Hole in the Sky

Born in 1974 in Hokkaido, Japan. He graduated from Osaka University of Arts’Visual Concept Planning Department. His thesis film “Kichiku” was awarded second place at the 20th PIA Film Festival and it received high acclaim. The film was officially invited to be screened in more than 10 other international film festivals such as the Panorama section of the 48th Berlin International Film Festival. It also won the Grand Prize at the 28th Taormina International Film Festival in Italy.

His PFF (PIA Film Festival) scholarship film, “Hole in the Sky” was officially invited to the Young Forum section of the 51st Berlin International Film Festival, and also it was awarded the RIPRESCI Prize in the 30th Rotterdam International Film Festival. Since then he has been exhibiting a series of works such as his films, “ANTENNA” (which attracted public attention at the 60th Venice International Film Festival) and “Volatile Woman”, ”Green Mind, Metal Bats” , “Freesia: Bullet Over Tears” and “NON-KO”.

As his film “Sketches of Kaitan City”was released in December 2010, he led professional actors and city locals around Hokkaido in a group collaboration further increasing his recognition and his sense of production. This work became an award-winner at many festivals such as the 23rd TOKYO International Film Festival, the 12th Cine Manila International Film Festival, winner of the Matsumoto CINEMA Select Award in 2010, the 25th Takasaki Film Festival, as well as the Jury prize at the 13th Deauville Asian Film Festival. —Sapporo Short Fest