MIFF pulls together a programme of cutting-edge live action and animation shorts'a selection that could truly only come out of Japan. Films include:

The Fuccons: Special Edition (7mins)A special Festival selection from the fantastically warped series of tales about the All-American Fuccon family's life in Japan.

Ga-Ra-Ku-Ta: Mr Stain on Junk Alley (eps 5 & 6; 2x7mins) Two episodes from the cheeky, super-technicolour CG series.

Tokyo Boy: Yadorigi (12mins) A Tokyo girl becomes obsessed with her neighbour, a cute Tokyo boy. She even starts to dress like him.

Frank (6mins),/I> A lovingly grotesque surrealist adventure based on the comic by artist Jim Woodring, in which the title hero is attacked by a writhing worm monster from his mud mower!

Fade Into White #4 (19mins)The latest instalment of Kazuhiro Goshima's ascetically beautiful monochrome, high-contrast CG animation series.

Tokyo Boy: The Field (11mins) Akira wants respect, and to be part of the gang; this seems unlikely because, as his friend Kazuyoshi recognises, he's prettier than the average girl.

Tokyo Boy: No More Than That (15mins) A beautiful evocation of the confusion and timidity of young love.

L English, Japanese w/English subtitles TD Video/84mins