AKIYO FUJIMURA

Beyond JAPAN -Filmmaker- | [IMDB]

Early Life and Education | Akiyo Fujimura was born in Tokyo, Japan, where her passion for filmmaking began to take shape during her university years. While still a student, Akiyo's talent was evident when her short film, “The Summer Moon”, was selected for the 36th Pia Film Festival, marking the beginning of her journey in the world of cinema. Her early success at this prestigious festival, along with others, set a promising tone for her future career.

Career Beginnings | Upon graduating from university, Akiyo began working behind the scenes at Toho Studios, one of Japan's most renowned film studios. She took on roles as a Production Assistant (PA) and Assistant Director (AD), gaining valuable experience in the film industry. Despite the hands-on experience, her true passion lay in directing, and she soon returned to her core interest.

Breakthrough with ERIKO, PRETENDED | Akiyo’s dedication to her craft culminated in her debut feature film, Eriko, Pretended. The film received significant recognition and support, including a grant from the Cineastes Organization Osaka. Eriko, Pretended made a notable impact at the 2016 SKIP City International D-Cinema Festival, where it won the SKIP City Award. Its success was not limited to Japan; the film was also recognized at the Working Title Film Festival in Italy, receiving a Special Mention. It went on to be screened at festivals across Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, and Russia, garnering acclaim on both national and international stages. In 2018, the film was released in theaters across Japan and Thailand, and it is now available for streaming on US Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

Contributions to TEN YEARS JAPAN | Akiyo continued to build her reputation by contributing to the omnibus film Ten Years Japan. In this project, she directed the segment titled The Air We Can’t See, which was executive produced by Hirokazu Kore-eda, a notable figure in Japanese cinema. The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2018 and subsequently saw a nationwide release in Japan, further establishing Akiyo’s prominence in the film industry.

Move to the United States and Further Education | In 2022, Akiyo Fujimura relocated to the United States, seeking new opportunities and broader horizons in the film industry. She enrolled in UCLA Extension’s film program, where she honed her skills further and graduated in 2024. This move marked a new chapter in her career, opening doors to new creative possibilities and collaborations.

Legacy and Impact | Akiyo Fujimura's journey from Tokyo to the international film scene reflects her dedication and passion for filmmaking. With a career marked by significant achievements and a growing presence in both Japanese and global cinema, Akiyo continues to be an influential figure in the film industry. Her work, characterized by its emotional depth and innovative storytelling, promises to leave a lasting impact on audiences around the world.

MAYUMI YOSHIDA

Beyond JAPAN -Filmmaker- | [Website] [IMDB]

Born in Japan, raised in three continents, Mayumi Yoshida is a Director, Actor, Writer and Producer based in Vancouver, BC. She’s an alumna of Women In the Director’s Chair, WBD Access x Canadian Academy Writers Program (2021) and Directors Program (2023), TIFF Writer’s Studio, and TIFF Netflix Talent Accelerator Fellowship. Her directorial debut short film AKASHI which she wrote and acted in as well, won Outstanding Writer out of 4500 films at NBCUniversal Short Film Festival, Best Female Director at Vancouver Short Film Festival and many more awards internationally. In 2019, Mayumi received the Newcomer Award at Vancouver Women in Film Festival’s Spotlight awards for her success in multiple fields. The latest Music Video she directed, Different Than Before by Amanda Sum, starring Tzi Ma (Mulan) earned a Vimeo Staffpick, Jury Award at SXSW Music Video Competition, and screened at Oscar / BAFTA qualifying film festivals. In 2023 it also got nominated for Music Video of the Year at the JUNO Awards. Mayumi recently worked on the A24/AppleTV+ series SUNNY starring Rashida Jones and Hidetoshi Nishijima as an Associate Producer.

Her first feature AKASHI, which was shot in Japan/Canada is set to premiere in 2025.

Mayumi is repped by Gersh, Atlas Literary and Characters Talent Agency.

SHO TSUKIKAWA

Beyond JAPAN -Filmmaker- | [IMDB]

Sho Tsukikawa is a Tokyo-based filmmaker who graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts with a Master in Film New Media. His short film "The Time Walker" won the Grand Prix of the Jury at the Louis Vuitton Journeys Awards in 2009 where Wong Kar Wai and Sofia Coppola served as jury members.

In 2017, his feature film, LET ME EAT YOUR PANCREAS, won the 41st Japan Academy Prize for Best Picture and Topic of the Year) while his 2022 feature film, EVEN IF THIS LOVE DISAPPEARS FROM THE WORLD TONIGHT” (which he is credited for the screenplay), was an official selection for the 27th Buan International Film Festival. This film’s attendance is the second highest among all Japanese live-action films released in South Korea.

More recently, he directed all the episodes of Netflix's series YU YU HAKUSHO, the live-action adaptation of the popular Japanese manga and anime of the same name. The series ranked number one on Netlfix Weekly Global Top 10 charts (for non-English series) and top 2 for all language series.

His latest feature, DEAR FAMILY, recently came out in June 2024 in Japan.

His next project is a Netflix Japanese rom-com series ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS starring Shun Oguri, Han Hyo-joo and Jin Akanishi.

Ü INOSE

Beyond JAPAN -Filmmaker- | [Website] [IMDB]

Ü, a California State University, Northbridge graduate, is a Tokyo-based film director with over ten years of experience working on international productions.

He started his career as an intern at Anonymous Content, working under Alejandro González Iñárritu. Upon returning to Japan, Ü showcased exceptional talent and accomplishments as a first assistant director in both commercial and feature films. Demonstrating a well-rounded expertise in the filmmaking industry.

He has always taken pride in broadening his horizons by exploring new cultures and meeting new people from around the world. These experiences have played a major part in his creative thinking process and visual diversity.

The experience of working on countless projects from all over the world and seeing situations through different people’s eyes has given him a special ability to achieve a perfect balance between logistical efficiency and an artistic approach. His goal as a visual storyteller is to deliver films that linger in the minds of the viewers.

His recent works include the feature film TSU in 2023 as well as the TV drama series CIGUATERA in 2024.

YU SHIBUYA

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Yu Shibuya is a director, screenwriter, and playwright based in Tokyo, Japan. He holds an MFA in creative writing poetry from Purdue University. "Jitensha," an international co- production short film he wrote and coproduced, was an official selection at over 20 major film festivals globally, including the 66th Venice Film Festival.

Shibuya was nominated for the International Emmy Awards (Documentary Category) for story editing “WHO I AM Season 2 - Beatrice Vio." In 2018, he wrote and produced an international feature film entitled CICADA which won grand prizes at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Guam International Film Festival, and the Pan Pacific Film Festival. In 2020, he was selected as an NHK Sundance fellow for his original screenplay AN ARGUMENT FOR BEAUTY which is currently being developed under a different title.

Shibuya runs an award-winning theater company called Bokuyoken where he produces his original plays. He has published three books: two collections of monologues and a collection of his full-length plays. They are being translated for international release. He teaches Acting in English at tori studio, a major acting studio in Tokyo.

His first feature film as writer / director, entitled UMBRELLAS FOR MIHARU will be in theaters January 2025.

YUSKE FUKADA

Beyond JAPAN -Filmmaker- | [IMDB]

Yuske Fukada was born and raised in Uzumasa, Kyoto, known as the “Hollywood of Japan” for its two remaining samurai-period film studios. Growing up in this vibrant cinematic environment fueled his passion for filmmaking. Today, Fukada works as a director, producer, writer, and sound designer with a diverse portfolio spanning international and multicultural projects. He has contributed to productions like Netflix’s ULTIMATE BEASTMASTER and TOKYO OVERRIDE. His focus on telling stories of marginalized identities and outsiders has led him to collaborate on multinational projects.

From early on in his career, Fukada’s work has often explored characters who exist on the margins of traditional Japanese and Asian societies, with themes of identity and belonging. His short films, “The Last Dragon Lady and After Maiko”, reflect his interest in complex social identities and history, drawing on women’s experiences to examine cultural and societal boundaries. He is currently developing projects that explore the stories of Japanese immigrants and migrants worldwide, continuing his investigation of individuals navigating life between different identities.

One of his most innovative works, the sci-fi short “Perfect World,” is inspired by Fukada’s personal experience with disability. The film explores the morality of human selection in a dystopian future, using a unique blend of motion capture and 2D video to create a distinctive visual style. “Perfect World” was showcased internationally in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Sydney, and Kyoto, receiving acclaim for its innovative use of visual effects and technology.

Fukada has worked on projects such as the Japanese TV documentary series JONETSU TAIRIKU as a producer/director and the feature documentary THE GAMBLE HOUSE as a sound designer. During this time, he also founded Composite Lab to expand his creative reach. His latest project, TOKYO OVERRIDE, is a sci-fi animated TV series set 100 years in the future in Tokyo, scheduled to stream worldwide on Netflix in 2024. Using an innovative development methodology called Worldbuilding, led by U.S.-based world designer Laura Cechanowicz of Golden Ticket Futures, Fukada brought together global talents from countries including Japan, the U.S., Thailand, China, Spain, Canada, Australia, Turkey, and others, with the goal of pushing the genre forward. He led the creative development of the series, overseeing script revisions and co-directing with Veerapatra Jinanavin of RiFF Studio. He also collaborated with world-leading designers from Yamaha and Honda to create realistic future mobility designs and worked with top talents in Japanese anime sound production for the Dolby ATMOS mix in Japan.

Fukada’s education reflects his deep commitment to art, technology, and identity. After studying film in Denmark and France, he earned an MFA from the University of Southern California and a PhD in Aesthetics from Kyoto University. His dissertation explored the concept of Guzen—a blend of chance and fate—in digital filmmaking, drawing on the ideas of philosophers like Shuzo Kuki and Gilles Deleuze. These experiences have given Fukada a global perspective, blending conceptual depth with technical innovation.

By using cutting-edge technology and cross-cultural narratives, Yuske Fukada continues to tell stories that challenge societal norms and expand our understanding of identity in a globalized world.