Competition

PAPER CRANES & BLUE FROG

Screening Schedule

Details

©︎折り鶴と蒼い蛙

<Synopsis>

A boy journeys to Hiroshima, where he meets a woman who awakens in him both first love and the pain of loss, all against the lingering shadows of war.

Meanwhile, his father, a man unable to express love, follows in his son’s footsteps.

Guided by the philosophies of Schopenhauer and Nietzsche, their paths cross in a lyrical film where unspoken emotions become the only truth.

<Staff>

Screenplay, Cinematography, Color Grading, Editing, Producer, Director: Chavo
Original Story: HAMAMOTO Yuka, Chavo
Sound Designer: JIFUKU Seiji
Sound Chief: MAEDA Sayaka
Assistant Directors: NAKAMURA Madona, TAGUCHI Shiori
Music: matryoshka

<movie information>

Year of Production:2025
Running Time:19min
Country/Region:Japan
Language of Dialogue:Japanese
Subtitle Language:English
Film Rating:Not Rated

©ChavoPhoto

＜Director＞

Chavo

Born in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Chavo began filmmaking in 2023 as a self-taught director after careers as a photographer, manga artist, and entrepreneur.

He won the Konica Minolta Photo Premio in 2005 for his photography work Kawasaki Puzzle, and the CHIBA Tetsuya Award in 2009 for his manga Ushikai no Hidari Te.

He made his directorial debut with the short film Hikotto Land March (2023). Since then, he has directed several shorts including Ding Dong Ditch, BARA, Oxplant, and Paper Cranes & Blue Frog, which have been selected and awarded at film festivals both in Japan and abroad.

His works are known for their lyrical approach, exploring universal themes through a distinctive and poetic lens.
©Toki Sakamoto

＜Guest＞

SAKAMOTO Toki

From Fukuoka, Japan, he plays the lead role of Aki in Paper Cranes & Blue Frog (2025). His performance in Ding Dong Ditch (2024) was highly acclaimed and earned him the Best Young Actor Award at the Sapporo International Short Film Festival. With his delicate emotional expression and strong presence, he is recognized as a promising young actor to watch.