SUNYIT will present a Japanese Film Festival Friday, March 1, and Saturday, March 2, in the Student Center, with films introduced by panel discussions and a variety of other of informational presentations and displays focusing on Japanese art and culture.  Guest speakers will include Eiko Maruko Siniawer, Chair of History Department, Williams College, who will deliver the festival's keynote address on March 2 at 12:30 p.m.

Films will include Akira Kurosawa's, "Stray Dog," Yasajiro Ozu's "Early Summer," and Ko Nakahira's "Crazed Fruit." The festival will also include dance and contemporary Japanese personal video presentations, anime films, a cosplay competition, and sessions on calligraphy, meditation instruction, geisha make-up, hanafuda card-games, ink-painting, and a karate demonstration.

Walter Johnston, associate professor of humanities at SUNYIT, will preview one of the festival’s offerings when he presents: "Ozu Style: Early Summer," at The Other Side, 2011 Genesee St., Utica, Friday, February 22, 7:30 p.m. The presentation will examine the Japanese film director Yasajiro Ozu’s 1951 signature work, "Early Summer," which will be shown in its entirety at the March 1-2 film festival.

More information and a complete schedule are available at sunyit.edu/filmfestival.