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.
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VIZ Cinema is on fire during September with J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL events and the preceding J-POP SUMMIT Week festivities. Don’t miss the premiere of Detroit Metal City presented by VIZ Pictures, and more films by Bay Area filmmakers!
QUICK GLANCE
| Friday, 9/3 – Thursday, 9/9 | People I’ve Slept With |
| Saturday, 9/4 | Death Note Day:Blu-ray Release Special |
| Friday, 9/10 – Sunday 9/12 | 911 Truth Film Festival |
| Saturday 9/11 @ 1:00pm | Paprika |
| Sunday 9/12 @ 8:00pm | Life Of Leopold |
| Monday, 9/13 – Thursday 9/17 | J-Pop Summit Week Special |
| Friday, 9/15 ＠ 7:30 pm | Kamikaze Girls |
| Friday, 9/18 ＠ 3:00 pm | Virtual Idol Hatsune Miku U.S. Film Concert |
| Friday, 9/18 – Thursday, 9/30 | Detroit Metal City |
| Sunday, 9/19 ＠12:30pm | Metal Samurai |
| Saturday, 9/25 & Sunday, 9/26 | Samurai Champloo Marathon |
| Wednesday, 9/29 @ 2:00pm | Yayoi Kusama: I Love ME |
Friday, 9/3 – Thursday, 9/9 
The People I’ve Slept With
(Directed by Quentin Lee, 2009, 89 min, Digital, English Language)
Bay Area Filmmakers Series Vol. 3 is Quentin Lee
*Opening Night Special Event on Friday, 9/3 @7:00pm
Reception with Q&A director Quentin Lee & Actress Karin Anna Cheung!
Q & A hosted by Center for Asian American Media
Tickets now available for $15. No discounts apply.
Co-sponsored by Frameline & Center for Asian American Media
Saturday, 9/4 : 5:30pm, 7:30pm
Sunday, 9/5: 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm
Monday, 9/6 – Thursday 9/9: 5:00, 7:00pm
QUENTIN LEE (Director, Producer)
Quentin Lee was born in Hong Kong, immigrated to Montreal, Canada, and then went to study literature at UC Berkeley and Yale, and film production/directing at UCLA. He began filmmaking as an experimental video maker and his early shorts screened over 20 film festivals both domestically and internationally. He has also published a novel titled Dress Like a Boy based on his last year of college at Berkeley.
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Saturday, 9/4
DEATH NOTE Collection: Blu-ray Release Special Event!
Presented by VIZ Pictures
It’s a battle of wits. Law student Light is upset with the justice system and when he finds the Death Note dropped by a death god, he vows to rid the world of evil. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies. As criminals all over the world begin to mysteriously die, a world-renowned detective known only as ‘L’ is put on the case to stop this serial killer that the public calls ‘Kira’. The battle between Light and L continues in Death Note II: The Last Name as Light joins the investigation team. L suspects Light of being Kira while Light attempts to learn L’s real name. Time becomes even more crucial with the appearance of a second Kira. Whose name will be the last written in the Death Note?
Tickets: $10 for each movie or $15 for both movies
$35 Special Blu-ray Package includes tickets to both movies, the brand new Blu-ray and poster!
DEATH NOTE
(Directed by Shusuke Kaneko, Digital, 120min, Japanese language with English Subtitled)
Saturday, 9/4 @ 12:00pm
DEATH NOTE II: The Last Name
(Directed by Shusuke Kaneko, Digital, 140min, Japanese language with English Subtitled)
Saturday, 9/4 @ 2:30pm
Watch Death Note 1 Trailer!
Friday, 9/10 – Sunday 9/12
911 Truth Film Festival
Join us for 911 Truth Film Festival to experience the investigations and efforts to uncover what really happened on 9/11, 2001. VIZ Cinema’s opening night on 9/10 will host a double feature with filmmaker’s Q & A sessions following the screenings. Sunday, 9/12 is a marathon of 4 screening with the same double feature from Friday with Q & A to follow. Be prepared to be exposed to some shocking content!
Friday, 9/10 @ 7:00pm 9/11: Press For Truth, 9:00pm Hypothesis
Sunday, 9/12 @ 1:45pm 9/11: Press For Truth, 3:45pm Hypothesis
9/11: Press For Truth
followed by Q & A with filmmaker
(Directed by Ray Nowosielski, 2006, 75min, Digital, English Language)
The political becomes personal in 9/11: Press for Truth, which examines the World Trade Center attacks from the perspective of the families that lost loved ones. Written and directed by Ray Nowosielski, the documentary draws partly from Paul Thompson’s website-turned-book, The Terror Timeline, and much of the commentary comes from Lorie Van Auken, Patty Casazza, and Mindy Kleinberg, three of the 911 widows “Jersey Girls.”
Hypothesis
followed by Q & A with filmmaker
(Directed by Brett Smith, 2010, 48 min, Digital, English Language)
Hypothesis is a short documentary on Dr. Steven Jones and his 9/11 research on the destruction of the Twin Towers and WTC 7. The film tells Dr. Jones’ story in his own words and reflects the explosive controversy that ensued which resulted in everything from threats and bribes to academic suspension.
General $10. No discounts apply.
(Directed by Francesco Tre, Franco Fracassi, 2007, 104min, Digital, Italy, with English subtitles)
Saturday, 9/11 @ 2:50 pm
This feature documentary from Italian production company Telemaco explores the latest scientific evidence and reveals dramatic new witness testimony, which directly conflicts with the US Governments account. Featuring presentations from intellectual heavy weights; Gore Vidal, and Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo, the film challenges assumptions surrounding the attacks.
General $10. No discounts apply.
(Directed by Dylan Avery, 2009, 99 min, Digital, English Language)
Saturday, 9/11 @ 5:00pm
With the departure of the Bush Administration and the arrival of an era of transparency, opportunities are arising for the disclosure of new information that may shed more light on the events that took place before and after 9/11/2001. Dramatically narrated by Daniel Sunjata of FX’s Rescue Me, and an outspoken advocate for the First Responders, Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup presents a wide array of evidence both known and unknown…until now.
General $10. No discounts apply.
(Edited by Frank Hofer, 2009, 75min, Digital, Germany, English dubbed)
Saturday, 9/11 @ 7:15 pm
Sunday, 9/12 @ 5:15 pm
In German documentary “War Promises”, insiders and whistleblowers try to bring what they know about to the public, including Annie Machon, who was a spy with the British MI5, and Andreas von Bülow and Jürgen Elsässer, whom possess enormous insider knowledge from their membership in the parliamentary committee supervising the secret services.
General $10. No discounts apply.
(Edited by Frank Hofer, 2007, 75min, Digital, German w/ English subtitles)
Saturday, 9/12 @ 12:00pm
False Flag focuses on the inconsistencies in the official version of the events and on the evidence that has been suppressed regarding September 11th. It also answers why we still know nothing about it and why we are being deceived – as well as in Europe.
General $10. No discounts apply.
Saturday, 9/11 @ 1pm
Paprika
(Directed by Satoshi Kon, 2006, Digital, Japanese with English Subtitles)
General $10. No discounts apply.
Sunday, 9/12 @ 8pm
Life Of Leopold
(Directed by Victor Solomon, 2010, 25 minutes, Digital, English)
The Internet meme “LOLCAT” phenomenon has swept the globe. Over two million people look at the photos every day, yet no one has ever gotten to know the cats that star in them. Life of Leopold is a mockumentary about Leopold Bonar, a world famous LOLCat that’s starred in thousands of these photos. We follow Leopold, his manager Francis, and his assistant Beatrice through an average day at the office; from their pre-production meetings to the actual LOLCat photo shoot, and on the way, get to see the inner-workings of their industry and history together. Visit lifeofleopold.com for trailer.
Tickets: Free!
Monday, September 13th – Saturday, September 18th
J-POP SUMMIT WEEK: Pre-Festival Events + Festival Day
From September 13th (Mon) to 17th (Fri), films, anime, fashion, music and other forms of j-pop culture will be celebrated in a series of unique and exciting events! Special gift bags will be given to all ticket holders each night. Check out more on j-pop.com!
***VIZ Cinema gift card cannot be used for the J-pop summit week events***
Monday, September 13th at 7:00pm (Happy Hour starts at 6:00pm)
TOKYOSCOPE TALK DELUXE: Bad Girls & Wild Women
followed by screening of Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion
(Directed by Shunya Ito, 1973, 87min. Japanese with English subtitles)
Tickets $20
Join host Patrick Macias (Editor, Otaku USA) for a unique look at sexy Stray Cats, Female Prisoners, Delinquent Bosses and other captivating and sexy bad girl roles from Japanese cinema. The evening will be complemented by a theatrical screening of the lurid prison film Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion. Adults only due to mature subject matter; 18+ General admission tickets for the discussion and film screening are $20.00.
$20 general / mature
Tuesday, September 14th at 7:00pm and 8:45pm (Happy Hour starts at 7:30pm)
★ VIP party starts 7:30pm
★ Reception open to public (Come all anime fans!)
★ 2 Screenings of 5 Centimeters Per Second at 7pm & 8:45pm
★ $10
Animation On Display, SF’s very own anime convention, joins forces with Crunchyroll for a theatrical presentation of Makoto Shinkai’s “5 Centimeters Per Second”. Come meet other anime fans and join the fun with a special evening celebrating anime!
$10 general
Wednesday, September 15th at 7:00pm (Happy Hour starts at 6:00pm)
6% DOKIDOKI is back from Harajuku! Join 6%DOKIDOKI founder Sebastian Masuda for a trip through the colorful and edgy world of Harajuku fashion. Masuda will offer insights and discuss the history of the fashion evolution from this ultra-hip district in Tokyo. 6%DOKIDOKI shop girls Yuka and Vani will offer a mini-fashion show!
Read more details! >>>
$20 general
Thursday, September 16th at 7:30pm (Happy Hour starts at 6:00pm)
Join Noise Pop, organizers of the leading independent music festival in the Bay Area, for a special theatrical presentation of 77 Boadrum. 77 Boadrum is the official live documentary of the Japanese free-rock group the Boredoms’s live performance featuring 77 drummers at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park in Brooklyn, NY.
$10 general
Friday, September 17th at 6:00pm (RSVP to get in!)
Join the pre-festival party the night before J-Pop Summit Festival with MYX®! MYX will showcase several of its music, youth culture and lifestyle programs including Music Bang, 360VM, Vinyl Addiction, and That’s My Jam in a special evening with VIP Reception! Free admission.
Friday, 9/15 @ 7:30pm
Kamikaze Girls
(Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima, 2004, 103min, 35mm, Japanese with English Subtitles)
Kick off the festivities on the night before J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2010 with our favorite and best KAWAII movie ever made! Bring your friends and enjoy the night only for $5 and get free stuff at MYX VIP Party! If you like to attend MYX TV Reception party (Free admission!) prior to the screening, you need to RSVP HERE!
Meet Momoko, a self-absorbed dreamer who fantasizes about fleeing her backcountry home and living life in 18th century Versailles. When she unexpectedly meets the rebellious Ichigo, a rough-and-tumble biker chick, the two misfits form a unique friendship–together, nothing can stop them!
General $5. No discounts apply.
*MYX Party Attendees can also get into the movie with the purchase of tickets at Box office.
Saturday, 9/18 @ 3:00pm
Hatsune Miku: Virtual Idol Film Concert
Hatsune Miku U.S. Live! presented by Tokyo Kawaii Magazine
© Crypton Future Media, Inc.
VOCALOID is a registered trademarkof Yamaha Corporation, Japan.
Hatsune Miku Makes U.S. Screen Debut!
Hatsune Miku’s first American film concert is taking place at VIZ Cinema at the J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2010. Experience this exciting collaboration between a live band and virtual idol in high-def visual and audio. The virtual idol that began as a Vocaloid character is finally coming to the US. The Film Concert at the event is footage from the actual live concert “Project DIVA presents Hatsune Miku’s 39′s Giving Day Film Concert: Good Evening I am Hatsune Miku” that took place on March 9th, 2010 at Zepp Tokyo Odaiba in Tokyo. The concert was presented by Hatsune Miku’s 39′s Giving Day Committee and SEGA. **This is not an actual live concert. It is a recorded cinema experience.
Miku Goodies at Event:
All audiences will receive a Hatsune Miku premium poster! Also brand new Blu-ray disc will be available for purchase at the day of the event. (Details coming soon…)
About Hatsune Miku:
Miku is a virtual idol and character born from Yamaha Corporation’s Vocaloid synthesizing technology. Hatsune Miku is a singing synthesizer application and its female character developed by Crypton Future Media. By inputing melodies and lyrics, users are able to synthesize singing for the lead vocalist as well as back chorus. CDs comprised of music featuring the voice of Hatsune Miku have began showing up on music charts and is becoming a phenomenon centered around the Akiba-kei (otaku) culture.
SOLD OUT!!! THANK YOU, MIKU FANS!
Saturday, 9/18 – Thursday, 9/30
★ Saturday, 9/18 @ 7:00pm SF Premiere
Detroit Metal City
(Directed by Toshio Lee, 2008, Japan, 104min, 35mm, with English Subtitles)
Explicit language, viewer and parental discretion advised
Saturday, 9/18 @ 7:00pm
(Reception from 6pm with drinks and food, and special raffle and giveaway!)
Sunday, 9/19 @ 3:15pm
Monday, 9/20 – Friday, 9/24 @ 5:00pm, 7:15pm
Saturday, 9/25 – Sunday, 9/26 @ 7:15pm only
Monday, 9/27 – Thursday, 9/30 @ 5:00pm, 7:15pm
$15 for 9/18 Premiere Event + Reception from 6pm (drinks and food)
$10 general /parental discretion advised
RAFFLE CLOSED
RAFFLE CLOSED
Winner is Briia!
Sunday, 9/19 ＠12:30pm
Metal Samurai
(Directed by Ryosuke Kanesaki, 20minutes x 3 episodes, Digital, English Subtitles)
A cheesy Samurai comedy!
Come watch METAL SAMURAI, A light hearted samurai comedy series, along with a talk session to introduce allure of Toei Kyoto Studio Park in KYOTO, Japan and Raffle for special giveaways!
Free Admission!
Saturday, 9/25 & Sunday, 9/26
Samurai Champloo Marathon
(Directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, 2004-2005, Digital, with English Subtitles)
| Saturday, 9/25 @ 12:15pm Episode 1-4 : | Buy Ticket >>> |
| Saturday, 9/25 @ 2:30pm Episode 5-8 : | Buy Ticket >>> |
| Saturday, 9/25 @ 4:45pm Episode 9-13 : | Buy Ticket >>> |
| Sunday, 9/26 @ 12:15pm Episode 14-17 : | Buy Ticket >>> |
| Sunday, 9/26 @ 2:30pm Episode 18-21 : | Buy Ticket >>> |
| Sunday, 9/26 @ 4:45pm Episode 22-26: | Buy Ticket >>> |
Wednesday, 9/29 @ 2pm
Yayoi Kusama: I Love ME
(Directed by Takako Matsumoto, 2008, Digital, 102min, with English Subtitle)
Seniors (60+) : Free! General: $10
* All programming is subject to change. * Showtimes in ( ) indicates matinee price.
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