Now in its second decade, the Osaka European Film Festival has firmly proved itself to be not only one of the most significant international cultural meeting-points in the Kansai region but also one of the most important annual festivals in Japan. This year’s diverse programme of films exhibiting quality, innovation and profundity is further evidence of the Festivalﾕs consequence as the venue for their first screenings in Japan.

As impressive as the films are the names of the celebrity guests leading the debates: this yearﾕs honorary chairman, legendary Belgian actor Jan Decleir; former Skids band-member, film director Richard Jobson; Lone Scherfig, Danish director of the internationally successful Italian for Beginners; one of Italyﾕs foremost directors, Egidio Eronico; German actor Thomas Kretschmann; French director Christophe Barratier; and, from Finland, Jukka-Pekka Laakso, director of the Tampere International Short Film Festival.

In searching for a diverse programme certain themes came to predominate this year. Firstly, the 30th anniversary celebrations of Belgiumﾕs official cultural relations with Japan and the ﾔTaste of Flandersﾕ campaign suggested Jan Decleir as an ideal choice for Honorary Chairman. The star of Daens, Antoniaﾕs Line and Karakter (the latter two both winning Oscars for Best Foreign Film), Jan Decleir plays the principal role in De Zaak Alzheimer, a stylish suspense film which has enjoyed the greatest public success ever of any Belgian film in its home territory.

Another celebration - of the 15th anniversary of the official relationship between Osaka and Hamburg ﾐ provided an opportunity to show Kleine Freiheit, a film shot entirely in Hamburg, whose Turkish community includes the directors of this film and of the prize-winning film at the last Berlin Film Festival.

We did not need anniversary celebrations to help in our selections of Japan premieres for the remainder of the programme. This opens with Les Choristes, the latest production by Jacques Perrin (Honorary Chairman of the 9th OEFF). With box-office figures of more than 7 million viewers, Les Choristes has confirmed itself as the greatest success of French cinema this year.

My Father, a film directed by the Italian Egidio Eronico, offers us a stunning international cast to evoke a gripping confrontation between a young man and his monster of a father. The film also confronts rising star of German cinema Thomas Kretschmann with the legendary Charlton Heston. Critics are unanimous in saying that Charlton Heston gives the finest performance of his career as the American star of this European film.

Two films set in Scotland, Richard Jobsonﾕs first feature, Sixteen Years of Alcohol, and Lone Scherfigﾕs latest, Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself, deal with the serious subjects of alcoholism, suicide and terminal illness, but the touches of humour and the powerful ensemble acting keep us enthralled.

As for Au Sud des Nuages, I would not want to pigeonhole it in the category of road movies, but it is definitely rooted in this cinematographic tradition. Humour, gentleness and moments of seriousness marking the encounters in the film have created a rare and precious cinematic experience.

Our programme is completed with prize-winning short films from Finlandﾕs prestigious Tampere Festival; exhibitions; conferences; retrospectives; receptions; meetings; debates; autograph sessions and special showings. I warmly invite you to discover these as you read this catalogue, and to attend.

May I conclude by expressing my warmest gratitude and most sincere thanks to the companies, organisations and private individuals whose support and enthusiasm have made possible this 11th Osaka European Film Festival.