Editor

The date for the 12th Japanese Film Festival Nippon Connection in Frankfurt am Main is set: From May 2-6, 2012, the biggest festival for Japanese cinema worldwide will once more present more than 100 of the latest Japanese short and feature films. The screenings will be accompanied by a comprehensive cultural program ranging from tradition to modernity, as well as by the attendance of numerous filmmakers and artists from Japan presenting their works.

The 12th edition of Nippon Connection will feature an exciting new competition, initiated in collaboration with Frankfurt's transportation association VGF. The regulations for the VGF Nippon in Motion Award are an unusual creative challenge: The organizers are looking for extra-short movies, no longer than 12 seconds (!!!), which work without sound and focus on the topic "Nippon in Motion". Filmmakers of all nationalities are invited to participate until January 31, 2012. The spots can be submitted through the platform http://www.reelport.com/. The winner of the competition will be awarded with 250 Euro. In addition, the three best rated spots will not only be screened at the Nippon Connection Festival, but also on the infoscreens of the Frankfurt subway. The homepage of the festival provides more detailed information: http://www.nipponconnection.com/.

At the 12th Nippon Connection Film Festival an international jury will grant the Nippon Visions Award for the 3rd time: The director of the best newcomer film will receive free subtitles for his or her next project by the Japan Visualmedia Translation Academy. In the section Nippon Cinema, it will once more be up to the audience to choose its favorite film. The winner will receive the Nippon Cinema Award endowed with 2,000 Euro and sponsored for the eighth time already by Bankhaus Metzler.

A specific focus of the 12th Nippon Connection Film Festival will be the triple catastrophe of March 11, 2011. Many filmmakers and artists are already dealing with the trauma and its consequences in their work. Next to a film special, the festival will feature a photo exhibition, discussion panels and lectures on this topic.

The 12th Japanese Film Festival Nippon Connection is organized on a voluntary basis by the non-profit association Nippon Connection e.V.