Japanese Film Competition (Short Length)
Look at Me
- Onsite
- 7.15 (Mon) 16:40 Audio Visual Hall
- 7.18 (Thu) 14:00 Convention Hall
- Online
- 7.20 (Sat) 10:00 - 7.24 (Wed) 23:00
Director: Cocone YAMAGUCHI
Cast : Akane SAWAI, Hikaru TAKAHASHI, Reika MIYAMOTO
2023 / Japan / 17min.
One day, best friends at an all-girls school Haruka and Nana hear a rumor that there is a cursed painting somewhere inside the school. They stumble upon it in the art room, and Nana’s gradual obsession with the girl depicted opens up a rift between them. The directorial debut of Cocone Yamaguchi, who studied under Gakuryu Ishii. This 17-minute horror film captures the evil lurking in adolescent girls’ hearts, featuring Akane Sawai, Hikaru Takahashi, and Reika Miyamoto as fellow students. The unspecified school they attend has a character all its own; while the pared-down dialogue, editing rhythm, and exquisite sound design all draw us into this compelling story. Look at Me will have its world premiere at the festival.
Director: Cocone YAMAGUCHI
Born in 2003 in Osaka Prefecture, Cocone Yamaguchi specialized in film at Kobe Design University’s Department of Image Arts, where she studied under directors Gakuryu Ishii and Takahiko Takeda. She is currently working on her graduation project.
Message
Created as an assignment for one of my classes, this film uses horror techniques to express female feelings of fragility, jealousy, and envy. I often felt my inexperience as a first-time director, but I poured my love and care into making Look at Me, and I’m thrilled that it is now ready for people to see. It made me discover all of the difficulty, joy, and charm involved in filmmaking, and I intend to continue making films in the future.
