A Silent Voice and more screen via Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2017

One of the year's theatrical highlights when it comes to Japanese cinema is always the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme, and 2017 will be no different in that regard. This year promises to bring Kyoto Animation's A Silent Voice (winner of UK Anime's own Anime of the Year award for 2016), alongside a number of live-action films.

Here's how the Japan Foundation describes the programme's theme for this year:

Taking inspiration from Charlie Chaplin’s famous quote “Life is a desire, not a meaning”, the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2017 features an all-encompassing introduction to Japanese cinema through the prism of “desires, hopes and impulses”. Presenting films by established and up-and-coming directors, animation, documentary and classics, this year’s programme promises to not only entertain but also provide a vivid insight into what drives human action.

The full line-up of films is as follows:

The Mohican Comes Home
Destruction Babies
Somebody’s Xylophone
Flying Colours
Pieta in the Toilet
A Stitch of Life
Kabukicho Love Hotel
Lady Maiko
Pale Moon
A Sparkle of Life
Flora on the Sand
Odd Obsession
Tsukiji Wonderland
A Silent Voice

The festival runs from 3rd February to 29th March 2017, and visits the following locations at the specified dates:

3rd February - 9th February - London ICA (Tickets on sale here)

5th February - 1st March - Manchester HOME

7th February - 27th March - Sheffield Showroom

10th February - 12th February - Derby QUAD

11th February - 29th March - Leicester Phoenix

19th February - 23rd February - Stirling Macrobert Arts Centre

10th March - 16th March - Kendal Brewery Arts Centre

20th March - 29th March - Edinburgh Filmhouse

4th February - 20th February - Bristol Wastershed

5th February - 26th March - Belfast Queen's Film Theatre

8th February - 29th March - Exeter Phoenix

10th February - 28th March - Birmingham Mac

15th February - 11th March - Inverness Eden Court

25th February - 1st March - Dundee Contemporary Arts

17th March - 23rd March - Nottingham Broadway

When each film visits each location is yet to be announced in most cases, but you can find and stay up-to-date with all of the detais on the programme's official web site.