The Third Window Films Podcast

This time Ben shares his experience with the alphabet film challenege for January before the boys dive into Junta Yamaguchi's latest two minute time loop masterpiece 'RIVER'. River is available to own now from  Terracotta Distribution here  The links Ben's January and February alphabet challenge lists are below. Stay tuned for the Third Window alphabet list next episode!  https://letterboxd.com/benjybox/list/alphabet-challenge-2024-january/ https://letterboxd.com/benjybox/list/alphabet-challenge-2024-february/ If you are a fan of the podcast then please take a couple of minutes to rate or review us wherever you listen, and follow Adam and Ben to keep up with all the latest news and reviews from Third Window Films.

The Third Window Films Podcast is back after an unexpected hiatus, but we are starting off 2024 with a bang! This episode Adam and Ben kick things off by sharing their favourite East Asian films from last year. They also do a deep dive on the wildly entertaining and utterly bonkers action comedy, 'MAD CATS', which is making its Blu-ray debut this month! And the cherry on top? Ben had the incredible opportunity to talk with the director Reiki Tsuno himself! Reiki shares his experiences and challenges during the production, providing fascinating insights into the making of this unconventional cinematic gem. Mad Cats is available to own now from Terracotta Distribution here  The links to the videos Adam mentions of Ruice Mori and her mother recreating classic Bruce Lee scenes are below: https://x.com/run_kiti/status/1651925225880305672 https://x.com/run_kiti/status/1631988755052769283  https://x.com/run_kiti/status/1667143107975217153 If you are a fan of the podcast then please take a couple of minutes to rate or review us wherever you listen, and follow Adam and Ben to keep up with all the latest news and reviews from Third Window Films.  

Join Adam and Ben in this latest episode as they explore the contrasting Halloween festivities of Japan and the UK. From the Tokyo International Film Festival to the eclectic screenings at the London East Asian and Cambridge Film Festivals, they share their top picks and hidden gems from this year's events. They also delve into Third Window Films' newest release, the double feature 'Door' and 'Door II: Tokyo Diary'. Directed by Banmei Takahashi, these cult Japanese horror classics from the 'Directors Company Collection' are now available in the UK, complete with new digital restorations and exclusive content. DOOR (DIRECTORS COMPANY EDITION BLURAY) available to buy from Terracotta Distribution here, or to rent digitally via Terracotta Asian Film Streaming here. If you enjoy our show then please give us a 5 star rating and review wherever you listen, and don't forget to subscribe for more from Third Window Films. Follow Adam on Twitter, Instagram and Youtube Follow Ben on Twitter and Letterboxd As always, thanks for listening x

This month Adam and Ben take another deep dive into the world of Japanese cinema as they unpack Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "The Guard From Underground". From Kurosawa's early days at Rikkyo University to his initial foray into directing within the pink film scene, the boys unravel the enigmatic journey of this acclaimed filmmaker. The episode also sheds light on Third Window Films' journey to secure the distribution rights for "The Guard From Underground" in the UK. Discover the role Susumu Miyasaka and the Director's Company played in shaping the careers of budding filmmakers like Kurosawa, Gakuryū Ishii, and Shinji Sōmai. Learn about the unique environment this guild created by merging talents from the pink film industry with independent cinema. Adam and Ben delve into the standout sequences and memorable shots that make "The Guard From Underground" a pivotal piece in Kurosawa's filmography. They also discuss the behind-the-scenes story of Kurosawa's second feature, initially envisioned as "College Girl: Shameful Seminar", and its transformation into "Bumpkin Soup" (also known as "The Excitement of the Do-Re-Mi-Fa Girl"). Whether you're a seasoned Kurosawa fan or new to his works, this episode is a great companion piece to the brand new Blu-ray release available through Terracotta Distribution here - https://shop.terracottadistribution.com/collections/new-releases/products/the-guard-from-underground Follow Adam on Twitter, Instagram and Youtube Follow Ben on Twitter and Letterboxd If you enjoy our show then please give us a 5 star rating and review wherever you listen, and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. As always, thanks for listening x

This episode Adam and Ben are joined by documentarian Sarah Appleton and film historian Jasper Sharp to talk all about their new film The J-Horror Virus. We talk about the origins of the genre, our favourite J-Horror films, and the creators that shaped horror culture for decades to come. Follow Adam on Twitter, Instagram and Youtube Follow Ben on Twitter and Letterboxd If you enjoy our show then please give us a 5 star rating and review wherever you listen, and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. As always, thanks for listening x

It's been a minute but your boys are back and better than ever! This episode we catch up on Adam's European tour with Katsuhito Ishii, the glorious double bill at the Prince Charles Cinema with a live Q&A, a surreal dinner with Gareth Evans, and of course the latest boxset from Third Window Films including 6 films from the mighty Katsuhito Ishii himself. We also look to the future and what's coming next for TWF! It's good to be back :) Follow Adam on Twitter, Instagram and Youtube Follow Ben on Twitter and Letterboxd If you enjoy our show then please give us a 5 star rating and review wherever you listen, and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. As always, thanks for listening x

This month we talk to Swim Deep keyboardist and film journalist extraordinaire James Balmont about our favourite music in Japanese film. We cover the most successful director/composer collaborations, from Takeshi Kitano and Joe Hisaishi to Sogo Ishii and Hiroyuki Onogawa to Shin'ya Tsukamoto and Chu Ishigawa, and loads more! Follow Adam on Twitter, Instagram and Youtube Follow Ben on Twitter and Letterboxd If you enjoy our show then please give us a 5 star rating and review wherever you listen, and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. As always, thanks for listening x

This month we talk about the illustrious career of the one and only Tadanobu Asano. Actor, musician, illustrator, and all around renaissance man. He's starred in everything from iconic classics like ICHI THE KILLER and ZATOICHI, to cult international arthouse films like RUINED HEART and LAST LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE. We also discuss Adam's two big releases for the month, Gakuryu Ishii's ELECTRIC DRAGON 80.000V and PUNK SAMURAI SLASH DOWN. In Electric Dragon, Tadanobu plays a violent, guitar-playing, electrically charged boxer wh0 faces off against an electronic wizard half-merged with a metallic Buddha. If you think that sounds crazy then just wait till you see who he plays in Punk Samurai!!! Both films are available with limited edition artwork and slipcases via Terracotta Distribution here - https://shop.terracottadistribution.com/ Follow Adam on Twitter, Instagram and Youtube Follow Ben on Twitter and Letterboxd If you enjoy our little show then please give us a 5 star rating and review wherever you listen, and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. As always, thanks for listening x

This episode Adam and Ben answer questions from the audience! The boys go through 30 questions from 30 fans and at the end they randomly pick one question to receivea Third Windown Films Blu-ray of their choice. Please leave us a rating or review wherever you can, and be sure to tell your friends about us. It's going to be a big year for The Third Window Films Podcast and we are excited to share some of the news with you very soon.

The bumper final epside of 2022! Adam and Ben go through all the Third Window Film releases of the year, from Shin'ya Tsukamoto's HIRUKO THE GOBLIN to Satoshi Miki's ADRIFT IN TOKYO and everything in between from Obayashi to Sogo Ishii. The boys also reveal their favourite films of the year and look ahead at what's coming out from Third Window Films in 2023. Thank you to everyone who listened to the show and shared our stuff this year. We appreciate you! Here's a link to Ben's top 20 of 2022 We look forward to catching up with you again next year!        

The episode Adam and Ben celebrate one year of THE THIRD WINDOW FILMS PODCAST by inviting the badass 80s synthpop legend Cyborg Joe from The Lethal Weapons. The boys talk about living in Japan as westerners, and how their first love is film but their really friendship developed through a mutual love of music. You can follow Cyborg Joe on Twitter and Instagram Links to all of The Lethal Weapons songs and videos are on their YouTube channel Some personal favourites include: Shoryuken Doesn't Come Out  80s Action Star You Are Motherfucker Thank you so much to all of you that have been listneing in over the last year. We appreciate you like crazy! As good as this last year has been for the show, we have some truly incredible stuff planned for year two! Keep an eye on our social media for more news, and be sure to subscribe and give us a 5 star rating and review wherever you can to help us reach even more Japanese film fans. https://thirdwindowfilms.com/ https://twitter.com/BenjyBox https://twitter.com/thirdwindow https://www.instagram.com/thirdwindowfilms/ https://www.youtube.com/c/thirdwindowfilms https://www.facebook.com/thirdwindowfilms

We are living in unprecedented times and today Adam and Ben are joined by the mighty Tom Mes for an unprecedented third appearance!   After initially joining us to discuss Shinya Tsukamoto and then returning to cover the work of Sogo Ishii, Tom is now back on the pod to talk all about Nobuhiko Obayashi, his 80s Kadokawa years, and specially his audio commentary on the upcoming release of His Motorbike, Her Island.   His Motorbike, Her Island stars Riki Takeuchi and Kiwako Harada and is a tale of young lovers and their fun filled days of freedom on their motorbikes.   Switching between black and white and colour, Obayashi paints a picture of  an eternal summer from which they have no desire to escape.   You can pre-order His Motorbike, Her Island as part of the upcoming NOBUHIKO OBAYASHI’S 80S KADOKAWA YEARS boxset here - https://shop.terracottadistribution.com/collections/pre-order-before-release/products/nobuhiko-obayashi-s-80s-kadokawa-years-bluray-4-discs   Episode 13 could be unlucky for some, and it fact it was for us! A few technical issues and crossed wires hindered the flow a little but fear not, for the next podcast is our big 1st birthday episode and will be a podcast party like no other! We have an incredibly exiting guest lined up and it's going to be an absolute blast!     

This episode Adam and Ben are joined by a real life doctor... of film. Dr. Jonathan Wroot is the senior lecturer and program leader for film studies at the University of Greenwich, London. He has published several journal articles and book chapters on Asian cinema distribution and specifically on home video formats. Jonathan has most recently published his first monograph entitled "The Paths of Zatoichi - The Global Influence of the Blind Swordsman" and he talks in great depth on the influence that character of Zatoichi had on Japanese cinema, but especially on the Jidaigeki films, or chambara films, or samurai films, or edo-era films, or whatever you want to call them. The boys discuss such Third Window Films releases as TOP KNOT DETECTIVE, UZUMASA LIMELIGHT, THE SUFFERING OF NINKO and Shin'ya Tsukamoto's masterpiece KILLING amongs many other things. The link to pick up any of the films discussed on this episode is https://shop.terracottadistribution.com/collections/third-window-films/   If you would like to check out any of Jonathan Wroot's books you can do so via the following links:   New Blood: Framing 21st Century Horror - https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Blood-Critical-Approaches-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B08X1M6N75   Cult Media: Repackaged, Re-released and Restored - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cult-Media-Re-packaged-Re-released-Restored/dp/3319636782   DVD, Blu-ray and Beyond: Navigating Formats and Platforms within Media Consumption - https://www.amazon.co.uk/DVD-Blu-ray-Beyond-Navigating-Consumption/dp/3319873865   As always, thanks for listening :)  

This episode Adam and Ben are joined by none other than the founder and managing director of Terracotta Disitribution himself, Joey Leung!  Joey has been one of the UK's premier film distributors of East Asian cinema for two decades now, and he has experienced more than his fair share of highs and lows in that time. The boys tell the explosive story of how Joey and Adam first made contact, the crazy days of film sales in the early 2000s, and how trying to recreate Cannes in Brighton might not have been the greatest of ideas. Check out Joey's streaming service and physical media store at https://www.terracottadistribution.com/ and follow his antics on Twitter and Instagram If you regularly listen to our show and like what we do then please tell you friends, share our episodes and rate or review us wherever you can. Also, if you have any questions for either Adam or Ben then get in touch via Ben's twitter @BenjyBox and they will answer them on the next episode.

This episode Adam and Ben celebrate the release of Katsuyuki Motohiro's 2005 Japanese cult hit SUMMER TIME MACHINE BLUES with a hot conversation about Summer and time travel and how the two pair together perfectly. The film is written by Makoto Ueda, the genius behind recent hit BEYOND THE INFINITE TWO MINUTES, and stars a plethora of young talent with all the madcap energy you'd hope for from a production like this. The film is available to own from July 4th 2022 and you can pre-order it now at a special reduced price via Terracotta Distribution here - https://shop.terracottadistribution.com/products/summer-time-machine-blues-blu-ray If you regularly listen to our show and like what we do then please tell you friends, share our episodes and rate or review us wherever you can. Also, if you have any questions for Adam or Ben then get in touch via Ben's twitter @BenjyBox and they will read out your questions on the next episode.

On May 21st 2022 it was 15 years to the day since Adam released his first dvd through Third Window Films! This episode Ben and Adam celebrate the history of Third Window Films from its humble beginnings to its place now as one of the top distributors of East Asian cinema in the UK.  In honour of the milestone Adam is giving away 15 Blu-Rays across his social networks to 15 lucky listeners. Links to enter the competitions are below: https://www.facebook.com/thirdwindowfilms/ https://www.instagram.com/thirdwindowfilms/ https://twitter.com/thirdwindow If you like our show then please tell you friends, share our posts and rate or review us wherever you can. Every little helps. Also, if you have any questions for Adam or Ben then get in touch via Ben's twitter @BenjyBox and they will read out your questions on the next episode.

This episode Adam and Ben share their experiences with the latest idiosyncratic release from Third Window Films "Zokki". Three of Japan's most talented and prolific actor-directors have joined forces to adapt Hiroyuki Ohashi's cult manga series about characters in "an obscure corner" of the world. The film's five loosely connected storylines concern the secrets and lies, fears and tears, and puerile potty jokes that punctuate their daily (and in one eerie case, nightly) encounters.     Adam also explains the difference between bringing a brand new film like this to the western audience was why he got started in film distribution in the first place, and how releasing legacy films just became part of the game thanks to an ever-changing market.     They also discuss how #metoo has finally arrived in Japan thanks to a Japanese-American actor who began to talk about what he saw during one of these director workshops.     Zokki is out on April 25th and available to buy now at an introductory offer price from Terracotta Distribution via this link - https://shop.terracottadistribution.com/products/zokki-bluray     If you like our show then please tell you friends, share our posts and rate or review us wherever you can. Every little helps. Also, if you have any questions for Adam or Ben then get in touch via twitter @thirdwindow and @BenjyBox and they will read out your questions on the next episode.

This epsiode Adam and Ben are joined by Arthur Harari to talk about his brand new film "Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle". After the film opened the Un Certain Regard section of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and went on to win multiple awards across the festival circuit it will be released in cinemas in the United Kingdom and Ireland by Third Window Films on 15 April 2022. Arthur talks about how this Japanese story ended up being told by a foreigner, the unique funding for the film, and the joy of the  production on location. We hope you enjoy this longform and very candid interview, and if you like what we do then please subscribe, rate and review us wherever you can. We will be back with another episode very soon to discuss Adam's next release Zokki!

This month Adam and Ben discuss the wonderfully wacky world created by Katsuhito Ishii, Hajimi Ishimine and Shunichiro Miki in FUNKY FOREST before taking a wrong turn into the perverted in Shunichiro Miki's spritual successor THE WARPED FOREST. Both of these films are available now on a Special Edition double disc Blu-Ray through Terracotta Distribution via this link - https://shop.terracottadistribution.com/products/funky-forest-warped-forest-special-edition-bluray The guys also discuss Adam's previous release THE TASTE OF TEA, also from Katsuhito Ishii, and how this underseen masterpiece needs a far wider audience now. Pick up THE TASTE OF TEA via this link - https://shop.terracottadistribution.com/products/a-taste-of-tea-blu-ray Adam is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/thirdwindow Ben is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BenjyBox If you like what we do then please subscribe, rate and review us wherever you can. Thanks for listening x  

On this episode Adam and Ben are joined once again by the mighty Tom Mes, this time to talk about the films of one of the greats of Japanese cinema, Sogo Ishii. Sogo Ishii changed the game with his 1980 film CRAZY THUNDER ROAD. Its success opened the door for young independent filmmakers in Japan and it paved the way for the Cyberpunk genre and inspired classics like Akira and Tetsuo: The Iron Man to name but two. Ben goes through his Ishii season where he watched everything from August in the Water and Angel Dust to his latest films like Bitter Honey and Punk Samurai Slash Down. Adam releases CRAZY THUNDER ROAD on February 21st and it is available to pre-order right now at Terracotta Distribution here https://shop.terracottadistribution.com/collections/february-new-releases/products/crazy-thunder-road-bluray Adam is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/thirdwindow Ben is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BenjyBox If you like what we do then please subscribe, rate and review us wherever you can. It's the best gift a podcast could ask for. Thanks for listening and get in touch any time to tell us what you think of the show.