For its first issue this year, Okinawa International movie festival is one of the rare cinematographic event to be dedicated to comedy, ≪ laugh and peace ≫. Because it is very difficult to make an audience laugh, and to be smart, sophisticated and funny at the same time, I’ve always consider comedy as the most admirable and remarkable genre in cinema. If you think of the real genius of the history of cinema, there are Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Leo McCarey, Ernst Lubtisch, Jerry Lewis… Today a young geneation of artists, comedians and filmmakers has chosen the comedy to express its vision of the world and human feelings, to entertain us in a charming, or sometimes provoking way. I am very happy to discover with you new comedies coming from Japan and other countries, hoping that we will laugh together at the same things, sharing emotions and excitment.

Artistic director Directors' Fortnight, Festival International du Film de Cannes