We have received 86 films for our 2nd Japan Short Program. A team of 8 volunteer UPAF staff worked on the selection process that include the members involved in filmmaking for many years (as directors, actors, staff, translators, or univ. profs) as well as not involved in filmmaking but supporting UPAF for years or die hard film fans. 25 films made it into the final round, and we picked 9 films that we felt match with UPAF’s themes. We will screen them in 2 programs.
We were moved and inspired that so many people kept making films in this difficult pandemic time. It was a difficult selection process because many are of high quality. It seems many applicants appreciate the feedback that we share when requested. We hope our feedback would help them in their future creative endeavors.
The following are the films selected. Congratulations to the production team!!
The 2nd Uno Port Art FIlms Japan Shorts program
Program 1 (screening time: 88.5min)
- Kadoma City ZOMBIE Human Resources Center (dir. Takashi NASU , 2021, 29min, featuring: Eito HAYASHI, Hiroshi WATABE, Mayumi, everyone at Kadoma City Silver Human Resources Center)
- Creator (dir. Riki Sato, 2021m 6min, featuring: Riki Sato)
- Manga Girls (dir. Takashi OKADO, Yuki KEDOIN, 2021, 10min, featuring: Mako KANEYAMA, Makoto KIKUCHI, Umi AMANE, Nozomi FUJIWARA)
- This Ain’t My First Love (Masaki KURANO, 2022, 9min, featuring: Momoka, Sosuke)
- DIS ME LAND (Katsuwo, 2021, 24.5min, featuring: Kirara INORI, Sayaka ODAI, karin NISHINA, Shinnosuke TAKAHASHI)
Program 2 (screening time: 86,5min)
- Reschedule (Takayuki SUZUE, 2021, 16.5min, featuring: Kenya NOJIMA, Daichi NOGAWA, Chiho SHISHIME, Jango YAMADA)
- To Backache Sufferers (Yuki TAKASHIMA, 2021, 30min, featuring: Gai UENO, Manami HASEGAWA, Jiji Boo, Maiko KAWAKAMI)
- Lock on in the Air (Makiko KITAOKA, 2022, 16.5min, featuring: Ryota MIYAZAKI, Ruby NAKAMURA, Yutaro ICHIKAWA, Shoma TANIGAWA)
- He is a Devil All the Way (Takashi OKAMOTO, 2022, 10min, featuring: Daigo JOKA, KUZU, Sayu HIGASHI)