Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan and Japan Society are proud to announce the full line up for the upcoming ACA Cinema Project film series – Family Portrait: Japanese Family in Flux. Part of an ongoing initiative fostered by the Government of Japan to increase appreciation of Japanese films in the United States, the ACA Cinema Project has presented events in both New York and LA since 2021, and its next edition will present 10 contemporary and classic films at Japan Society and IFC Center in New York City from February 15-24, 2024.

This special event will be headlined by Japanese director Ryota Nakano, making a rare in-person appearance in New York. Mr. Nakano has been acclaimed for his keen focus on the complex feelings of families across his career, and this series will present The Asadas, his latest film, together with A Long Goodbye and his most famous work, Her Love Boils Bathwater. Mr. Nakano will speak onstage following both The Asadas and Her Love Boils Bathwater.

Beyond Mr. Nakano’s appearance, the Family Portrait series will put a spotlight on the bonds of the traditional Japanese family and the challenges it faces in our modern world. Films such as Keiko Tsuruoka’s Tsugaru Lacquer Girl show the breakdown of this traditional family, while films such as Teruaki Shoji’s Hoyaman celebrate new, invented families created in the 21st century.

The series will present works from both rising and acclaimed directors, including films from three of Japan’s most legendary creators – Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Still Walking, Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Tokyo Sonata, and Yasujiro Ozu’s Tokyo Twilight.

“Family Portrait: Japanese Family in Flux is a richly thematic series celebrating the rise, fall, and rebirth of the Japanese family,” said Peter Tatara, Japan Society’s Director of Film. “Showcasing films from across the past 65 years, audiences will find an ever-evolving image of what family means in Japan, and the universally human sorrow and joys at its core.”

The Family Portrait series is presented by Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan and Japan Society. Japan Society is additionally home to JAPAN CUTS, the largest contemporary Japanese film festival in North America.

The complete Family Portrait schedule and ticket information is available now at japansociety.org/film.