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On the second and fourth Fridays of each month the YIDFF Organizing Committee holds screenings of films which are not shown at commercial theaters, such as documentary films including the Film Library Collection films, pre-war Japanese films, masterpieces, independent works, experimental films, and animation at the 40-seat theater. Tomonokai (support) members can join the Friday Theater for free (membership fee is 1,000 yen for six months). Anyone is welcome to join the Tomonokai.

The YAMAGATA Documentary Film Library Friday Theater

Selected British Documentary Masterpieces
• April 8 (Fri) 14:00, 18:30 (program screens twice)

Drifters
Dir: John Grierson / 1929 / 40 min
Night Mail
Dir: John Grierson / 1936 / 24 min
Coal Face
Dir: Alberto Cavalcanti / 1936 / 11 min
Listen to Britain
Dir: Humphrey Jennings, Stewart McAllister / 1942 / 20 min
Diary for Timothy
Dir: Humphrey Jennings / 1945 / 39 min
(all works 16mm; except for Drifters, all works are subtitled in Japanese.)

Building on the success of his 1927 work Drifters, produced with funding from the Empire Marketing Board, John Grierson mobilized a crew of young filmmakers and continued making documentary films. In the 1930s and 40s Britain lead the world in documentary filmmaking. This tradition continues through the works of contemporary directors including Ken Loach and Mike Leigh, and has had a wide-ranging impact on narrative film.

Oki Masaharu Program: Creators launched from Yamagata #1
• April 22 (Fri) 14:00, 19:00 (program screens twice)

With the Sand Still in His Shoes
2000 / Video / 12 min
PeterPiperPumpkinhead
2002/ Video, 8mm / 24 min
Equatsaz
2003-2004 / 8mm / 3 min x 7 reels, and others

Oki Masaharu began creating works while studying at Tohoku University of Art and Design in Yamagata City, and has covered YIDFF for the festival daily newspaper Daily Bulletin. After graduating he has continued making films while living in Yamagata. Screening of works selected by Oki, including self-produced and self-screened work, structural film, and experimental pieces. Discussion with him is scheduled.

Oki Chieko Program: Creators launched from Yamagata #2
• May 13 (Fri) 14:00, 19:00 (program screens twice)

Grainy Days (“Tsubutsubu no hibi”)
JAPAN / 2004 / Japanese / Video / 20 min
It Was Alright, Even If the Car Didn’t Run
JAPAN / 2002 / Japanese / Video / 10 min, and other works

Oki Chieko began creating works while studying at the Tohoku University of Art & Design, and has been active covering YIDFF for the Daily Bulletin. Oki’s graduation piece Grainy Days (“Tsubutsubu no hibi”) won the Grand Prize at the 27th Tokyo Video Festival and honorable mention at the Image Forum Festival 2005. Discussion with Oki is scheduled.

Memories of Agano (“Aga no Kioku”) Screening Celebrating the Film’s Completion
• May 27 (Fri) 14:00, 18:30 (program screens twice)

Living on the River Agano
Dir: Sato Makoto / JAPAN / 1992 / Japanese / 16mm / 115 min
Memories of Agano (“Aga no kioku”)
Dir: Sato Makoto / JAPAN / 2004 / Japanese / 16mm / 55 min

Twelve years after the debut of the renowned film Living on the River Agano, in which the crew spent three years living with and documenting the lives of people living near the Agano River. Director Sato Makoto has completed Memories of Agano (“Aga no kioku”), incorporating outtakes from the original shoot. With director Sato Makoto’s generous cooperation, this screening precedes the film’s opening in Tokyo.

[Venue] The YAMAGATA Documentary Film Library (Yamagata Big Wing 3F)
[Admission] Free for Tomonokai members. (Membership fee: 1,000 yen for six months)
[Contact] phone: 023-666-4480 (YIDFF Yamagata office)