We Heart Canada + Japan 90 Short Film Campaign project celebrates the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Canada. The Vancouver Asian Film Festival partnered with the Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver and the Japan Foundation, Toronto to deliver this initiative and build awareness of the landmark year across Canada.
About We Heart Canada + Japan 90
The purpose of this short film project is to present different films that tell the stories of the people and organizations who have been making connections and building stronger bridges between Canada and Japan. The 4-minute short films showcase what Canada’s diverse and inclusive communities love about Japan. The project will not only help non-profit organizations with connections to Japan, communicate and promote their work but also allow independent filmmakers expand their portfolio and showcase their creations as well.
To kick off the We Heart Canada + Japan 90 short film campaign project; VAFF hosted a SWIPE RIGHT matchmaking event on July 12, 2018 at SFU Harbour Center. This event matched filmmaking teams with non-profit organizations to allow them to meet and discover whom they would like to work with.
Four non-profit organizations and four filmmakers were funded for this short film project. Four resulting short films were in production from August to October 2018 and the completed films premiered during the 22nd annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival, Nov 1 – 4, 2018. The winning film SHOJI, will be showcased by Consulate General of Japan across Canada in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and the Embassy in Ottawa during the year of 2019.
Watch the trailer below, together with the four films and the “behind-the-scenes”.
About Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver (CGV)
www.vancouver.ca.emb-japan.go.jp
About the Japan Foundation, Toronto (JFT)
https://tr.jpf.go.jp/
About the Vancouver Asian Film Festival
The Vancouver Asian Film Festival Society (VAFF) is a not-for-profit organization that celebrates diversity in film. The longest-running Canadian film festival of its kind, VAFF was founded by independent filmmaker and writer Barbara K. Lee in 1995 and debuted in September 1997. VAFF is entirely organized and produced by a group of dedicated volunteers, and is made possible by generous financial support from corporate sponsors, public funders and private donors. Organizers are expecting close to 4,000 audience members over the four-day festival. Now on its 22nd year, this four day festival incorporates the theme of INFUSIAN, which shines a spotlight on individuals and communities who create new art and culture by blending together old and new, East and West, classic and cutting-edge, myriad ways of living and thinking. It also reflects the undeniable hybridity of modern Canada, with varied heritages, histories, and cultures coming together in endless combinations to create a vibrant cross-cultural landscape. Website: www.vaff.org
