Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan has announced the selection of three talented Japanese filmmakers to participate in the Berlin International Film Festival and the accompanying European Film Market as part of the "Berlin International Film Festival Emerging Japanese Directors Overseas Promotion Project" for fiscal year 2024. This initiative aims to support emerging filmmakers who have made significant strides both domestically and internationally in recent years. Following a comprehensive evaluation process, the three directors--ARAKI Shinji, KUSABA Naoya, and KUSHIIDA Takeshi--were chosen for this prestigious opportunity.

All three directors will participate on-site in the 75th Berlin International Film Festival and the accompanying 2025 European Film Market. By participating in promotional activities, they will have the opportunity to showcase their work and establish meaningful connections with professionals in the international film industry. Attending the festival and market will not only enhance their understanding of the global film landscape but also provide insights that can inspire their future projects, both in Japan and abroad. Upon their return, they plan to share the knowledge and experiences gained from this opportunity with their fellow filmmakers.

* To qualify for this program, applicants needed to be Japanese filmmakers who had showcased their work in feature-length categories of recognized domestic or international festivals from 2021 onward. They were required to have directed no more than three theatrical feature films and possessed a pitch-ready project, excluding animation and documentaries.

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Selected Directors
ARAKI Shinji
Born in Tokyo in 1970, ARAKI graduated from the Department of Representation and Culture, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo. His graduation thesis was on Jacques Rivette. In 2016, ARAKI won numerous screenplay awards, including the TV Asahi Scenario Grand Prize, the MBS Radio Drama Grand Prize, and the Imai Film Festival Scenario Grand Prize. He began developing his first feature film when he won the runner-up prize in the Kinoshita Group New Film Director Award in 2017, which was released in 2020 as "The Town of Headcounts." The film was officially invited to the Moscow Film Festival, Vancouver Film Festival, screened as an opening film at Chicago Asian Pop Film Festival, and at numerous other festivals, including Nippon Connection in Frankfurt, Kaohsiung Film Festival in Taiwan, and Leeds International Film Festival. ARAKI made his second feature film, "Penalty Loop," which was released in 2024 and selected for screening in the International Competition section at Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival. The film was also selected for the International Competition section at Fantasia International Film Festival where it won three awards, Best Editing, Best Music and a Bronze Audience Award.

KUSABA Naoya
Born in Nagasaki in 1991, KUBASA pursued his passion for filmmaking after graduating from the Faculty of Education at Oita University. Relocating to Tokyo to enroll in the Film School of Tokyo, he studied under the guidance of TAKAHASHI Izumi. Upon graduation, KUSABA began his career at a film production company, gaining experience in pre-production, filming, and post-production. In 2019, he took a leave of absence to independently create the film, "Super Mikincorinista." The film achieved notable success, winning two awards at the Pia Film Festival and earning an invitation to the Notable Futures section of the Beijing International Film Festival, contributing to its acclaim and subsequent theatrical release. In 2024, KUSABA completed his first feature-length film, "Yukiko a.k.a.," which is scheduled for theatrical release in Japan starting in January 2025, with screenings planned at Eurospace and other venues nationwide.

KUSHIDA Takeshi
Born in 1982 in Osaka, KUSHIDA works for Pyramid Film. His debut feature "Woman of the Photographs" (20) earned 40 awards at film festivals around the world and has been released in seven countries. After winning the SKIP CITY AWARD for that film, KUSHIDA's "My Mother's Eyes" (23) was described at London FrightFest as paving the way for a third wave of J-horror, and is now being distributed worldwide. His third feature "Acting for Beginners" (24) was produced for the opening gala of SKIP City International D-Cinema Festival.



Program Overview Period: February 13-19, 2025
The three selected filmmakers will attend pre-departure lectures to refine their pitching skills and receive advice on their prepared new projects before heading to the festival. During their stay, they will use the "Japan Booth," set up by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs at the European Film Market, as their base of operations. This will allow them to deepen relationships with industry professionals such as producers, sales agents, and film festival programmers through lectures, networking events, and pitching opportunities. Advertisements featuring their projects are also scheduled to be published in trade publications distributed during the festival. They will also participate in market screenings, seminars, and industry sessions tailored to their individual interests.


Contact
UNIJAPAN International Promotion, JAPAN BOOTH Organizer Team
Togeki Bldg., 15th Floor, 4-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045 JAPAN   E-mail: office@unijapan.org