Small Town Cinemas Vol. 31: Seventh Art Theater / Theater Seven
Directed by Shinya Tsukamoto! The 31st installment of the video series "Small Town Cinemas" features Osaka's Seventh Art Theater and Theater Seven! These sister theaters are located within the Sunport City Building in Juso, Yodogawa Ward. Named after Italian film critic Ricciotto Canudo's concept of "cinema as the seventh art," the Seventh Art Theater screens bold, substantial works, primarily documentaries. It is affectionately known as "Nanagei." Theater Seven actively opens its doors to independent films by young filmmakers and also serves as an event space that promotes diverse culture beyond just cinema.
The released video explores the used book corner and gallery space in the Nanagei lobby, as well as the two theaters, each with its own distinct personality. In the interviews, Makoto Kosaka, manager of the Seventh Art Theater, and Kenta Kanno, manager of Theater Seven, discuss the characteristics and relationship of their respective theaters, the possibilities that expand through the collaboration between the two, and the significance of the "place" that is a movie theater.
Vol. 31 Seventh Art Theater / Theater Seven
[From Director Tsukamoto to Seventh Art Theater / Theater Seven]
When you open the cool steel door, you find the Seventh Art Theater. They show documentaries here.
At Theater Seven on a different floor, many independent films made with passion by directors are screened. Because theaters like these exist, I am reminded once again to be grateful that there are opportunities for the kinds of films I make to be shown. These are vital theaters that give chances to many independent filmmakers.
Seventh Art Theater
Sunport City 6F, 1-7-27 Juso-honmachi, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
TEL: 06-6302-2073
https://www.nanagei.com/
Seating capacity: 93 seats
Theater Seven
Sunport City 5F, 1-7-27 Juso-honmachi, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
TEL: 06-4862-7733
https://www.theater-seven.com/
Seating capacity: BOX1: 60 seats, BOX2: 36 seats
The "Sunport City" leisure complex was built in 1972 on the site where movie theaters like the "Juso Gekijo" and "Juso Asahi-za" had stood since the post-war period, and the predecessor theater, "Juso Cinema," opened there. It was renamed "Sunport Apple Theater" in 1985 and closed in 1993. Cinecanon repurposed the site to open the "Seventh Art Theater" in 1993. The theater's name is derived from Italian film critic Ricciotto Canudo's phrase, "cinema is the seventh art." It is commonly known as "Nanagei." After closing in 1999, it transitioned to its current management structure in 2002. It has reached its present state after various twists and turns, including a temporary closure in 2005. It screens bold, substantial works, primarily documentaries. Driven by the desire to "create opportunities for interaction with filmmakers" and "build a local hub for exchange," Theater Seven opened in the same building in 2011. It actively opens its doors to independent and indie films. It also serves as an event space, hosting numerous events such as katsuben (silent film narration), screenings with live musical accompaniment, and comedy shows. It is an indispensable, open-minded theater for young film directors and creators.
[Screening Record for "Fires on the Plain"]
2015: Sept 26 – Oct 16 *Stage greeting: Oct 4
2016: Feb 27 – Mar 11 / Aug 13 – Aug 26
2017: Aug 5 – Aug 18
2018: Aug 11 – Aug 17 *Making-of screening / Live performance footage screening
2019: Aug 11 – Aug 16
2020: Aug 22 – Aug 28 *Online talk: Aug 22
2021: Aug 21 – Aug 27 *Online talk: Aug 22
2022: Aug 13 – Aug 19
2023: Aug 6 – Aug 11
2024: Aug 24 – Aug 30 *Stage greeting: Aug 25
*All screenings held at Theater Seven