In United States, where I grew up, October is the month for Halloween, which also means it’s the month where people choose to spook themselves with horror films. I wonder if that is catching on in Japan, where summer is the traditional season for scary movies.

In case you’re in the mood for some award winning freaky films there are a few screenings coming up that you might want to check out. If you’re not into the scary stuff, there are a couple I added that might be more to your liking.

Happy October!

Blue Mind「ブルー・マインド」

Director & Author: Lisa Brühlmann

Awards

2017

Alice nella Città, Premio Camera D’oro 2017

Zurich Film Festival – Golden Eye for Best Film 2017; Critics’ Choice Award 2017; Filmpreis der Zürcher Kirchen 2017

2018

Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis, Beste Regie 2018

Swiss Film Award – Best Screenplay 2018; Best Actress 2018; Best Fiction Film 2018

Synopsis:

15-year-old Mia is facing an overwhelming transformation which calls her entire existence into question. Her body is changing radically, and despite desperate attempts to halt the process, she is soon forced to accept that nature is far more powerful than her.

Japan Screening:

Tokyo:Human Trust Cinema Shibuya: October 13th (Sat) ~ October 19th (Fri)

Osaka: Cine Libre Umeda: November 10th (Sat),November 12th (Mon),November 14th (Wed), November 16th (Fri)

 

Dave Made a Maze「キラー・メイズ」

Directed by Bill Watterson

Awards

2018

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films – Saturn Award: Best DVD/Blu-Ray Release

2017

Boston Underground Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Feature

Calgary Underground Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Narrative Feature

Chlotrudis Awards – Chlotrudis Award: Best Production Design

Dead by Dawn Horror Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Feature Film

Fantaspoa International Fantastic Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Feature, Best Art Direction – International Film

Film Club’s The Lost Weekend – Lost Weekend Award: Film You Will Find Yourself Remembering The Most

Florida Film Festival – Grand Jury Award: Best Narrative Feature

Omaha Film Festival – Jury Award: Best Feature

Sitges – Catalonian International Film Festival – New Vision Award: Best Motion Picture

Slamdance Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Narrative Feature

Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Narrative Feature

Sun Valley Film Festival, US – One in a Million Award

Synopsis:

Dave, an artist who has yet to complete anything significent in his career, builds a fort in his living room out of pure frustration, only to wind up trapped by the fantastical pitfalls, booby traps, and critters of his own creation.

Japan Screening:

Sitges Film Festival Fantastic Selection 2018

Tokyo: Human Trust Cinema Shibuya: October 12th (Fri) ~ November 1st (Thur)

Nagoya: Cinema Skhole: End of October

Osaka: Cine Libre Umeda: November 24th (Sat) ~ December 14th (Fri)

 

Good Manners / Les Bonnes Manières / 「狼チャイルド」

Awards

2017

Austin Fantastic Fest – Special Mention: Fantastic Features

Biarritz International Festival of Latin American Cinema – Jury Special Mention

Janela do Recife International Film Festival – Janela Award: Best Image

L’Etrange Festival – Audience Award: Best Film

Locarno International Film Festival – Golden Leopard: Best Film

Oslo Films from the South Festival – Honorable Mention

Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival – FIPRESCI Prize: Best Film; Felix Award (Prêmio Félix): Best Fiction Film; Petrobras Award; Première Brazil Best Film (Melhor Filme)/Best Cinematography (Melhor Fotografia)/Best Supporting Actress (Melhor Atriz Coadjuvante)

Sitges – Catalonian International Film Festival – Blood Window Award: Special Mention for Best Actress; José Luis Guarner Critic’s Award: Best Film

2018

Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema – Special Mention: Best Picture

Gérardmer Film Festival – Critics’ Prize: Best Film, Jury Prize

Kaleidoscope LGBT Festival – Jury Award: Best Director

Lima Latin American Film Festival – Critics Award: Best Film

Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Feature Film

Uruguay International Film Festival – Basque Actors Association Award: Outstanding Main Performance on a Feature Film/Outstanding Secondary Performance on a Feature Film

Synopsis:

Clara, a lonely nurse from the outskirts of São Paulo, is hired by mysterious and wealthy Ana as the nanny for her unborn child. The two women develop a strong bond, but a fateful night changes their plans.

Japan Screening:

Sitges Film Festival Fantastic Selection 2018

Tokyo: Human Trust Cinema Shibuya: October 12th (Fri) ~ November 1st (Thur)

Nagoya: Cinema Skhole: End of October

Osaka: Cine Libre Umeda: November 24th (Sat) ~ December 14th (Fri)

 

Thelma「テルマ」

Directed by Joachim Trier

Awards

2017

Adelaide Film Festival – International Feature Award: Best Feature

Mar del Plata Film Festival – ADF Cinematography Award; Best Actress

Norwegian International Film Festival – Norwegian Film Critics Award

San Diego Film Critics Society Awards – SDFCS Award: Best Foreign Language Film

Utah Film Critics Association Awards – UFCA Award: Best Non-English Language Film

2018

Amanda Awards, Norway – Amanda: Best Cinematography (Årets foto); Best Score (Årets musikk); Best Editing (Årets klipp)

Denver Film Critics Society – DFCS Award: Best Foreign Language Film

Houston Film Critics Society Awards – HFCS Award: Best Foreign Language Film

Kosmorama, Trondheim Internasjonale Filmfestival – Kanonprisen: Best Male Actor in a Leading Role / Best Female Actress in a Leading Role / Best Editing / Best Music

Synopsis:

A confused religious girl tries to deny her feelings for a female friend who’s in love with her. This causes her suppressed subconsciously-controlled psychokinetic powers to reemerge with devastating results.

Japan Screenings:

Tokyo:

Yebisu Garden Cinema, October 20th (Sat)

Human Trust Cinema Yurakucho, October 20th (Sat)

Tachikawa Cinema City, November 11th (Sun)

Roadshow Schedule: (Hokkaido, Miyagi, Kanagawa, Tochigi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Fukui, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Okayama, Fukuoka, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)

 

Hotel Salvation 「ガンジスに還る」

Directed by Shubhashish Bhutiani

Awards

2016

UNESCO Gandhi Medal – Best Film

Biennale College Cinema Awards – Best Film

New York Indian Film Festival – Best Film

Busan International Film Festival – Best Film

2017

The Vesoul Film Festival – Critics Choice Award

Indie Meme Festival – Audience Choice Award

Stuttgart Indian Film Festival  – Audience Choice Award

MOOOV Festival – Behind the Scenes

Festival du Film d’Asie – Jury Award

DC South Asian Film Festival – Best Actor

Jagran Film Festival – Best Actor (Special Mention); Best Debut Director

National Film Awards, India – National Film Award: Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film)

2018

Rajasthan International Film Festival – Best Film; Best Actor; Best Director

Films of India Online Awards – Best Screenplay (Original); Special Mention (Actor)

Filmfare Awards – Technical Award: Best Screenplay

Bollywood Film Journalists Awards – Best Story (Original); Best Screenplay

News18 Reel Movie Awards – Best Screenplay; Best Film

Synopsis:

Faced with his father’s untimely and bizarre demand to go and die in the holy city of Varanasi and attain Salvation, a son is left with no choice but to embark on this journey.

Japan Screening:

Tokyo: Iwanami Hall, October 27th (Sat) ~

Roadshow Schedule: (Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, Fukushima, Nagano, Toyama, Ishikawa, Aichi, Mie, Shizuoka, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, Ehime, Fukuoka, Saga, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Okinawa)