The closing ceremony was attended by Director Sunao Katabuchi who participated for the 11th consecutive year, along with Director Kim Jong-kwan, Director Hiroshi Miyagawa, Actor Masahiro Higashide, Director Paula Kehoe, Director Yusuke Morii, Actress Kana Osawa, Actor Tensei Okumura, Actor Yuto Ozeki, Actor Mimaki Kittaka, and Director Naoko Sumimoto.

Next, General manager in Environmental prefectural office, Mr. Hiroyuki Yamanaka read a message on behalf of the Governor of Hiroshima, Hidehiko Yuzaki.

Director Katabuchi, who continued to serve as a teach-in following last year, represented the guests and said, "Every year I talk about the films I will be making in the future. I believe that the HIFF is a film festival that nurtures future films together." Continuing from last year, looking back on the film festival affected by spreading COVID-19, he concluded, "I hope that there will be endless opportunities to meet many filmmakers at a film festival like this. Thank you for a truly wonderful film festival."

Kyoko Heya revealed that preparations are already underway for the 15th anniversary next year, and thanked the staff supporting the film festival for many years. She spoke about next year's HIFF, "I want to have opportunities for international competitions and the development of young talent." Finally, she declared the closing, "Let's see you again here in Hiroshima next year." HIFF 2022 then ended with a big round of applause.

Director Katabuchi insisted about the importance of research by modelling each element which are measured precisely to fit to the scenario, rather than simply relying on what is written in the book. In the reproduction of the bullock cart that he had been working on until a few days before, he carefully researched whether the structure and size of each part matched the records and whether there were any discrepancies, paying particular attention to figures such as the size and speed of each part. The audience was amazed at the enormous amount of data and detailed work involved. The "realism" created through such meticulous research is one of the charms of Director Katabuchi's works.

"I think Sei Shonagon saw things rather clearly," he said. The director shared a new interpretation of the "Pillow Book" by looking at Sei Shonagon's words from a different angle, despite the fact that some people say there may be lies in its contents. As for her relationship with Chugu Teishi (Imperial princess), whom she served, the director also concluded that "they may not have really had such a close relationship" by reading the actual words Sei Shonagon spelled out. Ms. Tomoko Nishizaki of the Hiroshima Film Commission moderated the Q&A session, which drew many raised hands. The director concluded the teach-in with applause, saying with a smile that his relationship with the regulars who support his work is "like a pregnant woman having her belly rubbed while she is still carrying a baby," and that he would do his best to show something new next year.

The Mexican movie, "The Ship" is based on a true story, and the main character is Miguel, who is the DJ of a radio program called "The Ship". Unchanging days continue, and while falling into the so-called "midlife crisis," he is struggling when he received a request from a boy with cancer to "take me to the sea on a ship." While he is about to give up, he gets courage from the boy and those around him, and eventually breaks out of his shell and jumps out. The story unfolds with attractive music and tender animation.

After the screening, a video of Mr. Guerrero answering questions in an interview by Associate Professor John McLean of Yasuda Women's University was shown. Mr. Guerrero has been an actor since his late teens. Over the past decade, he has turned his attention to leading projects himself, and has branched out into writing and producing. In addition to starring in this film, he is also the producer and screenwriter. The production of "The Ship" was inspired by an encounter with a local radio host who would serve as a model for the main character. Mr. Guerrero was impressed by the host's dedication to children and how he became a popular figure in the community, so he began writing the script. Mr. Guerrero learned that the children in the hospital never became negative and lived energetically and positively. He decided to make it the theme that even if they have difficulties, they can overcome them without running out of energy if their heart is healed.

When Mr. McLean introduced some of the impressions of those who had seen the movie in advance; a person said that she was most moved by the scene where the boy said to his mother, "Even if I go to heaven, I will always watch over you." It seems that Mr. Guerrero's intentions were clearly conveyed. Mr. Guerrero was asked to give a message to the audience at the end. He said, "Thank you for letting 'The Ship' navigate again. I hope to go to Hiroshima someday and meet the audience."

In the first half of the program, there were screenings of the 6 best films from the Hiroshima Animation Seasons 2022 which is a part of Hiroshima Festival 2022. Before the beginning, Shizuka Miyazaki, the artistic director of the festival made brief introductions of each of 6 awarded films. She told the differences in production methods such as one made by drawing animation cels one by one while another made by shooting frame-by-frame of felt, characteristics of each film, and that one was nominated for Academy Award for Animated Short Film in 2022.

The last half was for “H-AIR(residence) artist” part and films of two directors who were invited as residence artists were screened. It began with 2 films of director Nata Metluk, one of which is “Reguler” which won an award in Pan-Pacific and Asia Competition program of Hiroshima Animation Seasons 2022. Followed were 3 films by director Mahboobeh Kalaee. Of the three, “The Fourth wall” won an award in World Competition program. Both were awarded among more than 2000 submissions to the festival. After the screenings, director Nata Metluk and director Mahboobeh Kalaee came onto the stage in applause for the talk show. MC was Shizuka Miyazaki, the artistic director.

Miyazaki said that director Metluk had made a puzzle-like logical animation film using graphics fully while director Kalaee’s film was a mixture of humor and wonder expressing philosophical aspect as well.

Both directors had been living in Hiroshima for 5 months and were leaving for home soon. About their stay in Hiroshima, director Kalaee expressed her appreciation saying, “In a different environment from my country, I was able to interact with people and nature and use that experience to make an experimental work. The experiences I had here will help for my future works”. Also, director Metluk shared her goal with the audience saying, “I had such an interesting experience on the theme of time. I would like to include the sense of difference we feel about time in my next work”. When Ms. Miyazaki asked “Although you two have already won awards in several film festivals, I think it was the first time for you to be awarded on the venue. Is there any difference?”, director Kalaee answered that she appreciated the animation program and would like to apply for its residence program.

Director Metluk said “Thanks to the residence program, I was able to see and study Japanese artists’ works. For my film “Reguler” font is an important part, and this film is not easily understandable to the audience. But to my surprise, in Hiroshima, people said it was very interesting. So, I felt that the level of the people in Hiroshima is high including the audience. My goal is to come back to Hiroshima Animation Season 2024(held biennially) and show you my new work”.

When Ms. Miyazaki told the directors that she would like them to make use of the experience for their future works, both directors shared their appreciation and said that it was satisfying stay for them. The talks show was closed in warm and friendly atmosphere.