NHK WORLD-JAPAN is the international service of the Japanese public broadcaster, NHK. For the fourth time, they will present selected current documentaries at the NIPPON CONNECTION Film Festival. Admission is free.

During a concert trip to Hiroshima, the Syrian born musician Aeham Ahmad came across a piano that had survived the 1945 nuclear attack. He felt an immediate connection with the instrument as it reminded him how music can help to endure the consequences of war. He now teaches music to help Syrian refugee children at a time when xenophobic sentiment is on the rise in Germany.

An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the genius of director Hayao MIYAZAKI: The director allowed a documentary filmmaker to shadow him at work, as he dreamed up characters and plot lines for PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA (2008) while exploring the limits of his physical ability and imagination to conjure up memorable protagonists.