ABOUT
Synopsis
An innocent young man from China is anxiously memorizing “his hope” in the middle of the noisy crowd in Shibuya.
DIRECTOR
Kei Chikaura-director writer
Kei Chikaura started a career as a filmmaker with his first short film, “Empty House” in 2013. His second short film, “The Lasting Persimmon”, was selected for Clermont- Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2016. In 2017, his 3rd short film, Signature will have its world premiere at 70th Locarno Film Festival. He is now in pre-production for his first feature.
Director’s Statement
This film is about the sadness of youth in the age of international migration.
In Japan, there is a training program for other Asians called Technical Intern Training Program. Originally, its objective was assisting Asian developing countries. However, nowadays the situation has changed a lot. Some companies use it just for hiring a lot of young foreign workers under extremely low wage; not providing them any education. In this background, more than 5,800 trainees a year escape from the companies they belong and eventually become illegal overstayers or workers.
In this film, I wanted to look closely into an innocent young man from China, and find in me some connection with him.
Crew
- Written, directed and edited by Kei Chikaura
- Co-creator: Yukinari Takamura
- Produced by Kei Chikaura
- Cinematography: Miki Ogawa
- Sound: Masashi Furuya
- Camera: Yoshinobu Nagamori
- Focus puller: Naohito Maeda
- Gaffer: Asami Oogami
- DIT: Kazuhiko Takahashi
- Wardrobe Stylist: Yasuo Mori
- Production Designer: Tooru Nishimura
- Colorist: Tetsuji Yamashita
- Line Producer: Jin Miura
- Production manager: Kie Nakai
- Translator: Yo Hei
CAST
Lu Yulai-main cast
Lu Yulai was born in China in 1982. He graduated from the Beijing Film Academy. His debut as a leading actor was in the film “PEACOCK” (2005) which received the Jury Grand Prix Silver Bear at the 55th Berlin International Film Festival. After that, he has starred many remarkable independent films, such as “Knitting” (Cannes - Directorʼs fortnight 2008), “Mabei shang de fating” (Venice - Orizzonti 2006), “Trap Street” (Venice - Critic Weeks 2013), among others. Lu Yulai is an alumnus of Berlinale Talent 2009.
- Laurence Midori Ota
- Lika Shimazu
- Kayo Kawamoto
- Taijiro Tamura
- Special Appearance by Tim Ellrich
PRODUCTION
PHOTOS
FESTIVALS & AWARDS
- 9th Seoul international Extreme-Short Image & Film Festival / International Short Film Competition / South Korea, 2017 - Special Jury Award
- 23rd Encounters Festival / Competition Programme / UK, 2017 - Brief Grand Prix
- 12th Sapporo Short Film Festival / International Competition, Filmmakers' Section / Japan, 2017 - Filmmakers' Section Grand Prix
- 7th Kyiv International Short Film Festival / International Competition / Ukraine, 2018 - Best Director Award
- 70th Locarno International Film Festival / Pardi di Domani (International Competition) / Switzerland, 2017
- Bridge of Arts (International Motivational Film Festival) / Short film program / Russia, 2017
- 4th Pančevo Film Festival / Short Film Competition / Serbia, 2017
- 16th Festival Silhouette / Sélection Internationale / France, 2017
- 42nd Toronto International Film Festival / Shorts Cuts Programme / Canada, 2017
- 10th The Columbia Gorge International Film Festival / Official Selection / USA, 2017
- 1st Feodosiya International Film Festival / Official Selection / Republic Of Crimea, Russian Federation, 2017
- 13th Reykjavík International Film Festival / International Competition / Iceland, 2017
- 25h Hamptons International Film Festival / Official Selection / USA, 2017
- 52nd Chicago International Film Festival / Short film Competition / USA, 2017
- 13th Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente de la Plata Festifreak / International Short Film Selection / Argentina, 2017
- 18th Kerry Film Festival / Official Selection / Ireland, 2017
- Adirondack Film Festival / Offical Selection / USA, 2017
- 7th Kaohsiung Film Festival / Special Screening / Taiwan, 2017
- 62nd Valladolid International Film Festival / Official Section / Spain, 2017
- 26th Curta Cinema Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival / International Competition / Brazil, 2017
- 31st Leeds International Film Festival / International Competition / UK, 2017
- 24FPS International Short Film Festival / Offical Selection / USA, 2017
- 17th Kansas International Film Festival / Offical Selection / USA, 2017
- 5th Woodpecker International Film Festival (WIFF) / Official Selection / India, 2017
- 28th Stockholm International Film Festival / Short film competition / Sweden, 2017
- 3rd Hollywood North Film Festival / Offical Selection / Canada, 2017
- 35th Torino Film Festival / All you need is Short Programme / Italy, 2017
- 4th Hiroshima International Film Festival / Competition / Japan, 2017
- 11th Pentedattilo Film Festival / International Competition / Italy, 2017
- 2nd Bucharest Short Film Festival / Narrative Programme / Romania, 2017
- 29th Aguilar de Campoo International Short Film Festival / International Competition / Spain, 2017
- 3rd Bahia Independent Cinema Festival / Internationl Competiiton / Brazil, 2017
- 13th Prague Short Film Festival / Internationl Competiiton / Czech Republic, 2018
- 2nd Cinefesst Ibiza / Official Selection / Spain, 2018
- Four Seasons Film Festival / Official Selection / UK, 2018
- 41st Portland International Film Festival / Official Selection / USA, 2018
- 20th Mecal - International Short Film Festival of Barcelona / International Competition / Spain, 2018
- 37th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival / Official Selection / USA, 2018
- MOOOV Film Festival / Short Film Competition / Belgium, 2018
- 7th Kyiv International Short Film Festival / International Competition / Ukraine, 2018
- Nashville Film Festival / Official Selection / USA, 2018
- 10th Subversive Film Festival / Short Competition / Croatia, 2018
- 24th Palm Spring International Film Festival / Official Selection / USA, 2018
“Every time I meet that bright yellow wind in early spring,
I can't help turning my face away from that too pure honesty.”
CONTACT
Production
- Creatps Inc.
- Veronica Chavez
- cinema@creatps.co.jp
- http://www.creatps.co.jp/
International Sales & Distribution
- Premium Films
- Martina Fiorellino
- mf@premium-films.com
- http://premium-films.com/en