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Takeshi Kitano’s Office Kitano to receive Premio Raimondo Rezzonico award.

Takeshi Kitano’s production company Office Kitano is to be feted at Locarno with the Premio Raimondo Rezzonico award, bestowed upon a risk-taking independent producer or company.

Office Kitano officially became a production company in 1991, producing actor-director Kitano’s third feature, A Scene at the Sea. All of Kitano’s films have been produced under the label since.

Office Kitano president Masayuki Mori began producing films with other directors in 1998, beginning with Ikinai, directed by Hiroshi Shimizu, and in 2000 the company began collaborating with director Jia Zhangke, as well as producer Shôzô Ichiyama.

The outfit also launched Tokyo FILMeX in 2000, a film festival that aims to highlight independent cinema

President Moro and producer Ichiyama will be present at Locarno to receive the award and speak to the public, and the festival will screen three films in tribute: Hana-bi (1997) and Dolls (2002), both directed by Kitano, and Unknown...

Critics' Week has already begun celebrating its 50th anniversary by posting 50 video interviews with directors and actors who've seen their work debut in this section at Cannes. We're celebrating, too. In association with the 4+1 Film Festival, Mubi is presenting a retrospective of some of the greatest films first seen in Critics' Week over the past half-century. And even though the first 1000 views of each of the films will be free to you, the viewer, the rights holders will carry on receiving their duly earned revenue.

The retrospective encompasses over 100 titles in all, but please do keep in mind that rights issues can get complicated and not every film can be available in every country. That said, here's a quick overview of just some of the highlights:

Over in the Garage, a La Semaine Blogathon is already on the roll, starting with Kj Farrington's entry on Miranda July's Me and You and Everyone We Know,...