Why I Became a Film Director

Screening Schedule

Nov. 23 (Mon.) 12:30 at hall No.2

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Details

Yuya Ishii has released numerous hit films, including “The Great Passage” (2013), “Our Family” (2013), and “The Tokyo Night Sky is Always the Densest Shade of Blue” (2017). His profound insight into the workings of the human mind has led to high accolade for this work both in Japan and abroad. Building on his achievements, his latest feature film, “All the Things We Never Said” (2020), symbolizes a willingness to step outside of comfort zones and pursue new directions in his filmmaking. In this workshop, Ishii talks ardently about what led him to pursue a career as a film director, sharing knowledge about his filmmaking process, themes, approach to scriptwriting, preferences for actors, work in the pipeline, and more.

Director

Yuya Ishii
Yuya Ishii, 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 was the first recipient of the Edward Yang New Talent Award at the 2nd Asian Film Awards. Four of his independent films gained attention at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and Hong Kong International Film Festival. His 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. In 2014, Ishii’s candid portrayal of family bonds in “Our Family” gained accolade both in Japan and abroad. In the same year, he directed “The Vancouver Asahi,” presenting a well-balanced portrayal of the difficulties and hardships encountered by Japanese immigrants in Canada in the 1930s. The film, which was a hit in Japan, won an Audience Award at the 33th Vancouver International Film Festival.In 2017, Ishii released the feature film “The Tokyo Night Sky is Always the Densest Shade of Blue” inspired by Tahi Saihate’s collection of poems. First shown in the Forum category at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2017, it went on to win the Best Picture Award at the Tama Cinema Forum and was placed first on the 91st Kinema Junpo Best Ten Films List. It was also selected for numerous directing and best picture awards at events such as the 39th Yokohama Film Forum, 32nd Takasaki Film Forum, 30th Nikkan Sports Film Award, and 12th Asian Film Awards Academy. Ishii’s accomplishments, both in Japan and abroad, have undoubtedly brought his work as a director into the spotlight.In 2021, Ishii plans to release “The Asian Angel,” his first feature film directed in collaboration with a crew from Korea.