30TH RAINBOW REEL TOKYO INTERNATIONAL LESBIAN & GAY FILM FESTIVAL
Tokyo’s LGBT+ Festival Celebrates 30 Years
Venue(s): July 8 (Fri) – 14 (Thur), 2022: Cinemart Shinjuku | July 16 (Sat) – 18 (Mon), 2022: Spiral HallJuly 15 (Fri) – 21 (Thu), 2022: Cinemart Shinsaibashi
Language: All non-English films have English subtitles.
Official website: rainbowreeltokyo.com/2022web/en/about/
Theater website: www.cinemart.co.jp/theater/shinjuku/
Tariff: General: ￥1,700, Students: ￥1,500, Repeater/senior: ￥1,200, Handicapped: ￥1,000, Elementary: ¥700
Advance tickets: Visit official site for details after June 29, 2022 (Wed)
Title: 第30回 レインボー・リール東京 ～ 東京国際レズビアン＆ゲイ映画祭 (Dai 30 kai Rainbow Reel Tokyo –Tokyo Kokusai Lesbian & Gay Eigasai)
The Rainbow Reel Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is popping the cork on its 30th anniversary this year, with screenings and gatherings at two Tokyo venues as well as in Osaka from July 8 - 30. While the selection is quite compact, RRT features some of the best new LGBTQ+ cinema from the UK, France, Canada/US, South Korea, Taiwan, Argentina, Spain/Mexico and Japan, so there’s a wealth of diversity on display. Best of all, the festival’s summer-festival atmosphere complements the screenings every year, bringing LGBTQ+ audiences and allies together for celebration and debate, education and encouragement. This year’s lineup features two Japanese-language films with English subtitles, but as always, we encourage you to explore all the films.
For the first time in three years, RRT will return to its original home at Omotesando’s Spiral Hall. In Tokyo, seven titles will be screened at Cinemart Shinjuku (July 8 to 14), with 10 films being screened later at Spiral Hall (July 16 and 18). In Osaka, seven films will be screened at Cinemart Shinsaibashi (July 15 to 21).
In his welcome message, RRT Committee Director Hideki Miyazawa noted, “The first Rainbow Reel Tokyo Film Festival was launched in 1992, when there were few opportunities to view LGBTQ-themed films together. Since then, and even today, the festival has been run by volunteer staff, and we will continue to provide a place where people can gather and watch films in an enjoyable environment.”
Although you may think it sounds like another of those Covid-era stay-home productions, we highly recommend Shuichi Kawanobe’s excellent, revealing Our House Party. While it does take place predominantly in interior settings, it sparkles with pointed and moving dialogue and boasts performances that are relaxed and authentic-feeling.
Our House Party/ボクらのホームパーティー
Director: Shuichi Kawanobe/川野邉修一
2022｜Japan｜80min｜Language: Japanese｜Subtitles: English
Based on Kawanobe’s own experiences, the film follows Tomoya, a college student in Tokyo, as he meets a friendly gay bar owner in Shinjuku 2-chome, and begins his coming-out process when he’s invited to a house party. But Tomoya’s not the only one who’s trying to work out his feelings at the party, and with a little social lubricant, things do get a little out of hand — but only in a natural and consistently rewarding way.
The director and some cast members will be on hand for the Q&A session after the Tokyo screenings, so stick around for that.
Okinawa Coming out Chronicles: “Mama” Katsuki’s Hug-Filled Road Trip/
沖縄カミングアウト物語〜かつきママのハグ×２珍道中！〜
Director: Hiroaki Matsuoka/松岡弘明
2021｜Japan｜103 min｜Japanese｜Subtitles: English
The other Japanese film in the lineup is Hiroaki Matsuoka’s Okinawa Coming out Chronicles: “Mama” Katsuki’s Hug-Filled Road Trip, which certainly earns the award for lengthiest—and probably most revealing—title at the fest. The documentary follows Mama Katsuki (aka Yoshiteru Kawata), owner of a landmark gay bar in Shinjuku’s 2-Chome, as she returns to her hometown in Naha, Okinawa. Mama Katsuki left home at 20, when the pressure to get married became oppressive. After living in Tokyo for 10 years and finding her life partner, she returned in 2013 to come out to her parents. Mama Katsuki shares with viewers how difficult the experience was for the entire family, as well as friends, resulting in a very moving, inspiring film.
Cinemart Shinjuku
Spiral Hall
Cinemart Shinsaibashi
The Rainbow Reel Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is popping the cork on its 30th anniversary this year, with screenings and gatherings at two Tokyo venues as well as in Osaka from July 8 - 30. While the selection is quite compact, RRT features some of the best new LGBTQ+ cinema from the UK, France, Canada/US, South Korea, Taiwan, Argentina, Spain/Mexico and Japan, so there’s a wealth of diversity on display. Best of all, the festival’s summer-festival atmosphere complements the screenings every year, bringing LGBTQ+ audiences and allies together for celebration and debate, education and encouragement. This year’s lineup features two Japanese-language films with English subtitles, but as always, we encourage you to explore all the films.
For the first time in three years, RRT will return to its original home at Omotesando’s Spiral Hall. In Tokyo, seven titles will be screened at Cinemart Shinjuku (July 8 to 14), with 10 films being screened later at Spiral Hall (July 16 and 18). In Osaka, seven films will be screened at Cinemart Shinsaibashi (July 15 to 21).
In his welcome message, RRT Committee Director Hideki Miyazawa noted, “The first Rainbow Reel Tokyo Film Festival was launched in 1992, when there were few opportunities to view LGBTQ-themed films together. Since then, and even today, the festival has been run by volunteer staff, and we will continue to provide a place where people can gather and watch films in an enjoyable environment.”
Although you may think it sounds like another of those Covid-era stay-home productions, we highly recommend Shuichi Kawanobe’s excellent, revealing Our House Party. While it does take place predominantly in interior settings, it sparkles with pointed and moving dialogue and boasts performances that are relaxed and authentic-feeling.
Our House Party/ボクらのホームパーティー
Director: Shuichi Kawanobe/川野邉修一
2022｜Japan｜80min｜Language: Japanese｜Subtitles: English
Based on Kawanobe’s own experiences, the film follows Tomoya, a college student in Tokyo, as he meets a friendly gay bar owner in Shinjuku 2-chome, and begins his coming-out process when he’s invited to a house party. But Tomoya’s not the only one who’s trying to work out his feelings at the party, and with a little social lubricant, things do get a little out of hand — but only in a natural and consistently rewarding way.
The director and some cast members will be on hand for the Q&A session after the Tokyo screenings, so stick around for that.
Okinawa Coming out Chronicles: “Mama” Katsuki’s Hug-Filled Road Trip/
沖縄カミングアウト物語〜かつきママのハグ×２珍道中！〜
Director: Hiroaki Matsuoka/松岡弘明
2021｜Japan｜103 min｜Japanese｜Subtitles: English
The other Japanese film in the lineup is Hiroaki Matsuoka’s Okinawa Coming out Chronicles: “Mama” Katsuki’s Hug-Filled Road Trip, which certainly earns the award for lengthiest—and probably most revealing—title at the fest. The documentary follows Mama Katsuki (aka Yoshiteru Kawata), owner of a landmark gay bar in Shinjuku’s 2-Chome, as she returns to her hometown in Naha, Okinawa. Mama Katsuki left home at 20, when the pressure to get married became oppressive. After living in Tokyo for 10 years and finding her life partner, she returned in 2013 to come out to her parents. Mama Katsuki shares with viewers how difficult the experience was for the entire family, as well as friends, resulting in a very moving, inspiring film.
Cinemart Shinjuku
Spiral Hall
Cinemart Shinsaibashi
Please be sure to check with the theater before going.