Anthem of the Heart screening as part of Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2016

Yes, we're already in the mood to start thinking about 2016 events here in the office, and so it seems are The Japan Foundation, who have now unveiled the dates, venues and line-up for the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2016, which includes one previously unscreened anime movie.

The film in question is A-1 Pictures' original film penned by Mari Okada, Anthem of the Heart, a title distributed by All the Anime, aka Anime Limited.

The UK arrival of this film is arguably the highlight of the festival for anime fans, although its worth noting that Miss Hokusai will also be making an appearance. Of course, there are also a number of live-action films included within the festival, so here's the full line-up for you:

The Cowards Who Looked to the Sky
Anthem of the Heart
Being Good
Cheers from Heaven
The Elegant Life of Mr Everyman
A Farewell to Jinu
A Japanese Tragedy
I'll Give it My All...Tomorrow
The Letter
Miss Hokusai
Noriben - The Recipe for Fortune
Pecoross’ Mother and Her Days
Tale of a Butcher Shop
Uzumasa Limelight

The festival is set to run from the 5th February until the 26th March 2016, and will take place over the following locations around the country:

Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Birmingham Mac
Bristol Watershed
Cumbria Brewery Arts Centre
Derby QUAD
Dundee Contemporary Arts
Edinburgh Filmhouse
Exeter Phoenix
Leicester Phoenix
London ICA
Manchester HOME
Nottingham Broadway
Sheffield Showroom Cinema

You can find all of the details as they currently stand at the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme web site.

Many thanks to AnimeWondering in Twitter for the heads-up regarding the news.