Interview
■Award Winners of International Competition
■Award Winners of Japanese Film Competition
Award Winners of International Competition
＜Grand Prize＞ Rêger AZAD KAYA (Director) “When the Seedlings Grow”
― How do you feel after receiving the Grand Prize?
First of all, we are very happy to receive the best film award from SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL in Japan. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the festival team, the Japanese people and the esteemed festival audience. Thank you for recognizing our movie with such an award. A war story from Rojava Kurdistan in Syria, produced by Komina Film in Rojava, reached Japan. This is a great happiness for us. With a camera and a story, we are trying to make our voice heard in the world. We struggle for a free and equal life. This award with this thought and purpose, we dedicate it to that beautiful day when the war ended. Also, we dedicate it to those who struggle for freedom and equality, and we dedicate it to all the children of the world who have lost their lives in war. I am delighted to present such an award and thank you. I am very pleased to come together with you at a film festival and share our feelings. From Kurdistan, from Syria, we have reached our voice all the way to Japan. That was our most important joy rather than the award. Once again, I would like to thank the festival team, the audience and the Japanese people. I convey our greetings and love from Rojava Kurdistan, Syria to you in Japan. I would like to thank you and express our happiness to be with you.
＜Best Director＞ Hernán OLIVERA (Production Director) “I Woke Up with a Dream”
― How do you feel after receiving the Best Director?
I’m really happy for this award, specially because Pablo loves SKIP CITY. He has been here before and he really keeps this festival and the audiences in his heart. I’m really glad that the jury was able to see his work, because they said that his directing with these actors was really like a hard work but I’m glad they were able to see it. Thank you very much for selecting us and congratulation on your 20th birthday.
＜Special Jury Prize＞ Noémi Veronika SZAKONYI (Director) “Six Weeks”
― How do you feel after receiving the Special Jury Prize?
We are so thrilled, happy and grateful for this prestigious prize. Thank you so much. This work was really a hard work for all of us; cast and crew, and then it’s very grateful for them; the producers and the entire crew, because they put so much love and energy into this first film. Also, thank you for your festival for giving us the opportunity to premiere our film in Japan, and thank you for the jury for awarding this prize to us, it means really a lot. Thank you for your kind audiences to watch the film. I heard that it really made them feel, so we are really over the moon. Thank you.
＜Audience Award＞ Léa FEHNER (Director) “Midwives”
― How do you feel after receiving the Audience Award?
I received the news that my film won the Audience Award. I’m honored and very happy to receive this great award. It was a great experience for me to meet the audience in Japan. I learned a lot about the reality of childbirth in Japan. It was fascinating to share with the audience, the understanding of the importance of birth and the theme of my film. I am deeply touched. It inspires me very much to see people’s hearts grow closer, through the theme of my film. That’s possible because, whether in Japan or France, we all used to be in the hands of midwives. Thank you for the wonderful award and for appreciating my film. I was happy to join the festival. Thank you.
Award Winners of Japanese Film Competition
＜SKIP CITY AWARD & Best Picture (Japanese Feature Category)＞ Yoshiki MATSUMOTO (Director) “Alien’s Daydream”
― How do you feel after receiving the SKIP CITY AWARD & Best Picture?
I never thought of winning two awards. For me personally, I am really happy to have the opportunity to be my film seen by the audience, and all I was concerned about was what kind of reaction I would get. With receiving these awards, however, I’m really happy to feel that I was able to convey the excitement that I intended to other people and that the film was recognized.
― What do you think after participating in the D-Cinema FESTIVAL?
I couldn’t believe that my film is selected together with all the amazing films, and I was a bit overwhelmed with those films. However, the films were really good and so I am curious about what kind of films they would make in the future.
― Would you tell us about your current and future projects?
Even before participating in SKIP CITY, I was thinking about what kind of film I will make next. After SKIP CITY, however, I realized that I have to make my next film while many people anticipate it. This is deeply ingrained in me, and I feel like I have to rework the script and plot that I had written. Because I have completed the first step of having people see the film that I found interesting, I am now thinking about how it will be perceived by the audience and how it will be communicated to the audience. With keeping this in mind and using the facilities at SKIP CITY, which I received as a prize of SKIP CITY AWARD, I would like to continue to make films.
＜Best Picture (Japanese Short Category)＞ Minami IKEMOTO (Director) “Hunting Results”
― How do you feel after receiving the Best Picture (Japanese Short Category)?
I’m just happy. It feels really good to be appreciated by people, and I’m really happy because I didn’t really get praised by people in my life.
― What do you think after participating in the D-Cinema FESTIVAL?
To be honest I was nervous, even though I thought I would win the Best Picture. I was relieved that I got it.
― Would you tell us about your current and future projects?
I think there are a lot of Japanese films that have little awareness of the current situation and social issues around us. This time, I once again thought that the difference in quality between Japanese films and foreign films is not simply the budget, but the lack of a sense of social matters. While exploring what I could do and express with films now, I decided to continue to make films whether short or full-length. I’ll do my best.
＜Special Mention (Japanese Short category)＞ Akihiro TAKAHAMA (Director) “Mimic”
― How do you feel after receiving the Special Mention?
I am very happy that I was able to receive the Special Mention, because this award was not originally offered, as a result of the feelings of the jury members.
― What do you think after participating in the D-Cinema FESTIVAL?
It was my first time attending a film festival, and I felt SKIP CITY was a very large and great film festival. I saw other films at the festival. There were eight shorts, so I watched other directors’ films, and there were many different genres and styles. I think there was a lot to learn from them.
― Would you tell us about your current and future projects?
Next time, I would like to make a short film again. Receiving this award was very encouraging. Since it was a special award given to all cast and crew members who participated the film, I hope I can continue to create even better things in the future.
＜Audience Award (Japanese Feature Category)＞ Kazuomi MAKITA (Director) “Hierophanie”
― How do you feel after receiving the Audience Award (Japanese Feature Category)?
I am very happy. Above all, I’m really happy that this award was chosen by the audience after watching it. My film is a horror film, and as a horror fan myself, I’m really happy that people watched and chose a genre film. I’d like to continue making horror films, thank you.
― What do you think after participating in the D-Cinema FESTIVAL?
I’ve seen most of the Japanese films at the festival, and they’ve inspired me. Sometimes I was kind of jealous, and want to write another script and make a film as soon as possible. I would like to participate in the festival again if I have the opportunity.
― Would you tell us about your current and future projects?
I usually write screenplays, so I would like to continue writing them and, if I get a chance, I want to make another feature-length film.
＜Audience Award (Japanese Short Category)＞ Daichi AMANO (Director) “Don’t Go”
― How do you feel after receiving the Audience Award (Japanese Short Category)?
I saw all of the short films, and I’m glad that I was able to screen my film with the many really great ones. Also, I am very happy to receive the Audience Award, which was voted for by the audience.
― What do you think after participating in the D-Cinema FESTIVAL?
I made my first film when I was 18 years old, and I have known the SKIP CITY since then. When I made my graduation film for school, I submitted it to the festival. However, it didn’t make it through. I am happy because it’s a big film festival and I’ve always wanted to show it and participate in the festival someday. It was great not only to be able to screen my film, but also to be inspired by other films and to be able to talk with other filmmakers.
― Would you tell us about your current and future projects?
I have a project that I want to make, so I would like to be able to make it happen. I have been trying to release Don’t Go in theaters this fall as one of the three shorts in the omnibus, so if you haven’t seen it yet or want to see it again, I would like you to see it in theaters.
*Comments from the winners are as of the awards ceremony.