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How can someone come to understand something as complex as the way people experience a fundamentally “different” reality than most? “Living In Two Worlds”, the fourth fiction film by director Mipo O, answers this question in the most straightforward way possible for any narrative: by following a life full of life-altering events.

Living in Two Worlds is screening at Toronto Japanese Film Festival

This “life” in question is the coming-of-age tale of Dai Igarashi (Ryo Yoshizawa), the only son of Akiko (Akiko Oshidari) and Yosuke (Akito Imai). He is a Coda (“child of deaf adults”) living alongside his parents and grandparents (played by Setsuko Karasuma and Denden), who do not want nor seek to understand Akiko and Yosuke’s condition. And neither does Dai. Steadily, he grows resentful of them and the way the world’s prejudices affect him as well. But as he goes from curious child, to resentful teenager,...

Look Back received the Best Animation Award at the Japan Movie Critics Awards today, joining a long line of prestigious anime films. The Kiyotaka Oshiyama-directed film joins the highly decorated ranks of now classic anime films, Wolf Children , A Silent Voice, Night Is Short, and Walk On Girl . Alongside Look Back , actors from the live-action adaptations of Let's Go Karaoke! and Sayuri also won awards. Here is the full list of winners of the 34th Japan Movie Critic Awards: Best Picture - Living in Two Worlds Best Director - Yu Irie for A Girl Named Ann Best Actor (Male) - Ryo Yoshizawa in Living in Two Worlds Best Actor (Female) - Yumi Kawai in A Girl Named Ann Best Supporting Actor (Male) - Go Ayano in Maru , Yusaku Mori in Missing Best Supporting Actor (Female) - Akiko Oshidari in Living in Two Worlds Best Documentary - Big Home Best Animation...

The 67th edition of the Blue Ribbon Awards, presented by the Association of Tokyo Film Journalists, has announced its winners on January 28, 2025. The nominees and winners are selected from movies released in 2024 by members of the Association who are film reporters from seven sports newspapers in Tokyo. Indie movie “A Samurai in Time” was the surprise hit last year and has picked up a double win for Best Film and Best Actor. Likewise for Yu Irie‘s “A Girl Named Ann” bagging the Best Director and Best Actress awards.

Best Film

A Girl Named Ann

Abudeka Is Back

Let’s Go Karaoke!

52-Hertz Whales

A Samurai in Time

11 Rebels

Faceless

All the Long Nights

Last Mile

Look Back

Best Director

Yu Irie – A Girl Named Ann

Kazuya Shiraishi – 11 Rebels, Bushido

Ayuko Tsukahara – Last Mile, La Grande Maison Paris

Michihito Fujii – Faceless, 18×2 Beyond Youthful Days

Junichi Yasuda – A Samurai in Time

Best...

Exclusive: Japanese film Living in Two Worlds has secured international sales to several territories: Hong Kong (Edko), Taiwan (Sky Digi), China (Hugoeast), South Korea (MediaCastle), Indonesia (Falcon), Israel (Lev Cinema) and in-flight (Encore).

Since the film’s release on September 13 in Japan, Living in Two Worlds has grossed more than 90.3M yen, with Gaga Corporation representing the film.

The film premiered in-competition at the Shanghai International Film Festival and will also compete at the BFI London Film Festival.

Directed by Mipo O, Living in Two Worlds stars Ryo Yoshizawa, Akiko Oshidari and Akito Imai. The film is based on an autobiographical essay by Dai Igarashi.

Producer Hideyuki Yamakuni obtained the rights to the essay before approaching O to direct the film.

“I had heard a rumor that Mipo rejected all offers to direct feature films, but I had a glimmer of hope that she might accept this project,” Yamakuni said.