Be aware that the excellent, expanded Japanese Film Festival will be entertaining viewers throughout the country next month. Featuring such treats as Ponyo,the latest from master animator Miyazaki Hayao, and Departures, winner of this year's Oscar for best foreign-language picture, the festival kicks off in Galway on October 31st and then moves on to Limerick, Cork and Dublin. We'll offer further details next week.

Meanwhile, the fourth Polish Film Festival takes place in Dublin’s Cineworld from next Thursday until October 26th. More info at www.cineworld.ie