I would like to take this opportunity to extend my greetings to you all on the occasion of the second Okinawa International Movie Festival.

This movie festival was first held in Okinawa last year, under the banner of “Laugh and Peace.” The way in which the perfect fit between the theme of the festival and the gaiety of Okinawa proved an inspiration to so many people is still vivid in my mind.

Attended by 110,000 people in total, last year’s first Okinawa International Movie Festival wound up being a huge success.
The Chatan Mihama American Village the venue for last year’s festival is a location whose atmosphere evokes a blend of Okinawa and the USA, and is touted as “cheap, close, and fun.” The staging of the Okinawa International Movie Festival at this venue represented an opportunity for the village to publicize itself to the world and thereby boost tourism.

The Okinawa Convention Center in Ginowan, the venue for the second Okinawa International Movie Festival, is amply equipped with a full range of conference facilities, including exhibition rooms, conference halls, and a theater. In addition, the venue combines the scenic beauty of the Okinawan west coast with convenient access.
Preparations are underway with a view to further developing the festival, in order to meet widespread expectations for an event that affords laughter and inspiration throughout.

In advance of the second Okinawa International Movie Festival, a workshop has been held at Chatan Public Elementary School, at which the children made a video together with several popular actresses on the theme of “smiling faces.”
An abundance of smiling faces are on view in this video, which was shot by the children, and the concept of “Laugh and Peace” would seem to be a notion that transcends age.

In concert with the organizations involved in staging this international movie festival, Chatan is fully committed to promoting the event so that it attains even greater success than the first festival, and we thus hope that you will all come and visit our venue.

In conclusion, I would like to offer my sincere best wishes for the success of the second Okinawa International Movie Festival and for the good health of all who attend the venues.