Cannes’ Christian Jeune And Tokyo’s ‘Nippon Cinema Now’ Directors Talk Japanese Independent Filmmaking

Filmmakers with works selected for the Tokyo Film Festival’s Nippon Cinema Now section took part in a panel alongside Christian Jeune, Cannes’ film department director and deputy general delegate.

“I’ve been coming to Japan for the past 45 years and know the directors that have been to Cannes well, like Hirokazu Kore-eda and Takashi Miike,” said Jeune. “But six to seven years back, I was a bit desperate for new voices.

“I had heard that many directors had trouble financing their films, or their film treatments were very local and difficult to travel for an international audience. However, now we are seeing a new generation of filmmakers, like those behind Plan 75 or Happyend. I wouldn’t say that it’s a wave yet, but there’s something exciting happening,” added Jeune.

The panel was moderated by the Tokyo fest’s programming director Shozo Ichiyama.

Two filmmakers on the panel were past winners of Amazon Prime Video’s Take One short film competition, which the Tokyo fest has been co-presented since 2021. Winners are awarded a prize of 1 million yen (approximately $6,550) as well as the opportunity to explore the production of a feature film with Amazon Studios.

Kim Yun-soo, whose debut feature Or Utopia is screening in the Tokyo fest this year, was the winner of the first edition of the short film competition. He said one of the most challenging parts of independent filmmaking is having to constantly juggle different production roles and wear many hats.

“I was doing so many different roles in producing the film before the shoot, that only on the first day of the shoot that I was reminded that I am a director,” said Kim.

The winner of the second edition of the competition was Yang Liping, who directed Ashes. Ashes is his graduation thesis film from the Tokyo University of the Arts and was made with a budget of 1.4 million yen ($9,200).

Japanese filmmaker Takino Hirohito, who directed The Bear Wait, said that he self-funded most of his debut feature.

“It’s a very personal film and while the producer was also thinking of getting a grant for my film, I knew that this film was so small and personal, I wanted to spend my own money to make this film,” said Hirohito. 

Mark Gill, who directed Ravens, inspired by the life of legendary photographer Fukase Masahisa and his model and wife Yoko, also featured in the panel.

Jeune highlighted that funding the second feature is sometimes a greater challenge for filmmakers, compared to the first feature. 

Yang is planning to shoot his sophomore feature next year and has already received a Japanese grant for it, but is still looking for more funds. He added that he is planning to make a documentary in the future.

“In terms of style, I know I like working with an ensemble cast and make a film that actively interacts with the audience,” said Yang.

Hirohito added: “Participating in the Tokyo Film Festival and for my film to have such a wide audience here has given me the motivation and opened my mind to shoot overseas, maybe in France, and create something new.”