With sun, sea, sand and excellent movies, it’s no wonder that the Zushi Beach Film Festival is a popular fixture on the Golden Week calendar. This open-air cinema in Kanagawa prefecture is organised by Cinema Caravan, a group of artists and creatives who plan community events around the world. Every year it brings this event to Zushi, with movie screenings on the beach plus food stalls, a bazaar and live entertainment.
The 12-day festival is screening a variety of Japanese and international films; a few of them are in English with Japanese subtitles. Every day is a different movie and the show starts at a different time. You'll find the film schedule here, but note that tickets are no longer available for 'Florida Project' on Saturday April 26, 'The Legend of 1900' on Saturday May 3 and 'Lost in Translation' on Monday May 5. Here’s the line-up of English films:
- Saturday April 26: ‘Florida Project’ (2017), unemployed single mother Halley lives in a budget motel and struggles to make ends meet while taking care of her six-year-old Moonee.
- Wednesday April 30: 'The Endless Summer' (1966), director Bruce Brown follows two young surfers across the globe as they search for the perfect wave.
- Saturday May 3: ‘The Legend of 1900’ (1999), a young boy found on an ocean liner is raised without ever setting foot on land, and grows to be a musical prodigy.
- Monday May 5: ‘Lost in Translation’ (2004), Bill Murray is Bob Harris, and ageing movie star in the middle of a midlife crisis. He travels to Tokyo for work, where he meets the young Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) and develops and unconventional relationship with her.
There’s also a skating ramp at the beach, plus DJs and musicians providing the soundtrack to the relaxed atmosphere.
Zushi Beach Film Festival takes place from April 25 until May 6. Tickets will not be sold at the venue, so be sure to buy the tickets online in advance.
Visit the Zushi Beach Film Festival website for more information.
This article was originally published on April 8 2022 and updated on April 15 2025.
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