MOVIE | The annual Zushi Beach Film Festival, featuring a variety of events, opens again this year!

MOVIE | A 300-inch giant screen appears on the sandy beach

The annual Golden Week "Zushi Beach Film Festival," featuring a variety of events, opens again this year!

The annual "Zushi Beach Film Festival," a Golden Week tradition featuring a 300-inch screen on Zushi Beach in Kanagawa Prefecture and a variety of events enjoyable for all ages, opens this year. It will be held from April 25 (Saturday) to May 6 (Wednesday).

Text by YANAKA Tomomi

Distinguished guests like Naoto Takenaka and Peter Barakan will also attend

The mobile cinema "Zushi Beach Film Festival," now in its sixth year, is themed "Play with the earth." Set against the superb backdrop of Zushi Beach, it screens excellent films from Japan and abroad, with this year's theme being "GROW."

"Shall We Dance?" © KADOKAWA 1991

Naoto Takenaka, appearing on Japan Day on April 30 (Thursday)

BOSE, appearing on Music DAY on April 29 (Wednesday, holiday)

This year, 12 films will be screened, including the Indian film "Barfi!", the Portuguese film "Amelia," and nostalgic favorites like "Shall We Dance?" and "Ghostbusters." In conjunction with the film screenings, there will be Indonesian Day, Portuguese Day, and Kids' Day events, with distinguished guests such as Naoto Takenaka and Peter Barakan in attendance. Every night, the world of cinema will come alive on the 300-inch giant screen erected on the beach.

Of course, there will be plenty of diverse events during the day as well. The ever-popular "Sea Restaurant" offers a culinary journey around the world, and the "BAZAAR," where you can enjoy shopping with an exotic ambiance, makes its debut. Relaxation booths will also be available, offering workshops and massages while listening to the sound of the waves.

Activities include a skate ramp by the water's edge and a merry-go-round, offering a full day of non-everyday experiences beyond just the films. Furthermore, for the first time this year, to allow visitors to enjoy Zushi and the film festival while staying, there's an initiative to stay in Izu through the vacant property and room sharing site "Airbnb."

A magical scene in Zushi that appears only during Golden Week. We want to fully enjoy the events that can only be experienced during this pleasant season, under the vast open sky.

The 6th Zushi Beach Film Festival
Dates: April 25 (Saturday) - May 6 (Wednesday)
Time: Doors open 11:00, Screening starts 19:00
*However, on weekdays, doors open at 17:00
Venue: Zushi Beach, Kanagawa Prefecture (Main Venue)
*In case of inclement weather, the venue may change to Cinema Amigo (Sub-venue)
Admission (for films): Adults ¥1000, Junior High/High School Students ¥500, Elementary School Students and younger free
http://zushifilm.com/