【About Mystery Film Festival】

■ The Michinoku International Mystery Film Festival was first held in 1997 as part of a special event for commemorating the 400 anniversary of Morioka castle town. ■ Why did we choose "mystery" for our theme? ■ It is because; 1) many mystery writers are living in this town, 2) the capital letter of Morioka, Movie, Mystery and Michinoku are all "M", 3) "mystery" is inevitable theme to differentiate ours from other film festival since; there is no other film festivals in Japan that feature "mystery". Other international film festivals beside Morioka's film festival that feature "mystery" are one in Italy and the other in Spain. 　 ■ What are the characteristics of the Michinoku Mystery Film Festival? ■ 1) It is different from the Cannes, Pusan and Tokyo International Film Festival. 2) Morioka downtown area has a street called the "Cinema Street". Within 500m, 14 movie theaters stand side by side. The Mystery Film Festival takes place along this street. 3) Popular domestic mystery writers, who usually do not appear in public, participate in this film festival every year that gets public attention. 4) Audience is able to hear some inside stories by those writers, such as impressions of film version of their books. 5) The Mystery Film Festival aims to revitalize Japan's film industry by offering an opportunity for mutual understanding among writers, film directors and people in the film industry. 6) Making a mystery book into a movie, setting at Morioka, is our dream, which we hope to realize at the 10th Mystery Film Festival. 　 ■ How do I access to Morioka? ■ 1) It takes 2 hours 23 minutes by Tohoku Shinkansen (from Tokyo to Morioka). It is possible to make a day trip. 　 ■ How do I access to Morioka from abroad? ■ 2) Sendai Airport is available for a trip from Asia (Seoul, Hong Kong and Beijing) 3) Narita Airport or Kansai Airport in some cases is available from other countries other than that mentioned above. 　 ■ What kind of food is famous in Morioka? ■ "Morioka rei-men" (cold needle) is famous and tasty. This is a bit different from the Soeul's cold needle. Morioka is also famous for its buckwheat production, and "wanko soba" is a unique way of eating buckwheat needle. "Ja-ja men", "A la montan" (spicy soup spaghetti), and "Hittumi" are also good. Fresh seafood comes from the Sanriku ria coast everyday. Saury is especially tasty in autumn. (It takes about 2 hours by car from Morioka to Sanriku ria coast.)

BASIC PLAN

■ Title The 7th Michinoku International Mystery Film Festival 2003 in Morioka 　 ■ Organized by: Michinoku International Mystery Film Festival Executive Committee 　 ■ Aided by: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Support for Film Festivals), City of Morioka 　 ■ Special Cooperation by: Mystery Writers of Japan, International Mystery Film Festival in Cognac, France 　 ■ Sponsored by: ◆Official Sponsors: Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co. Ltd., Iwate-gawa Sake Brewery 　 ■ Supported by: Asahi Shimbun Morioka branch, Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd. Morioka branch, Yomiuri Shimbun Morioka branch, Sankei Shimbun Co., Ltd. Morioka branch, The Kahoku Shimpo Morioka branch, Iwate Nichinichi Shimbun-sya 　 ■ Period October 17 (Fri) to 19 (Sun), 2003 　 ■ Theme for 2003 Film Festival: "Beauty and the Crime" (Mr. Makoto Wada in charge of main visuals) 　 ■ Venues Movie theaters, Hotels, Plaza Odette and others in Morioka city 　　 ■ Awards (1) Incentive Prize for First-time Director (\1 million and a trophy) ■ Jurors: Ira Ishida (writer), Joon ho BONG (director), Kazuo Kuroi (president of Kadokawa-daiei Pictures, Inc.), Mariko Kimura ■ Finalists: 4 films (2) Kadokawa Off-theater Competition (\300,000 and a trophy) ■ Jurors: Hideaki Sena (writer) and others ■ Finalists: several (planned) 　 ■ Admission Advanced ticket:Sep. 13 (Sat) to Oct. 16 (Fri) Ticket counters: Play-Guide ticket agency in Morioka (including Nakasan, Plaza Odette, Oodori Sasaki Denki, Kawatoku, Fesan), Ticket Pia, Lawson, local movie theaters (Unit: yen) 　 Adult High School and College Student Junior High School Student and Younger Kind of Ticket Advance Door Advance Door Advance Door Movie Ticket 1,300 1,800 1,000 1,500 1,000 1,000 Opening Ceremony 2,000 2,500 1,500 2,000 1,500 2,000 Closing Ceremony 4,000 5,000 4,000 5,000 4,000 5,000 Off-theater 500 800 500 800 500 500 Mystery Play 2,000 2,500 2,000 2,500 1,500 2,000 Pre-event 300 500 300 500 300 500 * Refer to "Junior High School Student and Younger" for admission for senior and challenged. * Admission fee for Closing Party shall be flat rate.

PROGRAM Proposal

1. Ceremony ■ Opening Ceremony and Opening Film (Venue: local movie theater) ■ Closing Ceremony and Farewell Party (Venue: awarding ceremony at a local hotel) 　 2. Films (Venue: local movie theaters): 15 to 16 films (planned) This year's theme is "Beauty and the Crime." There is a woman behind crimes. Films that can fall under this theme will be indicated as so in promo materials. ■ Invited New Foreign Films (3 to 4 films including the opening and closing films) ■ Invited New Domestic Films (3 to 4 films including the opening and closing films) ■ Films of Invited Actress (1 to 2) ■ Films nominated for the Incentive Prize for First-time Director (4 to 5) ■ "Korean Entertainment Films vol. 3" (2 to 3) ■ Films selected by Mr. Katsuhiko Takahashi (1) ■ This Year's Special Films Example ●Films related to invited guests ●Films selected by guest writers 　 3. Events at Theaters ■ Talk with guest writers Annual "Talk Live" will not be held this year. The guest writers shall choose one film to watch. After screening, they host a chat with the film director and/or casts before the audience. (Without a movie ticket, no admittance is granted only to see the chat show) ■ Skit and quiz before screening (A skit will be performed by a local theater troupe) ■ Mini Live in the lobby and/or open space at movie theaters (Movie themes will be played by 4 to 5 musicians on the guitars, violins, cellos　and others before and after the screening) ■ Friendship gathering with guests in the lobby of movie theaters (A chance for the audience to have a chat with the film directors and casts in the lobby after screening.) 　 4. Kadokawa Off-theater Competition (Venue: Plaza Odette) Dates: Oct. 18 (Sat) to 19 (Sun) ■ Competition for independent films publicly entered from throughout Japan (4 to 5 enteries to be screened) ■ Screening of recommended short films: Different films from the competitive films above will be screened. 3 to 5 films recommended by professionals and approved by the Festival Committee will be screened. 　 5. Video Theater (Venue: LIRIO) Dates: Oct. 18 (Sat) to 19 (Sun) ■ Videocasting of foreign and domestic mystery dramas offered and selected by Mystery Channel, Inc. 　 6. Guests (22 to 23) ■ Film directors (2) One as a head juror for the Incentive Prize for First-time Director and one more. ■ Directors nominated for the Incentive Prize for First-time Director (4 to 5) ■ Guests from abroad (1 to 2) ■ Domestic film actors and/or actresses (2 to 4) ■ Mystery writers (7 including local writers) ■ Film critics and others (4 to 5) 　 7. Sponsored Event 1) Tie-up with the Morioka Film Commission Dates: Oct. 17 (Fri) to 19 (Sun) planned ■Film Commission Seminar ■Guest invitation ■Meeting for those invited and other 　 ２) "Our Era" Dates; Sep. 4 (Thu) to Nov. 30 (Thu) Venue: "Morioka Takuboku / Kenji Seishun Kan" Content: Exhibition (produced by Katsuhiko Takahashi) featuring nostalgic goods from 50s and 60s. Mystery Film Festival sponsors this exhibition and screens some films. 　 8. Related Events (during the Film Festival) ■ "Open-air Second-hand Book Fair" Dates: Oct. 15 (Wed) to 25 (Sat) Venue: Open space in front of Plaza Odette ■ "Mystery Book Fair" at local book stores Book fair of the books written by the writers participating in the Festival. Will take place in bookstores that agree to join this event. ■ Cinema Parade (Sakana-cho Arcade Street and Odori Shopping Street) Date: Oct. 18 (Sat) Starting at noon from Sakana-cho to Odori Street Content: Costume parade by invited guests and Morioka citizens ■ Cinema Street Live Dates: Oct. 17 (Thu) to 19 (Sun) Venue: Morioka Station, Takinomae-hiroba plaza of Morioka St.,　Oodori Shopping Street area, Kawatoku department store plaza, Sakana-cho Arcade Street, ceremony venues, and others Content: Street live of movie related music by jazzmen (no electricity used) ■ Drawing exhibition by Rintaro Hosogoe Dates: Oct. 15 (Wed) to 19 (Sun) Venue; Plaza Odette Gallery 2F: Admission free Content: 100 portraits of movie stars drawn by Morioka native film critic Mr. Hosogoe (former designer for Shiseido Co., Ltd.) will be exhibited. ■ Video Show Dates: Oct. 17 (Fri) to 19 (Sun) Sponsor: Iwate Bar Association Venue: LIRIO or Plaza Odette Content: "Bengo Nin 弁護人 (attorney)" Featured by Koji Ishizaka. What if jury system is introduced in Japan? 9. Pre-event and others １） Katsuhiko Takahashi Recitation 2003 (tentative title) Date: Oct. 4 (Sat) starting at 7 pm Hosted by: Esashi Renaissance (Tel: 0197-35-4639 Takahashi) Venue: Jitoku-ji temple in Esashi Admission: Advanced \1,500, Door sales \2,000 Content: 1. Original picture-card show "Dokuro Oni 髑髏鬼 (death's-head demon) " (approx. 15 min.) Horror fantasy by Katsuhiko Takahashi Cast: Jiro Ise (Akai Kaze theater company) 2. Recitation "Akai Kioku 緋い記憶 (scarlet memory)" (approx. 1 hr.) Mr. Takahashi's first time recitation of name pieces in the short story that won the Naoki Prize. Cast: Announcer of Iwate Broadcasting Co. Ltd. and others ■ Katsuhiko Takahashi's talk show after the recitation ２） Digital Cinema Preview / Drama W Date: Sep. 15 (Mon) Venue: Plaza Odette Hall Fee: Advance \300, Door \500 Contents: "IWASHI 俺は鰯 (I am a sardine)" and "Kosho-nin 交渉人 (Negotiator)" offered by WOWOW ３） Mystery Play (on the Festival eve) Date: Oct. 16 (Thu) Starting at 7 pm Venue: Plaza Odette 3F Hall Content: The stage drama from the film "Witness For The Prosecution" Written by Agatha Christie Cast: Local announcer and local troupers