Locarno Festival To Honor Hitoshi Matsumoto

The 64th Locarno Film Festival, set in the beautiful Ticino region of southern Switzerland, will pay tribute to the Japanese actor/director Hitoshi Matsumoto, hosting the international premiere of his latest film SCABBARD SAMURAI in an outdoor screening in the famed Piazza Grande. The film, starring newcomer Takaaki Nomi and Jun Kunimura (KILL BILL) is produced by Yoshimoto Kogyo, Kyoraku Sangyo and Phantom Film. The Festival will pay tribute to the director with two other features, including BIG MAN JAPAN (2007) and SYMBOL (2009). A national celebrity in his home country as a television comedian, Matsumoto began his directing career in 2007 with BIG MAN JAPAN. The film went on from a Directors’ Fortnight premiere in Cannes to garner widespread acclaim, achieving record box office success in Japan. His follow up SYMBOL in 2009 was a festival success, including acclaimed screenings at the Toronto, Busan and Rotterdam film festivals. For more information, visit: www.pardo.ch

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