Source: Peatix

Shibuya Gender Film Festival Opening Screening
"Welcome to the parade"
■ Story
The year is 1984, and Britain is in turmoil under the Thatcher administration. It all started with a simple idea from a young man living in London. Moved by the coal miners' strike, he and his friends start a fundraising campaign to support them and their families. However, no matter how many times they call the National Union of Miners, their offer of donations is ignored. There is one reason for this: they are gay. To the Union, they are just residents of another world. Then, after a misunderstanding, they find the only coal mine that will accept them! Invited as a thank you for their donation, they board a minibus and head off to a mining town in the depths of Wales...

"Welcome to the Parade" Movie Official Website
Director: Matthew Warchus
Produced by: David Livingston
121 min. / UK / English / 2014

■ Date and Time
12/13(Fri)
17:30 Doors open
18:00-18:30 Shibuya Gender Equality Promotion Awards Ceremony and Film Festival Opening
18:30～20:30 Movie screening
20:30～21:00 Talk session

Shibuya Gender Equality Promotion Awards Ceremony
On the first day, the Shibuya Gender Equality Promotion Award ceremony will be held before the film screening. Shibuya Ward is home to many wonderful initiatives to promote gender equality, including those undertaken by individuals and businesses. At the Shibuya Gender Film Festival, we will introduce some of the initiatives that we feel are especially important for everyone to know about, from among the many submissions.

Shibuya Gender Equality Promotion Award

■ Venue
Shibuya Ward Densho Hall (Shibuya Ward Cultural Center Owada 6F)
23-21 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo [Google MAP] Please note that the venue is different from other dates.

■Talk Session
"Solidarity that transcends differences becomes strength - Welcome to the parade that will move Shibuya forward!"

Madame Bonjour Mr. Janji
Drag Queen/Artist
Member of "Drag Queen Story Hour Tokyo"

Since 1997, she has created a new world of time and space that transcends personal differences, such as by hosting the social party "Juicy!" In 2022, she was featured in the United Nations "UN in Action" series "Beyond Boundaries: Drag Queen of Tokyo," and the video, which was distributed worldwide, attracted attention.

Major works: "HUG Exercise", "Living Together/Stand Alone", picture book "Kibou-chan", etc.
https://bonjourjohnj.tokyo

Reiko Yuyama
Her works include "Woman Eating Sushi Alone," "Women in Cross-Dressing," "Over Forty!" and a dialogue with Ueno Chizuko entitled "Pleasure First! How to Live After 3/11." She has appeared as a commentator on TBS's "Information 7 Days Newscaster" and other programs. She is the founder of "Bakukura," which proposes new ways of listening to classical music. She is a designer for the fashion brand OJOU, and a lecturer in the Department of Literature at Nihon University College of Art.

Shigeyoshi Suzuki
Part-time public elementary school lecturer. Director of NPO Pride House Tokyo. Part-time lecturer at Sophia University's Center for Basic Education. Specializes in special needs education, educational consultation, and educational counseling. Gives lectures on LGBTQ+ and education, providing opportunities to learn about sexual diversity. Co-author of "Children Who Are Uneasy About 'Normal' Things" and "Creating a Classroom Where Everyone, Including LGBTQ+ Children, Feels Safe"

■ Why I chose this movie
This film is based on a true story of how people in the UK in the 1980s overcame their differences to come together and bring about a major change in society. To give a little background, at that time, under the Thatcher administration, which aimed to streamline industry, miners who opposed the government were forced into a difficult situation. The strike went into a long war, and many problems, such as unjust arrests, economic hardship, and uncertainty about the future, struck miners and their families. At the same time, the LGBTQ community was also fighting against persistent discrimination. In addition, HIV/AIDS, which was considered an incurable disease, caused anxiety and fear, and promoted prejudice against LGBTQ people. In the midst of all this, people who at first glance seem to have nothing in common and are facing completely different problems, found the same pain in each other, joined hands, overcame prejudice against each other, and stood up together.

The way these two disparate communities awkwardly but gradually close the distance between each other despite their conflicts and anxieties reminds us of the pure joy and fun of getting to know each other and connecting with each other. Please enjoy this incredibly happy and powerful movie that makes you realize that anyone can be someone's understanding and ally! Welcome to the parade!

What is the Shibuya Gender Film Festival?
This is a tiny film festival that started in Shibuya Ward in 2022. Using a gender perspective as a starting point, the festival uses films to consider social issues and human rights issues occurring in our everyday lives. After the film, there is time for dialogue. In the security that comes with being a small festival, each participant brings their own impressions and thoughts, further deepening their understanding of the world of film. This is a festival where you can meet friends who are also aiming to take that first step towards turning other people's problems into your own. (The photo shows last year's event.)

Theme for 2024: "Engagement, Dialogue, Listening"
Violence is on the rise all around the world. There are more than 50 conflicts occurring around the world, with many people suddenly losing their lives, being injured, being forced to flee their homes, and losing loved ones. One in three people around the world feel anxious about the increase in violence and crime around them. In Japan, the number of consultations about domestic violence and child abuse continues to reach record highs every year, and the lack of sufficient support reaching those who need it is becoming a serious problem.

The Japanese word "chokusu" (listen) is pronounced "yurusu" (to forgive). This is because sincerely listening to others means accepting them, or in other words, "forgiving." In a society that is becoming more diverse and complex, there is a tendency to exclude things that are difficult to understand, people who are incompatible, and people who are different, and to try to solve problems through violence. However, in order to create a society where everyone can live the life that is true to themselves, violence is never acceptable. With five films, we will think about relationships that do not give rise to violence, dialogue that can replace violence, and listening.

■ Handling of personal information
1. Personal information will be appropriately acquired, used, and provided only to the extent necessary for the business activities of this event. This event has the principle of not handling personal information beyond the scope necessary to achieve the purpose of use without the prior consent of the individual, and will take measures to ensure this.
2. We will comply with laws, regulations, national guidelines and other standards regarding the protection of personal information.
3. We will take reasonable measures to prevent the leakage, loss, or damage of personal information in our possession, and will take any necessary corrective measures.
4. We will set up a consultation desk to handle complaints and inquiries regarding the handling of personal information and efforts to protect personal information.
5. We will continually review and improve our efforts to comply with the Personal Information Protection Act.
6. Contact Us

For inquiries regarding this event, please contact the following:
Shibuya Inclusive City Center <Iris>
Shibuya Cultural Center Owada 8F, 23-21 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
☎03-3464-3395

Organizer: Shibuya Ward

Venue