January 18, 2008

The Kennedy Center Presents

Genius Party Premieres
February 15-16, 2008
Genius Party (US Premiere) February 15, 2008
Genius Party Beyond (World Premiere) February 16, 2008
and
A Marathon of Anime Premieres
February 17, 2008
5 Centimeters Per Second (East Coast Premiere)
The Piano Forest (North American Premiere)
Appleseed: Ex Machina (East Coast Premiere)

As part of

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Kennedy Center will present a series of anime screenings with Genius Party Premieres and A Marathon of Anime Premieres from February 15 – February 17, 2008 in the Family Theater.  Genius Party Premieres are original works created by Japan’s leading artists in the anime field chosen by Director and Genius Party Executive Producer Eiko Tanaka.  Genius Party will make its U.S. premiere on February 15, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.  Genius Party Beyond will make its world premiere on February 16, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. A Marathon of Anime Premieres on February 17, 2008 consists of three new anime features to be shown separately. This screening marathon includes: 5 Centimeters Per Second (East Coast Premiere) at 11 a.m., The Piano Forest (North American Premiere) at 1:15 p.m., and Appleseed: Ex Machina (East Coast Premiere) at 3:30 p.m. These anime film premieres are part of the Center’s two-week long festival, JAPAN! culture + hyperculture.

Anime is the face of 21st-century Japan and this event showcases the power and imagination of the art form to audiences’ amazement. Eiko Tanaka, President of Studio 4°C and producer of the Genius Party, said, “Human beings need to express themselves.  We compiled works filled with strong desire for expression.” Genius Party Premieres feature directors Atsuko Fukushima, Shoji Kawamori, Shinji Kimura, Yoji Fukuyama, Hideki Futamura, Masaaki Yuasa, Shinichiro Watanabe, Mahiro Maeda, Koji Morimoto, Kazuto Nakazawa, Shinya Ohira, and Tatsuyuki Tanaka.  Following its showing at the Kennedy Center, the Genius Party Premieres will then tour to major film festivals throughout the
world.

A Marathon of Anime Premieres includes the East Coast premieres of 5 Centimeters Per Second (11 a.m.) and Appleseed Ex Machina (3:30 p.m.), as well as the North American premiere of The Piano Forest (1:15 p.m.).  Directed by Makoto Shinkai, 5 Centimeters Per Second consists of three independent shorts that follow a boy in Tokyo from the first half of the 1990s into the present.  Produced by Hong Kong action legend John Woo, Appleseed Ex Machina is based on the popular manga by Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell) and is directed by Shinji Aramaki, who will also introduce the film.  The Piano Forest, directed by Masayuki Kojima and adapted from Makoto Isshiki’s 3.5 million-copy-selling manga, revolves around two boy prodigies and a solitary piano hidden in the forest.

JAPAN!  culture + hyperculture
The Kennedy Center’s international festival JAPAN! culture + hyperculture showcases the richness and diversity of the arts of Japan—the traditional and classical to the contemporary and cutting-edge—from February 5-17, 2008.  The two-week festival brings together 467 artists from 17 different performing companies in 47 performances of music, dance and theater, including 15 premieres, on six stages, as well as five robots and a dozen free events including five exhibits featuring visual arts, design, fashion, film, and literature.

Ticket Information
Tickets for Genius Party are $25.  Tickets for Genius Party Beyond are $25.  Tickets for A Marathon of Anime Premieres are $15 per film.  Tickets may be purchased at the Kennedy Center Box Office or by calling Instant Charge at (202) 467-4600.  Those patrons living outside the Washington metropolitan calling area may dial toll-free at (800) 444-1324 or visit our website at www.kennedy-center.org.

JAPAN! culture + hyperculture is presented with the generous support of  Presenting Underwriter the  HRH Foundation and  Presenting Sponsor Morgan Stanley.

ANA is the Official Airline of JAPAN! culture + hyperculture.

Additional support is provided by The Festival Honorary Committee, Aruze Corp., Amway Corporation, and Toyota.

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TICKETS & INFORMATION:
(202) 467-4600, (800) 444-1324
TTY: (202) 416-8524
www.kennedy-center.org