The Anaheim University Akira Kurosawa School of Film is an online state-of-the-art digital film school. The School is endeavoring to launch various online programs in Digital Film Making including a Master of Fine Arts and a number of certificate programs at a launch celebration on March 23rd, 2010 at the 100th Anniversary of Akira Kurosawa's birth.

The following are excerpts from Anaheim University's Akira Kurosawa School of Film's opening party.

Video and Photo Archive

Date:
Monday, March 23rd, 2009

Time:
3:30 pm to 6:30 pm  
Japanese art & cultural exhibition (Crystal Ballroom Foyer)

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Cherry Blossom Gala (Crystal Ballroom)

Location:
Beverly Hills Hotel
Crystal Ballroom
9641 Sunset Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

The Cherry Blossom Gala was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Monday, March 23rd, 2009, which would have been Akira Kurosawa's 99th birthday, kicking off a year-long tribute to the late, great Japanese film director.  The Beverly Hills Hotel is the same location where Akira Kurosawa stayed on his 80th birthday, just 3 days before he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences. A black-tie event, the Cherry Blossom Gala was organized to celebrate the launch of the Akira Kurosawa School of Film, an online Film School, established by Anaheim University to inspire and develop film makers the world over. 

The ground-breaking masterpieces of the Academy Award winning Film maker, Film Producer and Screenwriter Akira Kurosawa (March 23, 1910 - Sept 6, 1998) have inspired such screenplay writers and film directors as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola the world over.  If it were not for his influence, classic movies such as Star Wars, The Magnificent Seven, A Fistful of Dollars, and many others may not have come about.

The Cherry Blossom Gala featured:

• a sit-down dinner
• live entertainment including traditional Japanese Awa dancers, taiko drummers, and shamisen and koto players.
  
• a tribute to Akira Kurosawa
• the official launch of the Akira Kurosawa School of Film
• a special tribute to the late American TV and Film Actress and Star of the 1988 film Tokyo Pop Ms. Carrie Hamilton (daughter of Comedienne Carol Burnett), as well as a few important individuals who have influenced and contributed to the development of the Akira Kurosawa School of Film
• a display of original kimonos from Kurosawa's award-winning film "Ran"
• A special live performance by the Young Musicians Foundation conducted by world-renowned Japanese female conductor Tomomi Nishimoto (selected by Newsweek Japan as one of the world's most influential Japanese)
• a Japanese kimono show presented by Jane Aiko Yamano and Yamano Gakuen
• an exhibition of Japanese art and culture

Sponsored by:

Organized by:

Endorsed by:

Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles

Supported by: