BLURAY ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD!
Order now on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2H6vI9x
or direct on the ARROW FILMS store: https://www.arrowfilms.com/product-detail/toshiaki-toyoda–the-early-years-ltd-ed-blu-ray/TWFBD030
JAPANESE STARS IN LONDON!
3 great events!
THE LEGEND OF THE STARDUST BROTHERS (1985)
with Q&A from director Macoto Tezka
England Premiere
SUNDAY, MAY 19th from 3:30pm at the Prince Charles Cinema
Presented in a brand new digital remaster and new director's cut!
Rocky Horror meets Phantom of the Paradise with a long-lost 80s Japanese rock-musical featuring zombies, animation and much more, directed by Macoto Tezka, the son of the "Godfather of Manga" OSAMU TEZUKA!
Tickets at
https://princecharlescinema.com/PrinceCharlesCinema.dll/WhatsOn?f=11498922
ONE CUT OF THE DEAD (カメラを止めるな！)
w/actress HARUMI SHUHAMA Q&A
FRIDAY, JULY 12th from 8:45pm at the Prince Charles Cinema
Hosted by Frightfest's Paul McEvoy!
POMdemonium comes to the PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA!
HARUMI SHUHAMA the "POM" star of ONE CUT OF THE DEAD, will be in attendance for a one-off screening plus after-talk at the Prince Charles Cinema on Friday, July 12th
Tickets at
https://princecharlescinema.com/PrinceCharlesCinema.dll/WhatsOn?f=9368007
One Cut of the Dead’s star Harumi Shuhama will be appearing on the HYPER Live Stage on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th of July to talk and answer questions about the film and her experiences in this unique project which became the surprise hit of 2018. Made as a workshop project with non-professional actors and on a tiny budget of $27,000, it grossed over $30 Million, has won awards all around the world and earned a stunning 100% review on Rotten Tomatoes.
Third Window Films will be at HYPER JAPAN Festival all weekend with One Cut of the Dead and their incredible selection of titles available to purchase directly.
Tickets available at https://hyperjapan.co.uk/tickets/
Tetsuo 30th Anniversary
Shinya Tsukamoto love!
How time flies!
2019 marks the 30th anniversary since TETSUO: THE IRON MAN burst into the world, and gave rise to the career of Shinya Tsukamoto, who has easily been one of the most unique, original and consistent directors of an era.
During May in Japan, there will be various screenings of the 3 Tetsuo films at Cinema City in Tachikawa (without english subtitles) – https://cinemacity.co.jp/
But for you overseas, get yourself ready for our release later this year of his latest film KILLING by catching up with Tetsuo and more!
Stream/download on Itunes (UK ONLY)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/shinya-tsukamoto/381243632
Buy on Amazon
https://amzn.to/2ViHqbT
or buy direct through the Arrow film store
https://www.arrowfilms.com/shop/?pi=1&ps=2147483647&d=tsukamoto
Base Sale
Many blurays at under £7!
A selection of Third Window DVDs and Blurays can be picked up at great prices now at Base.com!
Check them out at:
https://www.base.com/fsearch.htm?search=third+window+films&pgresult-0=1
SION SONO & EIJI UCHIDA
Now available on Spamflix!
Sion Sono's retrospective is now available in the United Kingdom and Ireland!
Six titles that vary from comedy-drama to science fiction, fantasy and more + 1 documentary on the japanese cult director!
https://spamflix.com/news.do?methodcall=details&idnews=91
2 films from EIJI UCHIDA available WORLDWIDE!
Meet the lives of Tetsuo, a lowlife indie film Director and Ai, a former religious cult member.
Eiji Uchida's black comedies Lowlife Love (2015) and Love and Other Cults (2017) are now streaming (almost) globally on Spamflix.com
https://spamflix.com/news.do?methodcall=details&idnews=92
Korean Cinema
Default – UK Premiere
May 20th
Regent Street Cinema
In the run up to this year's London Korean Film Festival, there is a teaser screening of the financial drama, DEFAULT.
DEFAULT follows three interwoven character arcs: a senior financial analyst struggling to do right amongst her negligent colleagues; a factory owner swept into crisis when his main client falls into bankruptcy; and an opportunist, Yoo Ah-In (BURNING, PUNCH), looking to profit from the nationwide catastrophe.
DEFAULT is the second title from promising director Choi Kook-hee, who won Best First Feature at the Fantasia International Film Festival in 2017 with SPLIT.
Tickets at https://www.regentstreetcinema.com/programme/default/
Korean Film Nights (KFN) is a year-round programme of film screenings, mini-lectures and discussions that guide audiences through different aspects of Korean cinema and culture. Having run since 2008, KFN has showcased a wide spectrum of films based around a variety of different themes and is put together in collaboration with external partners to bring fresh insight and diversity to the programme.
The first season for 2019, Home Truths, ventures into various on-screen Korean homes with a programme of carefully selected titles. We explore how Korean domestic space shapes on-screen identities, and how its architectural structure can reflect the social mores of a time. A house can reveal much about both its residents and the world outside its doors.
All screenings take place at the Korean Cultural Centre UK and are free to attend (booking required)
More info at http://koreanfilm.co.uk/site/year-round-korean-film-events/korean-film-nights
Arrow Films
Latest releases
YAKUZA LAW OUT ON BLU-RAY MAY 13
Director Teruo Ishii (Blind Woman’s Curse, Horrors of Malformed Men), the Godfather of J-sploitation, presents Yakuza Law (AKA Yakuza’s Law: Lynching) – a gruelling anthology of torture, spanning three district periods of Japanese history and bringing to the screen some of the most brutal methods of torment ever devised.
Terracotta Distribution
Graceland
Terracotta's latest title is GRACELAND, a Filipino thriller exclusively available to stream now on Amazon Prime at https://amzn.to/300R2qE
In a kidnapping gone wrong, a corrupt politician's daughter is the intended target. Instead the daughter of his chauffeur is taken, in a case of mistaken identity. So begins the driver's frenetic chase to hunt down the criminals at any cost, launching a one-man war to rescue his daughter.
An action packed thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat till the finale of this gritty thriller.
Terracotta distribution have opened up a new webshop where dvds, blurays and even streaming services are available for their great selection of Asian and Western genre cinema!
Yorkshire Cosplay Con is annually held in the Sheffield area and are proud to say that they are Yorkshire’s favourite Anime, Comic Book, Cosplay, Sci-Fi and Video Gaming convention. This Sheffield convention has attracted hundreds of attendees each year and the convention continues to grow stronger each time.
Activities at the convention include a variety of contests, meeting new people, Mixture of Japanese/English Music, traders, Artists, Special Guests, workshops, card-gaming, trading, video gaming, karaoke, live entertainment and more!
May 18-19 in Sheffield!
http://www.yorkshirecosplayconvention.co.uk/
