C2E2 Ticket Sales Are Live!!!!

Click here to go to the ticket site and maybe you can be a founding member of C2E2!

-L

NYAF Goes To Japan!

UPDATE 3! Team USA - Liz and Dia - just took home the Brother Award at the World Cosplay Summit! The WCS gives out the Brother Award for Best Costuming. Huzzah and Kudos, Liz and Dia! UPDATE 3!

UPDATE 2! In addition to LJinto's photos on Flickr, Ms. Anna Fischer is posting pictures of the trip to Japan as well. Be sure to visit both LJinto's and Anna's accounts for regular updates. UPDATE 2!

UPDATE! Want to cheer Team USA on? Leave a message on the NYAF Message Board! Send your support to Liz and Dia from the USA! UPDATE!

ORIGINAL POST...

After visiting Chicago, Baltimore, and San Diego, I'm back home in New York. My whirlwind convention tour had its highs (spotting David Tennant at breakfast) and lows (my inability to sleep during redeye flights), but it's come to an end, and you can now expect a loudening drum beat as we close the distance to NYAF.

But while I'm back in NYC, not all the NYAF staff is. NYAF friends Anna Fischer, Renee Gloger, and LJinto along with World Cosplay Summit Team USA -- India Davis and Elizabeth Licata -- are right now in Tokyo, sightseeing and causing chaos in the lead up to this year's World Cosplay Summit.

To the right's a photo LJinto sent over of Dia, Renee, Anna, and Liz (left to right) in a tranquil garden. LJinto's got more photos of the girls online over at Flickr, including some shots of them visiting Tokyo's giant Gundam. Check his images out, and follow Team USA as they tour through Japan over on their official LiveJournal page. Be sure to send them your love from the USA.

And if you want to go to Japan, sign up for the Yume Cosplay Prize right now at www.nyanimefestival.com, as the winners of NYAF's Masquerade this year will be heading out to the Tokyo Anime Fair!

Streaming Medium - Our New Virtual Radio Show

For reasons that are complicated to explain as they are deeply rooted in frivolity and merrymaking, I’m happy to introduce to you the latest venture from the clowns that bring you NYCC, C2E2, NYAF (and play in the same sandbox as PAX and UFC Fan Expo – meaning US!) – Streaming Medium, the first ever radio show/pod cast/audio incarnation of the Medium at Large blog.

That’s right, Streaming Medium, a radio show. Why? Why not say I! So what is it? Is it a podcast? Kinda. A radio show? Sorta. What we know is it will be the crew that brings you your favorite pop culture shows talking about the shows, giving you updates from the world of pop culture, interviewing guests, taking your comments and calls and streaming it all online twice a month.

The first episode will be available via the blog on Tuesday August 4th (assuming we can get it all edited in time!) and the first and third Tuesday of the month after that (assuming we can all be together to record it). We’ll also work on getting it up on iTunes as a podcast subscription in the coming weeks.

So how you can join in on the fun?

You can record questions or comments on our toll free voice mail line by calling here: 877-547-6398. When we have guests, you’ll also be able to record questions for them by calling here, just know that if you leave a message, it may end up on the broadcast.

Prefer email? Send us a note at: streamingmedium@reedexpo.com

So call or write and help us out with the first episode of Streaming Medium and then check back on Tuesday the 4th of August to listen!

-L

The Book vs The Kindle

From my good pals at Green Apple Books in San Francisco:

C2E2 Tickets On Sale! The Cheapest Ticket for the Best Show. Be A Founding Member!

In two days, tickets for the first ever C2E2 will go on sales via our web site (C2E2.com) – Tuesday at noon Chicago time. OK, this is not like Washington crossing the Delaware or Armstrong walking on the moon, but it is a pretty big deal. For the first time in as long as anyone I’ve spoken with can remember, a massive con will spring up right in the middle (ok, more like the edge) of downtown Chicago. Yeah, a con actually in Chicago and a kick ass con it will be!

We wanted to make sure and reward the fans that were the first to buy tickets and support us. So for the first 100 fans to buy tickets on Thursday will forever be known as the Founding Members of C2E2 and all 100 of C2E2’s Founding Members will receive a public thanks and have their names displayed both online at www.C2E2.com as well as printed in C2E2’s official Program Guide. Even better, all of C2E2’s Founding Members will be provided priority entrance to C2E2’s show floor, so that not only will they be the first fans to purchase C2E2 tickets, but they will also be the first fans to set foot inside C2E2. And, through a gracious partnership with Chicago retailer Chicago Comics, all C2E2 Founding Members will additionally receive 20% off a future Chicago Comics Purchase.

Cool eh? I will also personally drive all of you to the con. OK, maybe not, but the rest of it is pretty cool.

But even if you are not one of the first 100 we have set ticket prices insanely low that everyone can afford C2E2. In fact, I’m pretty sure we are about the cheapest ticket of any major con out there. Consider this a thanks to all the fans of the Midwest for the support…..

Starting Wednesday until September 1st C2E2 tickets will be available at a special Early Bird price:

Weekend Pass - $45
Single Day Pass - $20.

Seriously, $20 bucks for the biggest con to hit the Midwest in years? And no hidden convenience fees!

Sorry, I just couldn’t resist that one.

Buy your tickets, tell your friends, be a founding member!

-L

San Diego Comic-Con – Cool, Conflicting…..

Just back with the C2E2/NYCC team from a few chaotic days in San Diego and I’m not sure whether to applaud or just shake my head over what I saw in San Diego. What an insanely impressive gathering of all things that are pop culture. My buddy Chris Carle at IGN.com was telling my Friday night how that day he had interviewed 30 people, almost all of which he never though he’d get to talk to, ever, let alone all in one day in one place. The show is amazing.


We sit back at NYCC/NYAF/C2E2 global headquarters throughout the year and feel like we’ve done a good job with our shows. A good job pleasing our fans and customers. A good job growing the events. Then you head to Mecca and see just how far we have to go! So it is cool, don’t get me wrong. Amazingly cool. But conflicting and ultimately inspiring.

Peter asked a good question – isn’t it odd there are no comic shops in San Diego?

While there I had about 25 various meetings and we are working on some fairly big things for both NYCC and C2E2. Nothing I can say just yet, but trust me, Chicago, you will not be disappointed come April and New York, we may have something even bigger in store for you fans come 2010…..

Talked with Alex Ross’s main man Sal and got some updates on how the official C2E2 posters are coming along. Alex is working on two different versions and already has them sketched (and if you’ve seen his sketches, that’s pretty far a long!) they both sounds awesome and feature the city of Chicago prominently in them.

In other C2E2 guest related news from San Diego, Jeff Smith got signed up for additional projects with his publisher Scholastic, nice that he’ll have some cool new stuff to talk about as our Guest of Honor in April.

Lastly in show updates, has anyone noted the release date of Iron Man 2? Think about it, that’s all I’m saying.

Glad San Diego is behind me, now it’s all eyes on NYAF and C2E2 and speaking of C2E2, check the next post for an update on ticket sales.

-L

Team USA is in the air!

World Cosplay Summit Team USA is on their way to Japan to compete in this year's Finals. You can follow their exploits on Twitter at @WCSTeamUSA09!

NYAF Masquerade and AMV Contests Online

Otakon came and went last week, and -- as one of the 25,000 fans down there -- it was a blast. I picked up all of Tweeny Witches, GaoGaiGar, xxxHolic, Paradise Kiss, and had the most amazing giant cookie. This week, I'm off to San Diego Comic-Con, but I got some big bits of NYAF work done, too.

First up, NYAF's Masquerade details are online, and we've announced the Yume Cosplay Prize -- our Masquerade's top honor. The Masquerade winners will win a trip to Japan, five nights in a Tokyo hotel, VIP tickets to the Tokyo Anime Fair, and $1000 to spend in Japan. Wanna sign up? Enter at newyorkanimefestival.com.

Second up, NYAF's AMV Contest details are also online. We don't have a big, fancy trip to Japan for its winner, but you get bragging rights. Lots of 'em. Like with the Masquerade, you can enter now at newyorkanimefestival.com.

You want a guest announcement soon? I do. And I think I've got one, too.

The Doctor Rocks a Bow Tie!

The first on set photo of the new Doctor is online, and you can see it all at io9.com. And, as you can see, Matt Smith is rocking a bow tie. Clearly, the Ali T. Kokmen look is going mainstream.

CBLDF San Diego Comic-Con Welcome Party!

NYCC friends the CBLDF are holding a shindig in San Diego this week, and you're invited! From the CBLDF...

Kick off San Diego Comic-Con with your favorite creators in a celebration of all things comics at the CBLDF's San Diego Comic-Con Welcome Party Thursday, July 23 at the Westgate Hotel in downtown San Diego! Sponsored by Image Comics, Comic Book Resources, and Things From Another World, with contributions from Cartoon Books, Top Cow, Eva Ink and The Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo. Join top artists for a night under the stars where you'll enjoy top notch food & drink, witness a fabulous Live Art Jam, and preview the astonishing original art from TFAW.com's CBLDF auction. The CBLDF Welcome Party starts at 7:30 PM on Thursday July 23. Admission is a $5 donation for CBLDF Members, and $10 and up for non-members. The first 100 attendees will receive a gift bag that includes comics from our sponsors, and a gift certificate from Things From Another World!

Enjoy free gourmet bites, a cash bar and the company of comics' greatest creators. Confirmed guests include: Gabriel Ba, Fabio Moon, Jill Thompson, Terry Moore, Tyrese Gibson, Percy Carey, Tone Rodriguez, Tim Seeley, Jeffrey Brown, Joe Casey, Phil Hester, Erik Larsen, and Steven T. Seagle, with many more to come! Come out and raise a toast to comics & the First Amendment with your friends at the CBLDF!

Where: The Westgate Hotel, 1055 Second Ave, San Diego, CA (Second & Broadway)
When: Thursday July 23, 7:30 to 11:00 PM
How Much: $5/CBLDF Members, $10 & Up, non-members

NYAF Masquerade Revealed - Introducing the Yume Cosplay Prize!

Cosplay is a unique and beautiful part of anime fandom, and it's also what I get more emails about than anything else. What are the prizes? When's it going to happen? How can I sign up? Well, today, live from NYAF's Otakon booth, I'm proud to reveal all our secrets -- and introduce the Yume Cosplay Prize!

The New York Anime Festival celebrates the world of cosplay through a Masquerade -- a costume showcase that is part fashion show and part talent show -- like no other. Taking place Saturday, September 26 in the Jacob Javits Center, NYAF's Masquerade offers an array of traditional awards and, this year, is proud to debut the Yume Cosplay Prize...

Two roundtrip tickets to Japan
Five nights in a Tokyo hotel
VIP tickets to the Tokyo International Anime Fair
$1,000 in prize money

"Yume" is the Japanese word for "dream", and as it is the dream of so many anime fans to travel to Japan, we feel it is only fitting for us to name the NYAF Masquerade's top honor the Yume Cosplay Prize. But there is a larger dream here, too. The Yume Cosplay Prize -- and its trip to Japan -- are intended to not only be the top honor for cosplayers at the New York Anime Festival, but it is our goal for it to be the top prize in a competition that touches conventions across the USA and Canada, with regional winners gathering together in New York City to showcase the best cosplay in North America. Is it a big dream? Absolutely. Is it an achievable dream? We believe so, and, in the coming months, we aim to announce more conventions which share this dream. And we are honored to say that Florida's Metrocon is already sending its Masquerade winners to participate in this year's NYAF Masquerade!

Now, those of you who have attended NYAF before may be wondering about the World Cosplay Summit.

For the past two years, the New York Anime Festival had the honor of hosting the USA Preliminaries of the World Cosplay Summit; however, we must say that NYAF will not host the WCS USA Preliminaries at our 2009 event. The World Cosplay Summit does not yet have rules ready for its next competition, and as NYAF cannot change its dates and cannot hold back Masquerade registration, we must go on without hosting the USA Preliminaries this September. We were very privileged to have been part of the World Cosplay Summit, and we were greatly impressed by the distances traveled and caliber of contestants who entered, but the WCS will not be with us this year. NYAF, however, is not done inspiring dreams, and it is with this aim that we proudly announce the creation of the Yume Cosplay Prize.

The NYAF Masquerade is your chance to have your costume and talent recognized in front of thousands of anime fans and -- if your costumes are good enough and your performance daring enough -- win two tickets to Tokyo!

To learn more and to enter, visit nyanimefestival.com and (shortly) yumecosplay.com.

UPDATE: I cannot answer any questions about the future of the WCS in the USA. Should anyone wish to inquire directly with the World Cosplay Summit about the future of the WCS, their website is www.tv-aichi.co.jp/wcs/e and their e-mail is wcs@tv-aichi.co.jp.

The NYCC July Happy Hour Is Over!

Last night was NYCC’s July Happy Hour at Dave and Busters. It was our biggest and bestest yet, including awesome prizes from Mimobot, Top Cow, and DK and special appearance by Mark Morales, Jamal Igle, and Chris Batista. Big props to Kim for putting it all together, Brian, Jaime, and Michelle for making magic on site, partners Benjamin Maddy, Mark Kwan, and Spencer Beck – without all of whom last night would not have happened, and all of you for attending!

Stalk Us At Otakon

NYAF's Peter Tatara will be at Otakon all weekend long, staffing the NYAF Booth. He'll be giving away posters, chopsticks, and generally whatever's not bolted to the floor in his hotel room. You can follow his and NYAF's exploits in Baltimore on twitter at @petertatara and @ny_anime_fest.

(PS: TwitterMail's been all kinds of not working the past few days, so I don't know how many updates @ny_anime_fest will actually get, but @petertatara will still be updated continually -- because we all share the same thirst to know what the hell Peter's doing at 3 AM.)

NYCC Happy Hour - Tomorrow!

Have you been to one of our NYCC Fan Happy Hours? No? Well, you've missed out on food, fun and prizes, and -- this time -- were really stepping up our game. Come by Dave and Buster's in Times Square tomorrow (Wednesday, July 15th) from 6-9 PM to meet Chris Batista, Jamal Igle and Mark Morales! They'll each do a half hour signing:

Jamal Igle - 6:30
Chris Batista - 7:00
Mark Morales - 7:30

And if that isn't enough motivation for you, we've got amazing giveaways for our 8 PM raffle!

Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary
The DC Comics Encyclopedia
The Marvel Encyclopedia
The Vertigo Encyclopedia
2gb Darth Vader and Darth Maul Mimobots
Top Cow Graphic Novels, Comics and Bookmarks

See you at Dave and Buster's tomorrow!

Chicago! Beer! Gaiman! Thanks!

So, C2E2 and BEA's ALA trip to Chicago's come to an end. Lance is on his way back to CT, and I'll be heading back to NY in just a bit. We had a fantastic time in Chicago this weekend, and big thanks (in no particular order) must go to Terry Moore, the CBLDF, Neil Gaiman, Chicago Comics, Craig Thompson, Max Major, John Shableski, Francis, Brenda, Gaangster, Vigilante Press, Jim Valentino, Jim Mortensen, the 501st, ACen, Piece Pizza, Terrence, Combined Book Exhibit, Charlaine Harris, Walgreens, and all the other fans, pros, and librarians whose names I can't recall this early in the morning.

We'll be back soon!

Chicago! Beer! Gaiman! Tonight!

Ahoy, it's Peter live from the ALA show floor. Lance and I have been in Chicago all weekend for the American Library Association conference, and we're wrapping it up today with these events...

If you're a Chicago-area librarian, stop by ALA Booth 2030 to chat with us.

Similarly, come to the CBLDF and C2E2 panel - Ban those @#$*%! Comic Books, Graphic Novels, and Censorship - at 1:30-3:30 PM in W-184. Panelists include Neil Gaiman. Yes. Neil Gaiman.

Then, we're working with the CBLDF again for a brewery party open to librarians and ALA attendees at the Piece Brewery (1927 W. North Ave) from 6-8 PM.

And, lastly, Lance and I will be staying late at Piece and are inviting Chicago fans to swing by from 8-9 PM to join us for drinks. (The drinks aren't free, but the stacks of comics I'm bringing are.)

PS: You can follow our adventures on Twitter at @C2E2 and @petertatara.

PSS: If you're coming to Piece tonight, down spoil Torchwood: Children of Earth for me!

20th Century Boys Trilogy Plays At NYAF

The New York Anime Festival is honored and excited to announce that all three films in Yukihiko Tsutsumi's 20th Century Boys trilogy will screen at the New York Anime Festival this September. Based on the award-winning manga by Naoki Urasawa, 20th Century Boys tells the tale of a gang of seventh graders in 1969 who hide in their secret clubhouse, making up stories about saving the world from super villains, only for us to flash forward to the future and discover these imaginary stories are coming true and the seventh graders -- grown up into broken down salarymen and convenience store managers -- realizing they've got to come together to save the world.

The first two 20th Century Boys films debuted at the New York Asian Film Festival earlier this summer, and NYAF will serve as the New York Premiere of the final 20th Century Boys motion picture. All three films are being co-presented by VIZ Pictures and Subway Cinema.

20th Century Boys: Part 1 - The Beginning of the End and 20th Century Boys: Part 2 - The Last Hope will screen on Friday, September 25th at NYAF. 20th Century Boys: Part 3 - Redemption will premiere on Sunday, September 27th.

Sweet!

Huzzah and Kudos to All Nippon Airways!

The New York Anime Festival's very happy -- and very honored -- to be partnering with All Nippon Airways this year. ANA's doing a great deal to help make the show a success, and you'll be seeing their name and logo a lot throughout NYAF. And, if you're planning a trip to Japan, won't you fly ANA like we do?

And, in the mean time, won't you watch ANA's anime intro?



For more on ANA, visit www.fly-ana.com.

Jeff Smith Comes To C2E2!

The American Librarian Association Annual Conference began today at McCormick Place in Chicago, and on this special occasion, C2E2 is proud to reveal our second Guest of Honor -- Mr. Jeff Smith!

C2E2 will be Mr. Smith's first appearance in Chicago in ten years!

Jeff's BONE series, which has won 41 awards worldwide, including numerous Eisner Awards and Harvey Awards, was recognized by the ALA and Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) in 2002. The new color editions of BONE, which have recently been published by Scholastic,Inc., have sold more than 3 millions copies.

If you're a Chicago-area librarian, stop by ALA Booth 2030 to chat with us about Jeff and the show in general. Programming Director Peter Tatara will be holding down the fort Saturday-Monday and Show Manager Lance Fensterman will be making a few apperances as well. We're also working with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund to organize a high profile panel and a brewery party at this year's ALA Conference. The panel, Ban those @#$*%! Comic Books, Graphic Novels, and Censorship, will take place on Monday, July 13, 1:30-3:30pm (McCormick Convention Center, W-184). The brewery party, open to librarians and ALA attendees, will take place at the Piece Brewery (1927 W. North Ave) on Monday, July 13, from 6-8pm and be directly followed by a fan meet up from 8-9pm.

Blood Sport, Neil Gaiman and Getting Together for Drinks

Dear blogospehere, I’m so sorry I have not posted for weeks on end. After BookExpo I went into a shell of sorts, followed by copious travel, followed by the 4th of July but dearest blogospehere I assure you am I back at my post and will be posting, post haste.

I’m heading out to Vegas tomorrow morning before the sun comes up or the newspaper hits my driveway to work our newest event, the UFC Fan Expo. It’s a cool new partnership with the UFC we’ve launched at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas that will precede the UFC 100 fight out there. Its two days of demos, talks, cool vendors and yes, over 100 UFC fighters you can meet and hang out with. Also a keynote by Dana White that promises to be wild (check him out on YouTube for samples of his, er candor).

As a boy with strong bookish leanings and a large amount of geek tossed in and all bookended with pipe cleaner arms, I think my concern as to just how I’ll be received by the UFC crowd is a legitimate one. Assuming I make it out of Vegas in one piece I’m heading straight to Chicago to go to the other end of the social spectrum and hang out with librarians and fans in support of C2E2.

As you all know, at NYCC we have pro hours, which is unique for a con and allows for business and not just fun to happen. We’ll be doing the same with C2E2 so we are doing a panel and party during the annual librarians gathering that takes place in Chicago this year.

We are doing a kick ass panel on Monday afternoon with the CBLDF featuring none other than Neil Gaiman, Terry Moore, Craig Thompson, and Jill Thompson. Pretty cool eh?

So here’s the deal:

For fans and friends in Chicago, come out and grab a beer with me and tell me what you wanna see at C2E2 or just say hey. I’ll be having beers and a slice at Piece Brewery at 8-10pm on Monday night (1927 W. North Ave, just off the Damen Blue Line stop)

For those of you going to ALA, the Gaiman panel takes place Monday from 1:30-3:30 PM at the ALA Conference (McCormick Place W-184 is the room) and is called Ban those @#$*%! Comic Books, Graphic Novels, and Censorship. You can meet Neil Gaiman!!!!

We are also throwing a party at Piece Brewery with our friends at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund from 6-8pm on Monday night. This meet and greet features talent and representatives from the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo and is open to all ALA attendees and all librarians who'll be in Chicago during the conference. Complimentary Piece Pizza will be served and an open bar is available featuring location-brewed beer, including a dollar off brewer's choice beer especially for the event. Nerd City and CBLDF will have banner presence, and we'll have a roped off area just for us.

So, come on, let’s hang out in Chicago….Assuming a UFC fan doesn’t trap me in the Octagon!

UrumaDelvi Anime & Manga Creators Day - July 12!

Anime creators UrumaDelvi, manga artist Misako Rocks!, voice actress Veronica Taylor, illustrator Jose Velasco, and World Cosplay Summit Team USA are all coming to Kinokuniya Bookstore (1073 Ave of the Americas) on Sunday, July 12. The day's jam packed with women and men living the dream of being a part of the worlds of anime and manga, and you're invited to attend. The UrumaDelvi Anime & Manga Creators Day is free and open to the public…

12 PM - World Cosplay Summit Team USA. India Davis and Liz Licata will be traveling to Japan at the end of July to compete in the World Cosplay Summit -- the Olympics of Cosplay. Come see them at Kinokuniya to find all about their costumes and their plans for Japan.

1 PM - Misako Rocks! Manga creator Misako Rocks! will be presenting a manga workshop, highlighting her style and giving tips to aspiring artists.

2 PM - Veronica Taylor. Veronica Taylor, the voice behind numerous anime characters, will be joining Misako Rocks! on stage to demonstrate what it takes to be a voice actor, creating voices live to sketches drawn by Misako.

3 PM - Jose Velsaco. Jose is an illustrator and animator who's worked on Saturday Night Live, Courage the Cowardly Dog, and TMNT. He'll be showing off clips of his work and discuss working in the US animation industry.

4 PM - UrumaDelvi. Samurai Beat Radio will host Delvi of anime studio UrumaDelvi and demonstate UrumaDelvi's animation software. UrumaDelvi are a husband and wife team responsible for a number of popular animations in Japan, chief among which being the "Oshiri Kajiri Mushi" or "Bottom-Biting Bug". Discover more at urumadelvi.com.

5 PM - Raffle. Win DVDs, posters, and even tickets to the New York Anime Festival!

Drink with C2E2!

C2E2 Show Manager Lance Fensterman and Programming Director Peter Tatara will both be in Chicago on July 13, and they’re grabbing dinner and drinks at the Piece Brewery. If you're free between 8 and 9 PM, come on by, too! Piece Brewery is at 1927 W. North Ave, and Lance and Peter will both be at the bar in C2E2 T-Shirts. Join ‘em at Piece to talk comics, movies, toys, and the brand new con they’re bringing to downtown Chicago next year!

C2E2 Meet Up
Monday, July 13
8-9 PM
Piece Brewery
1927 W. North Ave.
Chicago, Il 60622

We've Got Discount Tickets to the Asian American Comicon!

On July 11, 2009, the biggest Asian American creators in manga, mainstream and indie comics are gathering for a unique one-day event, featuring interactive workshops, intimate interviews, and hands-on opportunities to learn from the top talents in the trade. Meet and mingle with the masters. Get autographed copies of your favorite graphic novels and original sketches. And take part in provocative panels.

The AACC takes place at the New Museum of Chinese in America at 215 Centre Street in Lower Manhattan. VIP Passes are $75, Adults are $25, and Students are $15.

But, because of our friends at the AACC, we're able to provide discounted rates to NYCC and NYAF fans and attendees ($10 off VIP tickets and $5 off adult tickets). TO get this discounted rate, simply call Beatrice Chen with the New Museum of Chinese in America at 212.619.4785 x104 and mention code "NYCCAF".

For details and a guest list, visit...

http://www.secretidentities.org/aacc/AACCNYCCAF.html

The New York Comic Con and New York Anime Festival are not producing the Asian American Comicon, but we're big fans of their mission.

Eiji Okuda at Kinokuniya on Friday

Don't miss actor Eiji Okuda and director Sion Sono at Kinokuniya Bookstore (1073 Avenue of the Americas) on Friday, July 3 at 4:30 PM. Both Okuda and Sono will be in NYC as guests of the New York Asian Film Festival, and they'll be at Kinokuniya to speak about their careers and their work together on their newest film, Be Sure To Share, which will receive its World Premiere on Sunday, July 5 at 8:15 PM at Japan Society. The film is being co-presented as part of Japan Society's Japan Cuts Festival of New Japanese Film.

Win Tickets to see UrumaDelvi!

A few days ago, I mentioned the UrumaDelvi screening at JAPAN CUTS at Japan Society. Now, thanks to our friends at Japan Society, I'm happy to offer up two free pairs of tickets.

Two lucky winners will receive a pair of complimentary tickets to the July 11th screening of UrumaDelvi's Collected Shorts at Japan Society (333 E. 47th St.) in NYC. How do you win? Just send a blank email with the subject line "UrumaDelvi contest" to filmrsvp@japansociety.org by July 10 at noon EST. Winners will be contacted by Japan Society.

Not familiar with UrumaDelvi?