JAPAN FOUNDATION 2026 | FILMMAKER SERIES Unspoken Gestures: A Shō Miyake Retrospective | November 13-15 at UCR ARTS, Los Feliz Theatre, Japan Foundation
The Japan Foundation Los Angeles Presents
FILMMAKER SERIES
Unspoken Gestures: A Shō Miyake Retrospective
Friday, November 13 – Sunday, November 15, 2026
UCR ARTS at University of California, Riverside
American Cinematheque Los Feliz Theatre
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, will present 𝙐𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙂𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨: 𝘼 𝙎𝙝𝙤 𝙈𝙞𝙮𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 from November 13-15, 2026 in collaboration with UCR ARTS, University of California, Riverside, and the American Cinematheque.
This stop of a world tour brings the acclaimed director to various venues in Los Angeles where he will present some of his own films, introduce cinematic masterpieces that influenced his practice, and share his thoughts about the filmmaking process through moderated conversations.
We hope you can join one, some, or all of the events by registering through https://www.la.jpf.go.jp/event-details.php/385/unspoken-gestures-a-sho-miyake-retrospective
At UCR Art at University of California, Riverside on Friday, November 13 at 7:00PM
At American Cinematheque Los Feliz Theare on Saturday, November 14 at 12:00PM
TWO SEASONS, TWO STRANGERS (Dir. Shō Miyake, 2025, 89 mins)
Based on two mangas by Yoshiharu Tsuge, Miyake’s bifurcated live-action feature observes (and draws parallels and contrasts from) a summertime meet-cute between Nagisa and Natsuo and a snowbound winter encounter between screenwriter Li and innkeeper Benzo.
At American Cinematheque Los Feliz Theatre on Saturday, November 14 at 3:00PM
DÉJÀ VU (Dir. Tony Scott, 2006, 126 mins)
Called in to recover evidence in the aftermath of a horrific explosion on a New Orleans ferry, Federal agent Doug Carlin (Denzel Washington) gets pulled away from the scene and taken to a top-secret government lab that uses a time-shifting surveillance device to help prevent crime.
At The Japan Foundation Los Angeles on Saturday, November 14 at 6:00PM
SMALL, SLOW BUT STEADY (Dir. Shō Miyake, 2022, 99 mins)
Keiko (Yukino Kishii) is a semi-professional boxer who has been deaf since childhood. Her biggest supporter is the owner of her struggling Tokyo gym, but due to the pandemic and his advanced age, her greatest refuge is under threat of closure.
At American Cinematheque Los Feliz Theatre on Sunday, November 15 at 1:00PM
THE PATSY (Dir. King Vidor, 1928, 78 mins)
An awkward teenager hopelessly in love with her older sister’s boyfriend tries to make him notice her.
At American Cinematheque Los Feliz Theatre on Sunday, November 15 at 4:00PM
ALL THE LONG NIGHTS (Dir. Shō Miyake, 2024, 119 mins)
Misa suffers from severe PMS, which can unravel her otherwise demure disposition with violent disregard for personal or professional company. Finally holding down a job assembling science kits for kids, she befriends Takatoshi, a withdrawn colleague prone to debilitating panic attacks.
Filmmaker: SHŌ Miyake
Shō Miyake completed the elementary fiction course at the Film School of Tokyo and began making feature films soon after graduating from university. His film Playback (2012) was selected for the Locarno International Competition, and And Your Bird Can Sing (2018), Small, Slow But Steady (2022), and All the Long Nights (2024) were invited to the Berlin International Film Festival. His latest, Two Seasons, Two Strangers (2025) won the Golden Leopard, the top prize at the Locarno Film Festival.