Shinji Higuchi
The 2013 edition scaled back to 24 films, with independent productions and big budget epics. "JAPAN CUTS" again dovetailed with NYAFF, co-presenting 12 titles. The series began on July 11 and concluded July 21. The festival’s opening film was the U.S. premiere of Toshiaki Toyoda’s "I’M FLASH!", with the closing film the U.S. Premiere of Shinji Higuchi and Isshin Inudo’s "The Floating Castle". 5 special guests attended, including Junichi Inoue, Justin Leach, Regge Life, Yukihiro Toda, and Toyoda.