Hirokazu Kore'eda

Born 1962 in Tokyo KORE-EDA graduated from Waseda University in 1987 and joined TV MAN UNION, where he worked mainly on documentaries. In 1995, his debut feature Maborosi won the Venice Film Festival Golden Osella, as well as several other awards, which his established his international reputation.

His next film After Life (1999) won the Grand Prize at the Nantes Three Continents Festival, as well as an award from the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema. The film became a big hit, securing a release in 30 countries. In 2001, Distance was presented In Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2004 Nobody Knows was In Competition at Cannes, where lead actor Yuya YAGIRA became the youngest-ever recipient of the Best Male Actor Award.

In 2006, KORE-EDA directed his first period film, Hana. Still Walking (2008) was well received both locally and abroad, winning numerous awards in Europe and Asia. Also in 2008, KORE-EDA released a Cocco live tour documentary, Daijobu de aruyo ni: Cocco Owaranai Tabi. In 2009, he broke new ground, making Yoshiie GODA’s short stories into the movie Air Doll, which screened at Cannes in Un Certain Regard, as well as international film festivals in Toronto, Chicago and Rotterdam.

He has worked on a music video for AKB48’s “Sakura no ki ni narou.” He is also involved as a producer for new directors such as Miwa NISHIKAWA (Wild Berries, 2003, Sway, 2006).

Bandai Visual Company