Special Screening of 'WE ARE X' And Live Q&A With YOSHIKI

WE ARE X–the critically acclaimed documentary film about the rock group X JAPAN from the production team behind the Oscar-winning Searching for Sugar Man–will receive a special screening at the Anime Expo in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 2 (12:00PM-2:00PM at JW Marriott, L.A. Live). The screening of WE ARE X will be followed by a live Q&A with X JAPAN’s YOSHIKI. Later that night, WE ARE X will be sponsoring the Anime Expo Masquerade & World Cosplay Summit U.S. Finals (8:00PM-10:00PM at LACC Main Events-Hall B). The Anime Expo Masquerade has been a longstanding tradition at the festival–running for over 20 years–and is a cosplay and performance competition, with one of the largest cash prizes in the country. A sight to behold, people from all around the world compete in the masquerade which is a grand showcase of cosplay and performance.

The largest event in North America for Anime culture, the Anime Expo (AX) runs July 1-July 4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, brings together fans and industry from Japan, the U.S., and all over the world for the biggest celebration of Japanese pop culture, anime and cosplay in North America. Anime Expo features the best in Japanese entertainment, music, fashion, and video games.

YOSHIKI and X JAPAN have contributed music to several historic anime titles, including “X,” “X – X2 Double X,” “Buddha: The Great Departure,” and “Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary.” YOSHIKI also served as the inspiration for Blood Red Dragon comic created by Stan Lee, with creative direction from Todd McFarlane.

ANIME EXPO–‘WE ARE X’–EVENT DETAILS:

WE ARE X screening + Q&A with YOSHIKI

Date: Sunday, July 2

Time: 12:00PM – 2:00PM

Location: Video 1 Room/JW Marriott Diamond Ballroom

Anime Expo Masquerade

Time: 8:00PM-10:00PM

Location: Los Angeles Convention Center-Man Events-Hall B

From the producers of the Oscar-winning film Searching for Sugar Man and director and documentarian Stephen Kijak (Stones in Exile, Scott Walker: 30 Century Man), comes WE ARE X, a captivating and transcendent rock ‘n’ roll documentary about one of the most successful bands in history, X JAPAN. WE ARE X profiles the blockbuster Japanese rock band and its enigmatic frontman YOSHIKI–composer, classically trained pianist, drummer and the creative force behind the band’s wild success. Featuring interviews with Gene Simmons, Marilyn Manson, Stan Lee and more, WE ARE X dives into YOSHIKI’s life and X JAPAN‘s attempt to break into the American music industry. Supported by concert footage, band interviews and fan photos, the compelling film takes a look at X JAPAN‘s hardships and conflicts including suicide and cultism. Also spotlighting the band’s triumphs, WE ARE X explores the X JAPAN’s phenomenal success, boasting more than 30 million albums and singles sold, countless sold-out concerts around the world and fans in North America, Europe, Latin America and South East Asia. An astonishingly intimate portrait of a deeply haunted–but truly unstoppable–virtuoso and the music that has enthralled legions of the world’s most devoted fans.

Critical soundbites for the film WE ARE X:

“If We Are X proves anything, it’s that rock bands can experience similar trials: acrimony and fatalities, but also, sometimes, glorious comebacks.”

–The New York Times

“Invoking the spirit of an epic rock show, We Are X expresses all the energy, joy and sadness of X Japan’s music.”

–The Los Angeles Times

“More than a rock documentary, the film is about friendship, grief, the humans behind the make-up and masks, and the people they indelibly touch.”

–LA WEEKLY

WE ARE X DVD cover (here).

YOSHIKI:

http://www.yoshiki.net/
YOSHIKI Facebook/ @YoshikiOfficial Twitter / YOSHIKI YouTube

@yoshikiofficial Instagram

X JAPAN:

http://www.xjapan.com

X JapanFacebook / @xjapanofficial Twitter / X Japan YouTube