Mamoru Hosoda's 'Belle' to be screened in Japanese Film Festival

Mamoru Hosoda's "Belle" will be screened at the Japanese Film Festival that will run from January 20 to February 22.

The film, which premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, is a science fantasy and draws inspiration from "Beauty and the Beast."

The story follows a young girl who enters a popular metaverse called "U" and becomes a singer called Bell inside the virtual world. She then meets a user called "The Dragon," whose real identity is one of the mysteries of the film.

"Belle" stars Kaho Nakamura and Japanese actor Takeru Sato, who voiced Bell and The Dragon, respectively. Hosoda, meanwhile, is known for his films "Wolf Children," "Mirai," and "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time."

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The film will be screened in Shangri-La Plaza, SM City Baguio, SM Seaside Cebu, and SM City Davao. Admission fee is P100.

Other animated films featured in the festival are "Blue Thermal" and "Inu-Oh."

For the full film lineup and schedule, check out the official website for the Japanese Film Festival.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News