“International Short Film Competition A” was held on Friday, November 22, from 6:00 p.m. at NTT CRED Hall No. 1.

The three nominated films were “Chinhua's Blossom Unfolds” (Taiwan), directed by Ming Hsia WANG, “The Rubber Tappers” (Cambodia), directed by Rotha MOENG, and “Visiting Linda” (Indonesia), directed by Ihsan ACHDIAT. After the screening, a Q&A session was held with the directors of these films. The interviewer was Michita KIMURA, a freelance personality, and the interpreter was Hisanori SUMIYOSHI.

Q: What is your impression of Hiroshima?

Director Ming Hsia WANG: “This is my first visit to Hiroshima. I had read books and other information about the history of Hiroshima, but my impression changed when I walked around the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Park. The people of this city are very active and cheerful, and I think it was a valuable experience for me.

Director Rotha MOENG: “This is my second visit to Hiroshima since April of this year. I was learning about the history of Hiroshima, and I got the impression that the people are very strong, that Hiroshima is vibrant despite its tragic past and is like a phoenix rising (from the ashes).”

Director Ihsan ACHDIAT: “This was my first time coming to Hiroshima and to Japan itself. I had seen and heard about Hiroshima in school textbooks and movies, but when I actually came here, I realized that it is a city with a deep history. I am happy to meet the audience in Hiroshima.”

Q: What is the theme of the film?

Director Ming Hsia WANG: “I wanted to convey to the audience how important it is to capture her precious memories and to look back on the historical past. I made this film to convey her history, while staying close to her feelings and memories as she played as a leading actress for the first time in her 101 years of age.”

Director Rotha MOENG: “The film focused on the passage of time when I was studying in Japan. With regard to time, it is reflected in the lead boy who plays the role of an ethnic minority and speaks a unique dialect with his family instead of Khmer, which is evident in the fact that he is only 11 years old and yet has resisted the passage of time.”

Director Ihsan ACHDIAT: “I am focusing on the rights of people, especially the rights that children have. In Jakarta, where the majority of the population is Muslim and it is customary for them to go to boarding schools, I believe that they should have more rights to choose. I also made this film to encourage the world to have a better understanding of Islam.”

Q: Please feel free to leave a message at the end.

Director Ming Hsia WANG: “Making this documentary was like completing a puzzle. I had to gather not only her family's memories, but also people's memories of their lives at that time. I pieced together their memories by collecting Japanese music and songs from a century ago. Even though it is a short film, it is a collection of many musical memories, and I am honored to be able to share them with the people of Hiroshima.”

Director Rotha MOENG: “I am a young director and I had two challenges. One was to realize my mother's dream. My mother is in the film, and it took a lot of takes, but I am grateful to her for her cooperation. I will turn 50 this year, but people say I am young in this industry, so hopefully I will continue to do my best.”

Director Ihsan ACHDIAT: “My film was actually shot in one day. All the scenes were shot during the daytime, so we could only shoot when the sun was up, and in the end, we finished the film in 12 hours. There were many emotional scenes, so I wasn't sure if the actors would be able to shoot them in just one day, but after a lot of detailed preparation and rehearsals, we were able to complete the film. I am happy to be able to deliver such a film to you today.”