Entertainment · Film · 2 hrs ago
Tokyo Film Festival Panel Reveals Unusual Paths Behind Five Japanese Films
At the Tokyo International Film Festival, five Nippon Cinema Now directors discussed how their films came together during a panel in Tokyo.
The filmmakers included Ueda Shinichiro, Saito Kisin, Natori Satoshi, Matsumura Shingo and Yaza Takenoshin.
Ueda adapted his film from a 30-part social-media microdrama, keeping its vertical format while making it with a regular independent-film budget.
Saito said his debut feature, “Kefi,” began with a sponsor’s theme of motherhood, but the filmmakers were later free to take it in their own direction.
Natori drew on his past as a hunter in Hokkaido to explore how wilderness can change a person’s sense of self.
The panel also highlighted unexpected links: a first-time director contacted a cinematographer who had worked with Hamaguchi Ryusuke, while Natori’s film prompted Carlos Reygadas to suggest a possible collaboration.
The discussion showed how varied routes and personal histories can shape Japanese films, though no further steps on the suggested collaboration were given.
Five Nippon Cinema Now filmmakers discussed how unexpected connections and experiences shaped their films at a panel during the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival.
The panel, titled “How We Make Films,” was held at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya and moderated by TIFF programming director Ichiyama Shozo.
Ueda Shinichiro said “Earthlings in Love” grew from a 30-episode social media microdrama series and used a vertical format.
Saito Kisin said the sponsor initially suggested maternal love as a theme for “Kefi,” but later let the filmmakers make the film as they liked.
Natori Satoshi said his past as a hunter informed “Chihiro | Akemi,” which was filmed at a house in eastern Hokkaido.
- Who
- Five Nippon Cinema Now filmmakers: Ueda Shinichiro, Saito Kisin, Natori Satoshi, Matsumura Shingo and Yaza Takenoshin.
- What
- They discussed how they made their films and the unexpected connections behind their work.
- When
- At the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival. The panel date is not stated.
- Where
- Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, Tokyo.
- Why
- To discuss the making of their films.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Festival
- 39th Tokyo International Film Festival
- Panel
- How We Make Films
- Venue
- Tokyo Midtown Hibiya
- Earthlings in Love
- Adapted from a 30-episode microdrama series designed for social media
- Kefi
- Sponsor’s original theme was “maternal love, being a mother
What people are saying
I’m from the theatrical film world, so we were making it as if it were a film to start with […] so it became appropriate for a theatrical release
So it turned out to be a very strange film
Variety | I really felt like my personality changed, and I was really interested in that shift, as if there was another person inside me.