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We reveal three more competition titles! Three powerfully told stories from countries with rich film history. Three films that have already taken festivals by storm, bringing their directors the status of future masters of Asian cinema. Also announced are the members of Five Flavours’ People’s Jury that will judge the festival films.

A brutal, yet sweet tale about growing up in Japan, bringing to mind the early works of Hirokazu Koreeda, told in a very personal, surprisingly mature language. A purebred social drama about people fighting for their dreams at the edges of Malaysian society. A look at the native Taiwanese culture made by the first Tayal female director in history. “Amiko,” “Abang Adik,” and “Gaga” are a testimony to the talents and sensitivity of new directors and tell us a lot about the very imperfect reality that surrounds them. The three films will be shown at Five Flavours – in cinemas and online!

Japan Society announces Amiko directed by Yusuke Morii as the winner of the third Obayashi Prize at Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film. The film is selected from titles within Next Generation—the festival's sole competitive section introduced in 2020 dedicated to independently produced narrative feature films from emerging filmmakers in Japan.

The festival's only juried section, Next Generation awards the Obayashi Prize to the most accomplished title as determined by a jury of industry professionals. This year's distinguished jurors are: critic and essayist Moeko Fujii; Dan Sullivan, programmer at Film at Lincoln Center; and distributor Pearl Chan. The jury remarks:

“As Amiko peeks into calligraphy class watching other children practice discipline and character building, they play a game of who can spot her first. She is too much, too loud; she cannot be held inside the lines and there is no language to describe her. This is where the...

Coming-of-age dramas often focus on challenges that affect us all and how they can be overcome. But Yusuke Morii's “Amiko” focuses very much on a child that isn't like anyone else, and as such, those around her don't know how to deal with her, as a story of a unique life sees a unique comedy in a strong directorial debut.

Amiko (Kana Osawa) lives in a suburb of Hiroshima with her father (Arata Iura), pregnant mother (Machiko Ono) and older brother. They have what appears to be a very simple life of a young family, with a humble father, diligent mother and caring older brother for his eccentric and enthusiastic little sister. But tragic events strike, and the family all have their lives shaken up. All that is, apart from the naïve and bright-eyed Amiko.

While the rest of the family show clear signs of grief, Amiko is still...

Yusuke Morii graduated from the Department of Film, now Nihon Institute of Cinema, and entered the industry as part of the production department of Shunichi Nagasaki’s The Witch of the West is Dead (2008). The screenwriter and filmmaker has also worked as an assistant director to Tatsushi Omori on the film Every Day a Good Day (2018). His directorial debut, Amiko (2022), is based on the novel Kochira Amiko by Natsuko Imamura and is selected for IFFR 2023.

On the occasion of his film screening at IFFR, we speak with him about the titular character, being a parent to such an unusual child, Kana Osawa, the reaction of the audience in Japan, and many other topics.

Amiko is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam

Why did you decide to adapt the particular novel by Natsuko Imamura?

I feel a lot of discomfort towards society and I wanted to express that particular feeling...

Yusuke Morii’s “Amiko” is a powerful film that tells the story of a young girl living in Hiroshima, Japan, who is struggling to cope with the grief and trauma within her family. The film’s titular character, Amiko, is played by the talented Kana Osawa, who delivers an outstanding performance throughout.

Amiko is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam

The film starts by introducing us to Amiko’s slightly awkward yet happy family, but quickly turns things around, after her mother suffers a miscarriage. The film then deals with the aftermath of this event, and the impact it has on everyone. By itself, this isn’t new, but viewing it through the lens of Amiko, a slightly quirky but honest young girl, gives it a different perspective worth exploring. Throughout the movie, she keeps on being herself, even though everyone around her is spiraling. It’s heartbreaking,...