In November 2008, Taito City, Tokyo celebrated the birth of the Old Town Taito International Comedy Film Festival (abbreviated in Japanese to SHITA COME), Japan’s first full-scale international film festival specializing solely in comedy. This year, the Comedy Film Festival marks its 5th anniversary supported by locals and a lot of film fans.

 By conceptualizing 3 ideas－Cinema, Old Town and Comedy, SHITA COME aspires to be a unique film festival where filmmakers, comedians, local residents and comedy-film fans can partake to share laughter and excitement together - a truly rare opportunity in the capital region of Japan.

 Taking place in Asakusa, known as the cradle land of Japanese comedy where good old folk cultures are kept alive, and Ueno, home to one of the biggest cultural-arts complexes in the nation, SHITA COME spotlights comedies not merely as entertainment to provide people with laughter, but also as a multifaceted art form which is entertaining, cultural, historical and social.

 Under the skillful production of Seiko Ito, a creator and Asakusa resident who has distinguished himself in Japanese cultural fields covering literature, music, theater and TV, we schedule the very best comedies of different styles, from various eras, and from a variety of countries to satisfy comedy-film lovers of all generations.

 There are innumerable film festivals held throughout the world today, but by adding this unique contribution, as a film festival specializing solely in comedy, we truly hope to act as a bridge between comedy-film fans in Japan and other areas of the world while promoting the charming qualities of “old town” Tokyo.