In world where film festivals seem to take place on a weekly basis, no city can be without one, and the trick is distinguishing them from each other with unique hooks. In Japan, the Tokyo International Film Festival is the clear leader, able to attract major Hollywood stars. The old capital of Kyoto recently restarted its festival with a theme of the history of cinema and local arts. While down south in Okinawa, the differently-titled international movie festival focuses on comedy.Japan’s second city then, needed it’s own theme, and boasting the floating Kansai-airport that floods with tourists from its near neighbors the most, it has focused on Asian film. For this year’s 11th edition, the Osaka Asian Film Festival runs March 4 to 13, and is led by entries from Vietnam and the Philippines.Opening with Taiwanese director Huang Ming-cheng’s “Wansei Back Home,” the event will screen 13 titles in competition (full list below), including Emily Ting’s Hong Kong/USA production “Already Tomorrow In Hong Kong,” and “Don't Look At Me That Way,” a German/Mongolian producion by director Uisenma Borchu.Three Pinoy films are amongst the 13, as well as three from Hong Kong, two from Singapore and one each from Germany, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan and Japan. “Walang Forever” by Dan Villegas stars Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales in a romantic-comedy about a film writer and a failed relationship. “Hamog (Haze)” by Ralston G. Jover tells the story of four street children, for which Therese Malvar and Bor Lentejas have both already won awards in their home country. Prime Cruz’s “Sleepless” depicts two insomniacs played by Glaiza de Castro and Dominic Roco who explore their city by night, discussing love, zombies and much more.In other sections of the festival, Vietnam is well represented with “Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories,” “Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass” and current hit “Sweet 20.”Actor Masatoshi Nagase has already been announced as the winner of this year’s Osaka Asia Star Award, for an “international career [that] has transcended styles and borders.” Nagase appeared in OAFF 2014 Audience Award winner “Kano” (Taiwan) and a number of independent productions.OAFF will close on March 13 with “The Mohican Comes Home” by Okita Shuichi.Competition Section“3688” - Royston Tan/2015/Singapore“Already Tomorrow In Hong Kong” - Emily Ting/2015/Hong Kong, USA“Don't Look At Me That Way” - Uisenma Borchu/2015/Germany, Mongolia“Hamog (Haze)” - Ralston G. Jover/2015/Philippines“Heart Attack (Freelance)” - Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit/2015/Thailand“Let's Eat! - Chapman To/2016/Malaysia, Singapore“The Missing Piece” - Chiang Fong-Hong/2015/Taiwan“My Sister, The Pig Lady” - Jang Moon-Il/2015/Korea“A Nail Clipper Romance” - Jason Kwan/2015/Hong Kong“Sleepless” - Prime Cruz/2015/Philippines“Tsumugu” - Inudo Kazutoshi (犬童一利) /2016/Japan“Wong Ka Yan” - Benny Lau/2014/Hong Kong“# Walang Forever” - Dan Villegas/2015/Philippines
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