Explore the Making of the Unique Period Drama 'The Locked Castle'! Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa Appears as Special Guest for the 100th 'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection'

Midland Square Cinema and Office Cinema Rest Co., Ltd. are pleased to announce the holding of 'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection,' a talk live event planned and coordinated by film personality Hitomi Matsuoka, to commemorate the screening of the period drama film 'The Locked Castle,' which has garnered significant attention at the Cannes International Film Festival.

For this memorable 100th occasion, the master director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who challenges the fusion of period drama and本格 (honkaku - authentic/serious) mystery for the first time, will appear as a guest, delivering a premium talk that delves deeply into the behind-the-scenes of filming and episodes from Cannes.

Tickets will go on sale on the theater's website starting June 14th (Sunday) at 0:00 (June 13th (Saturday) 24:00). Sales will also begin at the theater when it opens on June 14th (Sunday).

We would also appreciate it if you could check the event outline and past event achievements. Please look forward to our milestone 100th event.

Ticket Purchase Page

What is 'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection'?

'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection' is an irregularly held talk event jointly planned by Midland Square Cinema and Hitomi Matsuoka, a film personality with over 30 years of interviewing experience. You will particularly appreciate the following charms of this event:

Charm 1: Behind-the-Scenes Insights from a Professional

Hitomi Matsuoka, with over 30 years of experience and having interviewed over 100 filmmakers annually, shares exclusive behind-the-scenes stories that will make your favorite films even more beloved.

Charm 2: A Chance to Hear Directly from Directors and Actors!

Leveraging her extensive network of filmmakers, special guests (directors and actors) may make surprise appearances. The event offers not only in-depth discussions about the films but also insights into the guests' life philosophies and a Q&A session with the audience.

Charm 3: An At-Home Venue for Film Fans and Filmmakers to Connect

In an at-home atmosphere, enjoy various attractions like raffles and rock-paper-scissors tournaments, fostering connections among film enthusiasts. Please note that for this 'The Locked Castle' event, there are no plans for raffles or autograph sessions.

Event Outline

Event Name

"Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection" VOL. 100

Date and Time

Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:30 screening (talk event to be held after the screening)

Venue

Midland Square Cinema 5th Floor, Midland Square Commercial Building, 4-7-1 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture

Screening Film

'The Locked Castle' (Director and Screenplay: Kiyoshi Kurosawa)

Guest

Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Director and Screenplay of 'The Locked Castle')

Moderator

Hitomi Matsuoka (Film Personality)

Price

Standard admission fee (Muviticket, various exchange tickets, and discount services are applicable)

*Premium seats require an additional 800 yen.

*Due to this special screening, shareholder discount tickets, invitation tickets, and free tickets are not applicable.

Ticket Purchase Page

https://www.midland-sq-cinema.jp/index.html

Past Event Achievements: Vol. 8 'Yellow Tears' [Guest] Director Isshin Inudo Vol. 16 'THE SANMYAKU ~Isn't Remote Just Impossible?~' [Guests] Ryuta Sato, Yoshinori Okada, Takashi Tsukamoto, Director Yu Moriya Vol. 21 'Ringu' (35mm film screening) [Guest] Screenwriter Yo Takahashi Vol. 50 'Godzilla Minus One' [Guest] Director Takashi Yamazaki Vol. 75 'Kisaragi' [Guest] Director Yuichi Sato

A Comment from Film Personality Hitomi Matsuoka

"Reaching this special milestone of our 100th event is thanks to all the fans who have supported us. I am truly grateful for the overwhelming response. I look forward to seeing you all at the venue."

Additionally, we have a major event, 'Delicious Film Festival Plus,' coming up in July. For more details about this film, please see below.

https://oiceiga.com/

'The Locked Castle' Film Introduction

©Homin Kawahara/KADOKAWA ©2026 'The Locked Castle' Film Production Committee

Murashige Araki (Masahiro Motoki) rebels against the tyrannical Oda Nobunaga and carries out a siege strategy. The castle is surrounded by Nobunaga's army, leaving them isolated and helpless. In a world of war where life and death are constant companions, Murashige was a warrior who upheld the belief of not killing. With his wife Chiyoho (Yuriko Yoshitaka) as his emotional support, Murashige struggles to protect the castle and its people. It is then that a murder occurs within the castle – a young boy is killed. Subsequently, more strange incidents occur one after another. The suspects are among the retainers and family members within the castle, which has become a sealed space. Outside the castle are enemy forces. Inside the castle are traitors. As suspicion and doubt spread among everyone, Murashige teams up with the dangerous genius strategist Kanbei Kuroda (Masaki Suda), who is imprisoned in the castle, to solve the mystery. What is the surprising truth behind the incidents, and what decision will Murashige reach...

Title: 'The Locked Castle' Original Work: Homin Kawahara 'The Locked Castle' (Kadokawa Bunko / Published by KADOKAWA) Director and Screenplay: Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Music: Yoshihiro Hanno

Starring: Masahiro Motoki Masaki Suda, Yuriko Yoshitaka Aoki Munetaka, Ryota Miyadate, Tasuku Emoto Santamaria Yusuke, Mitsuo Yoshiwara, Ryuta Bando Yoshimasa Kondo, Toshihiro Yashiba, Katsutoshi Kihara, Yamato Kawachi, Mutsuo Yoshioka, Shusaku Kamikawa, Oushiro Maeda, Shingo Bando Ryo Ryo Arakawa, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Ikkei Watanabe / Joe Odagiri Distribution: Shochiku Opens Nationwide on Friday, June 19th ©Homin Kawahara/KADOKAWA ©2026 'The Locked Castle' Film Production Committee Official Film Website:

https://movies.shochiku.co.jp/kokurojo-movie/ Keywords: