Guests
ゲスト

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  FUJII Michihito（『Village』『Hard Days』Director/Screenwriter）

  　FUJII Michihito was born in 1986. After his graduation from Nihon University College of Art’s Department of Cinema, he started his own director’s collective that he named “BABEL LABEL” in 2010. His first commercial movie was “Oh! Father” (2014). “The Journalist” (2019) won and was nominated for six awards at the 43rd Japan Academy Film Prize, including The Best Picture, and many other film awards. He consecutively released works such as “We Are” (2018), “Day and Night” (2019), “The Brightest Roof in the Universe” (2020), “A Family” (2021), and "The Last 10 years". In 2023, his films “Village” and “Hard Days” were released. FUJII is undoubtedly one of the most popular film directors in Japan today. Special Screenings HIROSHIMA EYE Teach-in

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  YOKOHAMA Ryusei（『Village』Leading Actor）

  　YOKOHAMA Ryusei rose to prominence in 2019 for his remarkable performance in the TV drama "A Story to Read on the Day You've Fallen in Love." Building on his success, he has an exciting lineup of projects this year, including starring roles in the stage play "Ganryujima" and the movies "Village" and "One Last Bloom."
  　Looking ahead to 2025, Ryusei has been cast to play the lead role of TSUTAYA Shigezaburo in the much-anticipated historical drama "Tsutaju Eiga no Yumebanashi". This role is set to bring him a new level of recognition and further highlight his talent and versatility as an actor.
  　Ryusei's dedication to his craft and his diverse range of roles continue to captivate audiences, and he is undoubtedly an actor to watch as his career unfolds.

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  KATABUCHI Sunao（Director）

  　KATABUCHI Sunao was born in 1960. He is currently a specially appointed professor and senior researcher at the Nihon University College of Art. His career as a scriptwriter began during his time as a university student with the script for "Meitantei Holmes" [lit. Famous Detective Holmes]. This year marks the 42nd year since then.
  　Some of his directorial works include the Japanese TV series "Famous Dog Lassie" (1996), "Black Lagoon" (2006), and feature films such as "Princess Arete” (2001), "Mai Mai Miracle" 2009), "In This Corner of the World" (2016), and "In This Corner (And Other Corners) of the World" (2019), among many others.
  　KATABUCHI is in the process of making the film "Tsurubami Iro no Nagi Ko-tachi," which depicts people living a thousand years ago during an epidemic.

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  Marcus Manh Cuong VU（『MEMENTO MORI: EARTH』Director）

  　Marcus Manh Cuong VU got his university degrees in Berlin (Germany) and Paris (France). He began as a film reporter from major international film festivals for Vietnamese media. From 2010 to 2014 he served as festival director of Yxine Film Fest (YxineFF) – an international short film festival pioneering in a hybrid form. From 2015 on he has been taking part actively in the Vietnamese film industry in different roles: writer, producer, director. As a programmer he has curated short films for S-Express, SEAShorts, Asian Film Symposium. His debut feature film MEMENTO MORI: EARTH (2022) world premiered in New Currents of the 27th Busan International Film Festival and has been invited to compete at film festivals in Asia, Europe and America. It won the NETPAC Award at the 1st Danang Asian Film Festival for "its cinematic exploration of moments of pain". Marcus is currently working on his second feature MEMENTO MORI: WATER which was selected for Asian Project Market of BIFF 2021.

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  Naomi Island（『hikikomori』Director）

  Naomi Island, a mass media worker and the president of Island Life LLC, was born in Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture and raised in Fukuyama City. In 1994, she embarked on her career as an announcer and reporter at a TV station in Kagoshima Prefecture. It was during this time that exploring various islands became her life's mission. She passionately reported on the nature, culture, and traditions of Yakushima, Amami Oshima, and other islands through television, newspapers, and radio. Relocating to Tokyo, Naomi worked as a freelancer. After working as a member of "Kita-ku TSUKA Kohei Theater Company", she belonged to "HORIPRO" and appeared on stage, TV dramas and commercials. Returned to Hiroshima in 2007, and published "Setouchi and Hiroshima: The Shape of a Reborn Journey" under the pen name Naomi Island from Amazon kindle. This her first independent film marks a significant milestone in her career.

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  TATSUOMI Kohei (JIJI)『hikikomori』Cinematographer / Director）

  Born in Kyoto in 1997. At the age of 19, TATSUOMI Kohei traveled to Tanzania and Peru to make an independent documentary. A work I produced with a stage director while a university student won the Excellence Award in the dance film section of the Kadoma International Film Festival. Currently, he's moved to Tokyo and shoted mainly commercials, documentaries, and music videos.

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  Ricardo SOTO（『El canto de las moscas』Director）

  　Ricardo SOTO studied film direction at Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica (Mexico). His work has been showcased in various film festival projects, including Berlinale Talents (Berlinale), Filmmakers Academy (Locarno), MexiCannes (GIFF & Cinéfondation), Talent Demo (Camerimage) and IDFAcademy (IDFA). He has received funding from Mexico's National Endowment for Culture and Arts (FONCA) four times and has also participated in the Artistic Residency AiR in Berlin supported by GIFF and Nipkow Programm. His film works were selected for screening at festivals such as Camerimage, Biarritz, Locarno, Moscow, Hiroshima, GIFF, Huesca, Ischia, among others.

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  Munetsuna Dai（Director）

  Born on May 6, 1997. Born in Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
  After beginning his acting career in films and commercials, he began planning and producing film productions in 2020.
  This is his first feature film as a director.

  ◯Produced the movie "The Worst is a Friend" available on U-NEXT
  Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival 2021 [Yubari Hope Division] Winner
  Kansai Student Film Festival [Special Jury Prize] Winner
  MOOSIC LAB[JOINT]2021-2022

  Produced the event "Brother Films" at Shibuya Eurospace

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  NODA Sosuke（Moderator）

  Born on May 9,1991. Born in Sapporo, Hokkaido. While a university student, he founded FOR YOU, an advertising planning business and entertainment agency business.
  Produces various projects centered on SNS marketing. Produced his first movie at the request of director Munetusna.

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  ISOBE Teppei（『The melancholy of Nagi』Director）

  　ISOBE Teppei, a graduate of Visual Arts College Osaka, has an impressive background in the film industry. Notably, in 2015, he served as a member of the overseas film crew for the documentary film "The Legacy of Frida Kahlo" directed by KOTANI Tadasuke. Upon returning to Japan, he held various roles including corporate VP, music video director, and film staff. However, it was in 2016 that he embarked on his independent filmmaking journey. Since then, his films have garnered recognition and accolades at numerous domestic and international film festivals.
  　ISOBE's exceptional talent has been honored with awards at the SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL for three consecutive years. Furthermore, audiences can enjoy the release of two of his projects in 2023: "Corn Flakes" and "The melancholy of Nagi." In 2024, his latest masterpiece, "Night Drifting," will grace the big screens.

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  NEYA Ryoka（『The melancholy of Nagi』Actor）

  　NEYA Ryoka, a talented actor and photographer, was born on September 5, 1994, in Ibaraki Prefecture. She has made a notable mark in the film industry, with impressive credits including ISOBE Teppei's "The melancholy of Nagi" (23), the BS TV's Shochiku Tokyu Drama Series "Can we start filming?" (23), MIYAGAWA Hiroyuki's "Trapped Balloon" (22), SHIRAISHI Koji's "Safe Word" (22), IRIE Yu's "Ninja Girl" (21), KAMIMURA Naho's "Ryoka Neya Becomes a Film Director" (19), and many more. 　Ryoka's outstanding talent and dedication have earned her recognition, as she received the Best Actress Award and the Grand Prix at the 18th Tama New Wave Competition for her exceptional performance in "Wolf na Sissy," directed by OHNO Daisuke. 　In addition to her acting achievements, Ryoka also shares her valuable insights and experiences through a film essay titled "Neya Ryoka's Twister Wandering Diary." This captivating essay is serialized in DOKUSO Magazine, which enjoys wide distribution at mini-theaters across the nation.

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  Kim Jong-gwan（『The Table』Director）

  Director KIM Jong-kwan's short film "How to Use a Polaroid Camera" (2004) garnered awards at numerous film festivals and made a lasting impact on both audiences and critics alike. Since then, KIM Jong-kwan has continued to captivate viewers with his sensitive direction and visually stunning films, including "Worst Woman" (2016), "The Table" (2016), "Persona - Walking at Night" (2019), and "Josee" (2020).
  　This version of “The Table,” selected for the Jeonju Cinema Project of the 20th Jeonju International Film Festival, showcases an extension of one of KIM’s previous works, but with a slightly different structure, subject matter, characters, and story. The result is a moving and healing narrative that will undoubtedly resonate with audiences, creating an emotional connection that viewers will hold close to their hearts.

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  Gwanjo Jeong（『Nocturne』Director）

  Gwanjo Jeong started his career as a TV producer, and produced TV documentarise and factual series. "Nocturne" is his first feature-length documentary film. "Nocturne" won the Best Documentary Film at the 42nd Moscow International Film Festival, Special Jury award at the 10th Millenium Film Festival, and the Art Contribution Award at the DMZ Documentary Film Festival in Korea, also had screenings at sevral film festivals in Europe, Asia, and the US. His works are focused on the beauty of ordinary human lives.

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  BAYU PRIHANTORO FILEMON（『VANIA ON LIMA STREET』Director）

  A self-taught filmmaker, Bayu is an Asian Film Academy member and a Berlinale Talents alumnus. Mostly work as a cinematographer, his shorts and feature films have been screened in numerous prestigious film festivals around the world. In 2016, he made his debut short film, 'On the Origin of Fear’, which premiered in Competition at Venice International Film Festival 2016 and won the Blue Angel for Best Short Film Award at the Art Film Fest Kosice, Slovak 2017. His latest film, ‘Vania on Lima Street’, won Best Short Film Award at the Singapore International Film Festival 2022. Currently developing his debut feature film project as well as teaching film class at the Multimedia Nusantara University, Tangerang, Indonesia.

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  LEE Gahong（『Christmas in Summer』Director）

  　Lee Gahong is a graduate student at the Korea National University of Arts, where she also obtained her undergraduate degree.
  　The director’s short film, "I Should Have Killed That Bastard" (2018), was invited to the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival, the Great Short Film Festival, and the Jeongdongjin Independent Film Festival. Her second short, "The Square" (2021), was screened at the Busan International Short Film Festival, and "I Will Always Love You" (2021) premiered at the Seoul Independent Film Festival.

   

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  SATO Miku（『Girls Got Golds』Director）

  Artist. Born in Kanagawa, Japan, Miku Sato received her Bachelor in Painting from Musashino Art University, Tokyo in 2009, and completed her Master of Film and New Media Studies from Tokyo University of the Arts in 2019. Sato came to the Netherlands as a fellow of the Japanese Government Overseas Study Program for Artists in 2019, and she currently works in Amsterdam, Tokyo and Yokohama.
  　Her art practice is based on the fieldwork of specific places, where she starts up a project, delegating her intention with the local people that she selects. Notable recent exhibitions and film festivals include 52nd International Film Festival Rotterdam (The Netherlands, 2023), 8th Taiwan International Video Art Exhibition (Taiwan, 2023).

   

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  LEE JONG EUN（『안나푸르나의 김써르　Namaste Kim Sirー』Director）

  이종은　LEE JONG EUN
  2019. 86min
  2020. 98min
  2021. 87min
  
  JLEEMEDIA CEO
  KDN(Korean Documentary Network) Co-director

   

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  NAM Dong-hyun（『Fisher Boy』Director）

  　NAM Dong-hyun, born in 1991, studied film at university. Before moving into film, he directed performances such as "The Silence of the Sheep" and "Private Theatre". "Fisher Boy" is the first short film he has directed.

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  Xiaoxuan Jiang（『Graveyard of Horses』Director）

  　Xiaoxuan JIANG is an ethnic Manchurian filmmaker born and raised in Inner Mongolia, China. Her works explore themes of femininity, animals, nature, and mysticism in the Mongolian and global context. In 2020, she received her BFA summa cum laude in Film from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
  　JIANG's latest narrative short "Graveyard of Horses"(2022) was officially selected for prestigious festivals such as FIAPF-accredited A category film festival Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and SXSW(South by Southwest) Film Festival, and won NETPAC Award at the Busan International Short Film Festival and Bronze Dinosaur Award at Etiuda&Anima International Film Festival.

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  NARUSE Miyaka（『La Magistral』Director）

  　Born in Kanagawa, Japan, NARUSE Miyaka lived in Seoul, South Korea, for 4 years and been absorbed with independent movies there. She studied in fiction course at The Film Shcool of Tokyo in Japan. Her graduation work, a short movie named "in the dirt", has been selected in Seoul International PRIDE Film Festival, TAMA NEW WAVE, Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival and so on. She's an amateur wrestler herself and performed a wrestling match at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

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  LEE Joo Young（『Shades of the Heart』Actor）

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  ISHII Yuya（『The Moon』Director）

  ISHII Yuya, born in Saitama Prefecture in 1983, attended Osaka University of Arts. His graduation film, “Bare-assed Japan” (2005), was awarded the Grand Prize at the 2007 Pia Film Festival. At 24 in 2008, Ishii won the Edward Yang New Talent Award at the 1st Asian Film Awards.
  　ISHII's first commercial feature film, “Sawako Decides” (2010), led to a formal invite to the Berlin International Film Festival. He was the youngest director ever to win Best Film Award and Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Director at Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival. His film, “The Great Passage” (2013), won Picture of the Year at the 37th Japan Academy Film Prize, and he was awarded Director of the Year. He was the youngest ever director to represent Japan at the Academy Award—the Oscars—in the US in the Foreign Language Film category. Other well-known films he has directed include “Our Family” (2014), "The Vancouver Asahi" (2014), “The Tokyo Night Sky is Always the Densest Shade of Blue” (2017), "Almost a Miracle" (2019), "All the Things We Never Said" (2020), "A Madder Red" (2021), “The Asian Angel” (2021), and "Masked Hearts" (2023).

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  Brillante Ma MENDOZA（『GENSAN PUNCH』Director）

  　Born on July 30, 1960, in San Fernando, Philippines, Brillante Ma MENDOZA began his career in film as a production designer before transitioning into a successful commercial director. His debut feature film, "Manila Daydream" (2005), received widespread acclaim and gained international recognition by winning the Golden Leopard for Best Video at the Locarno International Film Festival. MENDOZA's unique talent and perspective as a filmmaker were further recognized when he received the Best Director Award at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival for his film "Kinatay: Manila Underground" (2009). This recognition continued as his film "Grandmother" (2009) was selected for Competition at the 66th Venice International Film Festival. In 2012, MENDOZA's work continued to captivate audiences with his film "Captive," starring Isabelle Huppert, competing at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival. It is worth noting that MENDOZA has also exhibited his exceptional skills as a production designer, often credited under the name Dante Mendoza, in nearly all of his films. This sports-themed film marks a new venture for MENDOZA, as he explores a different genre within his impressive filmography.

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  金子拓平（『GENSAN PUNCH』Actor）

  Born on August 2, 1989. in Hiroshima Prefecture. Age 34 years old.
  After working as an elementary school teacher in Hiroshima , he moved to Tokyo to pursue an acting career. He appeared in many movies, dramas, and plays in Japan, but one day he was so impressed by director Brillante Mendoza's ``MA'ROSA’’. And he decided to pursue an acting career in the Philippines. He has appeared in various Filipino films, including those directed by Brillante. He is currently active in the Philippines.
  ~Movies~
  ・“JAPINO” (scheduled for release in winter 2023) Directed by Brillante Mendoza
  ・“GENSAN PUNCH” (Released in 2021) Directed by Brillante Mendoza
  ・“Princess DayaReese” (released in 2021) Directed by Barry Gonzalez
  ~Many other appearances~

   

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  FUKUSHIMA Koichiro（『Small, Slow but Steady』Executive Producer）

  　FUKUSHIMA Koichiro (64), born in 1959 in Kanagawa Prefecture, embarked on his cinematic journey in 1983 when he joined Nagoya Television Broadcasting. In 2013, he was appointed as the Director General of the Content Department, overseeing the dynamic world of the film.
  　FUKUSHIMA's impressive body of work includes notable films like "Sweet Bean" (2015), "Harmonium" (2016), and "Asako I & II" (2018), all of which received recognition at the esteemed Cannes International Film Festival. Additionally, his film "Small, Slow but Steady" (2022) was featured at the renowned Berlin International Film Festival. It has captivated audiences worldwide, making appearances at 30 film festivals and earning esteemed accolades in Japan, including the Kinema Junpo Top Ten, Mainichi Film Concours, Japan Academy Awards, and Takasaki Film Festival. Furthermore, his works "Tremble All You Want" (2017) and "Just Only Love" (2019) were presented at the prestigious Tokyo International Film Festival, with "Tremble All You Want" even securing the coveted Audience Award. Presently, Fukushima has embarked on an independent production career, further establishing his creative mark in the industry.

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  Ryusuke HAMAGUCHI（『Evil Does Not Exist』Director）

  　HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke was born in Japan on 16th, December, 1978. In 2008, his graduate work of Tokyo University of Arts master degree PASSION was selected to San Sebastian international film festival and Tokyo Filmex. In 2015, his work Happy Hour premiered at 68th Locarno International Film Festival and won awards. In 2021, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at 71st Berlinale, and at 74th Cannes, Drive My Car won the Screenplay Prize and 3 independent prizes, including FIPRESCI. And next year, it received 4 Academy Awards nominations at the 94th Academy Award, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay. It won the Best International Feature award.　Evil Does Not Exist won the Silver Lion - Grand Jury Prize at 80th Venice International Film Festival, FIPRESCI and more.

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  Eiko Ishibashi（『Evil Does Not Exist』Composer / Concept design with Hamaguchi）

  　ISHIBASHI Eiko is a Japanese multi-instrumentalist whose work has ranged from acclaimed singer-songwriter albums to scores for film, television, theater and exhibitions to improvised music. She has collaborated with international artists such as Jim O’Rourke, HAINO Keiji, Charlemagne Palestine, Merzbow, Giovanni Di Domenico, Phew, and many others. Her own records have been released by Drag City, Black Truffle, and Editions Mego, amongst others. Amongst her film scores is HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke's Oscar-winning 2021 film Drive My Car for which she won the “Discovery of the Year” award at The World Soundtrack Awards and the “Best Original Music” award at the Asian Film Awards.

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  OMIKA Hitoshi（『Evil Does Not Exist』as Takumi）

  Born in 1988. Graduated from Kuwasawa Design School. He has primarily worked as an assistant director, including Tatsushi Omori's Every Day a Good Day, Edmond Yeo's Moonlight Shadow, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi's Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy. He has completed his first short film Father And Father (Gihu Yohu, 59min., 2023).

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  NISHIKAWA Ryo（『Evil Does Not Exist』as Hana）

  Born on March 14, 2014, in Osaka Prefecture. Affiliated with UNBLINK Co., Ltd. Her special skill is rhythmic gymnastics. Her debut work, the film Evil Does Not Exist was selected for the competition section of the 80th Venice International Film Festival.

   

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  KOSAKA Ryuji（『Evil Does Not Exist』 as Takahashi）

  Born in 1985 in Yamaguchi Prefecture, he ventured to Tokyo in 2012 to embark on his acting career. He has showcased his talent across various mediums, including film, television dramas, and stage performances. While he took a hiatus from his activities in recent years, he is making a comeback with this film. His previous notable appearances include roles in TV drama HIGH&LOW (2016) and Prison's Thorn (2017).

   

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  SHIBUTANI Ayaka（『Evil Does Not Exist』as Mayuzumi）

  Born in 1991 in Hyogo Prefecture, she began her acting career with her appearance in the film Happy Hour by Hamaguchi. In recent years, she has been involved in various notable projects, including her role in the theatrical production of Five Days in March by Toshiki Okada's theater company, chelfitsch. She also participated in Concert Rehearsal by Tokidoki Jidou, and appeared in the film Ten Years + One Day by Shinya Nakata.