Skip to main content
Magnified City film image, director Isaku Kaneko

Magnified City

Canadian Premiere

In a ruined city, a wandering Magnifying Glass Human encounters a secret society of Projector Humans with grand plans to reconnect to the past in a surviving mountaintop theatre. An absolutely stunning animated film from beginning to end, with a brilliant concept that gets more imaginative with its storytelling as it progresses. It touches on aspects of filmmaking and film projection, and how the medium is still capable of creating beautiful illusions, imagery representing another time and reality. The story is effectively told without any dialogue, enhanced by impeccable sound design that immerses you in the mechanical and lifeless environment. One of the most original and incredible works of animation to come along in years.

 

Media Partner

Community Partner

Director
Credits
Country of Origin

Japan

Year

2022

Language

No Dialogue

Film Contact
12 min

Featured in:

Island of Freedom film image, director Petr Januschka

International Shorts: Connect/Disconnect/Reconnect

The films in this shorts program are all about connections. People connecting with one another, dealing with change, or rediscovering a part of themselves and their past.

 

MORE INFO

Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre

Three Colours: White

Dir. Krzysztof Kieślowski
91 min

Divorced by his beautiful French wife, Karol returns to his native Poland and schemes to win back his self-respect in Kieslowski's spry black comedy.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

Whispers in the Woods

Dir. Vincent Munier
94 min

A luxuriant, healing immersion in nature with ravishing wildlife photography, this is the cinematic equivalent of "forest bathing," a trip deep into the Vosges, France, with photographer Vincent Munier (The Velvet Queen), his father and his son.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

Dazed and Confused

Dir. Richard Linklater
102 min

The last day of high school in May, 1976: seniors debate party politics while next term's freshmen run the gauntlet of brutal initiation rites, barely comforted by the knowledge that they'll wield the stick one day.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

Chungking Express + Chen Baker: Cantopop

162 min

Catch Chen Baker covering canto-pop classics and songs from Chungking Express prior to a screening of Wong Kar-Wai's breakthrough movie, a melancholy masterpiece of romantic longing from the Hong Kong new wave.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

Honeyjoon

Dir. Lilian T. Mehrel
75 min

A mother and her 20-something daughter take a holiday together in the Azores to mark the anniversary of the loss of their husband and father -- but maybe the honeymoon package wasn't the best idea...

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

Ask E. Jean

Dir. Ivy Meeropol
91 min

An inspiring and engaging portrait of E. Jean Carroll, the trailblazing journalist, author and advice columnist who stood up to power and beat Donald Trump in court, twice.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

Credits

Producer

Isaku Kaneko

ANIM

Isaku Kaneko

Original Music

Tatsukiamano

Director

Isaku Kaneko headshot, Magnified City director

Isaku Kaneko

Isaku Kaneko is an independent animator and director. In 2020, Kaneko received a master’s degree from Tama Art University’s Department of Graphic Design.