Nikkatsu at 100

Epic war sagas, teenage anarchy films, eccentric softcore porn, ingenious social satire, highly stylized film noir and a touch of haunted horror, the rich and provocative history of the oldest film studio in the Land of the Rising Sun is indicative of the artistic complexity of Japanese cinema as whole. Born out of the coalition of a series of production companies and movie theater networks, the Nikkatsu Corporation was established in September 1912. During WWII it was forced to merge with other studios in a big government conglomerate, only to rise again stronger than ever in 1954, makings its presence known in the creative boom of post-war Japanese cinema. The constant demand for thematic and stylistic renewal lead the company down an adventurous path full of twists and turns, with small revolutions opening the door to some of the most idiosyncratic talent in homegrown cinema. From the daring experimentations of a new generation violently rebelling against its predecessors (Sun Tribe) to the adrenaline-filled adventures of the Yakuza and the inspired soft-core extravaganzas of Roman Porno, Nikkatsu proved a real trailblazer through the 50s, 60s and 70s, setting the rules for everyone else to follow. Enriching the country’s pop culture with countless new references, the Studio is still a platform for new talent and continues to keep the commercial movie circuit alive to this very day. The legendary studio gave birth to a plethora of genres and movie trends, while a small army of charismatic stars and extraordinary filmmaking talent (from Kenji Mizoguchi and Kon Ichikawa to Shôhei Imamura and Seijun Suzuki), left their mark and developed their inimitable cinematic style under its auspices. Celebrating 100 years of uninterrupted creativity, the Athens International Film Festival pays tribute to some of the most memorable moments in Nikkatsu history with an eclectic mix of classic masterpieces and rare finds.

Thanasis Patsavos