VIZ Cinema is a 143-seat underground cinema inside NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco, owned and operated by VIZ Pictures. Equipped with a cutting-edge HD digital projection and THX®-certified sound system, VIZ Cinema’s programming focuses on the latest and hottest films from Japan, as well as an incredible legacy of classics, favorites, documentaries and anime – making it the only venue of its kind in the United States.
This month VIZ Cinema is overloaded with special events and rare films for your enjoyment. Come watch a whole series of Japanese artist documentaries, SFIAAFF specials, the U.S. premiere of Mobile Suit Gundam UC, and more!
FEATURED ARTIST: “Neo-Japanese Painting” Artist: Hisashi Tenmyouya
Born in Tokyo in 1966, Hisashi Tenmyouya is the hottest traditional Japanese painter today. He has mastered the impossible techniques of the traditional method while incorporating subcultural motifs of tatoo, grafitti, and street gangs to create his own ‘Neo-Japanese Painting’ style. In 2008, his traditionally depicted Gundam sold for $650,000 at the Christie’s auction in Hong Kong. Don’t miss the chance to see his precesion, like a slice of the sword, in Samurai Nouveau, a documentary capturing Tenmyouya’s creative process premiering at the NEW PEOPLE Artist Series Festival starting on March 6th!
Saturday, 3/6 – Tuesday, 3/9, 2010
VIZ Pictures presents: NEW PEOPLE Artist Series Festival Vol.1
VIZ Pictures presents NEW PEOPLE Artist Series Festival featuring the popular documentary series of
Japanese contemporary artists. The festival will include 3 US premieres introducing Neo-Japanese
“Hip-Hop-Samurai” painter Hisashi Tenmyouya, Makoto Aida the cynical genius in the playground of art, and the quiet master sculptor Katsura Funakoshi. The films will be shown for the first time with English subtitles. The festival also holds encore screenings of Yoshitomo Nara, Yayoi Kusama, and Daido Moriyama by popular demand!
Get your NEW PEOPLE Artist Series Pass that allows you to get into ANY screening at ANY time during this festival!
Tickets: NEW PEOPLE Artist Series Pass: $30 / General $10 / Senior (+62) & Child (-12) $8
Hisashi Tenmyouya : Samurai Nouveau [U.S. Premiere]
(Directed by Go Ishizaki, 2006, Digital, 80min, With English Subtitles)
3/6 (Sat) 1:00pm / 3/7 (Sun) 3:00pm
A graphic designer turned contemporary artist, Hisashi Tenmyouya brings his own style of NEO-Traditional Japanese Painting to the art world. Tenmyouya reveals his soul through melding of modern urban subjects with traditional methods of painting.
Makoto Aida : Cynic in the Playground [U.S. Premiere]
(Directed by Yusuke Tamari, 2003, Digital, 98min, With English Subtitles)
3/6 (Sat) 3:00pm / 3/7 (Sun) 5:00pm
Known for his diverse and controversial works in various media, Makoto Aida shares his work and private life as he creates his “Human Project” and “Shinjuku Castle.” Through his creative process his unique character surfaces.
Katsura Funakoshi: Whispering Gaze [U.S. Premiere]
(Directed by Kenjiro Fujii, 2004, Digital, 98min, With English Subtitles © 2004 B.B.B.inc.)
3/6 (Sat) 5:00pm / 3/8 (Mon) 7:00pm
Witness the visionary sculptor Katsura Funakoshi as he breathes life into camphor wood. His human-like sculptures are known for their distant gaze as if pondering philosophical thoughts and projecting subtle yet bold emotions.
Yayoi Kusama: I Love ME
(Directed by Takako Matsumoto, 2008, Digital, 102min, With English Subtitles)
3/7 (Sun) 1:00pm / 3/9 (Tue) 7:00pm
The avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama is the queen of polka dots. Become a witness to a genius at work as she diligently completes her series of 50 large monochrome drawings and enter her world with never a dull moment.
Daido Moriyama: Stray Dog of Tokyo
(Directed by Kenjiro Fujii, 2001, Digital, 84min, With English Subtitles)
3/6 (Sat) 7:00pm / 3/8 (Mon) 5:00pm
Follow the charismatic photographer Daido Moriyama as he takes his first digital photos and observe his style of quick snapshots without looking in the viewfinder. His stark and contrasting B & W images symbolize his fervent lifestyle.
Traveling with Yoshitomo Nara
(Directed by Koji Sakabe, 2007, Digital, 93min, With English Subtitles)
3/7 (Sun) 7:00pm / 3/9 (Tue) 5:00pm
Featuring world-renowned Japanese modern artist Yoshitomo Nara. The film follows the artist’s life journey and his latest attempt at creating a “collaboration” that leads to a surprising outcome for both his artwork and himself.
For more info visit www.newpeopleartistseries.com
Saturday, 3/13 – Thursday, 3/18
28th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
VIZ Cinema’s Pick!
Dear Doctor
3/17 (Wed) 9:15PM
(Directed by Miwa Nishikawa, 2009, 35mm, 128min, With English Subtitles)
Cast: Tsurubei Shofukutei
SFIAAFF is coming to VIZ Cinema!
Among the Festival’s films scheduled at VIZ Cinema, the spotlight is on Dear Doctor directed by award-winning Miwa Nishikawa of Yureru (Sway, 2006) and Hebi Ichigo (Wild Berries, 2003). Dear Doctor is a human drama centered around a doctor that goes missing after moving to his post at a village with no other doctors. Famous for exposing the complicated human psyche, this Nishikawa original is highly anticipated! Get your tickets through SFIAAFF here.
Friday, 3/19 – Thursday, 3/25 for 1 WEEK ONLY! 
Mobile Suit Gundam UC [ U.S. Premiere ]
(Directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi, 2010, Digital, 58min, English Dubbed)
New to the Gundam series? Don’t worry! Mobile Suit Gundam UC is its own story based on a best-seller written by acclaimed Sci-Fi author, Harutoshi Fukui. The film makes its special U.S. premiere within only one month of its premiere in Japan due to VIZ Cinema’s exclusive engagement with Production Studio Sunrise!
Year U.C. 0096, a colony called Industrial 7 is the stage for the young boy Banagher’s encounter with his life destiny ‘the white Mobile Suit’ Unicorn Gandam. A mysterious Laplace’s Box becomes the basis for a galactic scale battle.
Don’t miss this priceless chance to catch the U.S. Premiere of the latest Gundam Series! Ticket price is $8 only. No discounts apply.
3/19 (Fri) 7:00pm
3/20 (Sat) 1:00pm, 2:30pm, 4:00pm, 5:30pm, 7:00pm
3/21 (Sun) 1:00pm, 2:30pm, 4:00pm, 5:30pm, 7:00pm
3/22 (Mon) 5:30pm, 7:00pm
3/23 (Tue) 5:30pm, 7:00pm
3/24 (Wed) 5:30pm, 7:00pm
3/25 (Thu) 5:30pm, 7:00pm
Friday, 3/5 7:00pm
TokyoScope:
The wild and crazy world of Japanese cult films Vol.1
YAKUZA NIGHT FEVER!
Hosted by Patrick Macias
Sponsored by SEGA of America, Inc.
**Reception party starts at 6:00pm
“Mattemashita!” means “We have all been waiting for this!” The notorious Japanese mafia a.k.a “YAKUZA” is a huge part of Japanese culture and films. Get to know the hardship of what it is to honor the Yakuza code and life style!
Come celebrate the launch of J-pop culture critic Patrick Macias’s film lecture series at VIZ Cinema! The event is followed by a game demo of Yakuza 3 to be released on Tue, March 9th, PLUS a raffle giveaway of Yakuza 3 sponsored by SEGA! Our good friend Patrick Macias, a.k.a. editor in chief of Otaku USA, gives us deep insights on the wild and crazy world of Japanese cult films, this time through the history of Yakuza (Japanese mob) movies!
＊Ticket price is only $10. No further discounts apply. (This event has mature content. Parental advisory is required.)
SIGN UP TO WIN HERE! Pre-event raffle give-away!
Sign up for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the event and get a copy of TokyoScope autographed by our host and author Patrick Macias.
RAFFLE CLOSED!
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Wednesday, 3/10 7:00pm
The Allure of Hayao Miyazaki
Hosted by Beth Cary and Frederik L. Schodt
Sponsored by VIZ Media
**Reception starts at 6:00pm (sign in for raffle)
Don’t miss this rare chance to meet the established authors and experts on Japan, Beth Cary and Frederik L. Schodt, translators of “Starting Point: 1979-1996”, the autobiography written by Academy Award winning film director, Hayao Miyazaki! Hear the stories of the privileged authors who spent time with Miyazaki and get deeper insights into his world of incredible imagination.
SPECIAL PRIZES!
On the event day, we will be holding a raffle giveaway of 10 Ponyo books! When you check-in / sign-in on the event day, you will receive a raffle ticket. Our hosts will announce the winners during the event.
A PRE-EVENT RAFFLE GIVEAWAY!
Sign up below to win a pair of tickets to the event and get the book “Starting Point: 1979-1996” Autographed by Beth Cary and Frederik L. Schodt.
RAFFLE CLOSED!
THANK YOU FOR SIGNING UP!
**Pre-event raffle details**
Prizes: 1 copy of “Starting Point: 1979-1996”
(Autographed by Beth Cary and Frederik L. Schodt)
A pair of free tickets to the event
Entry Deadline: 3/7 (Sunday) at Noon
Winners will be picked and notified by noon on March 8th, please reply to notification to confirm that you have won: by March 9th at noon (after that, the next winner will be notified). The book and tickets will be given to the winner on event day at NEW PEOPLE. Please identify yourself with your ID at the BOX OFFICE.
* All programming is subject to change. * Showtimes in ( ) indicates matinee price.
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