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Tokyo-based Free Stone Productions has acquired international rights to Berlinale 2025 selection “Seaside Serendipity” and cross-cultural drama “Diamonds in the Sand,” with plans to represent both titles at Berlin’s upcoming European Film Market (EFM).

“Seaside Serendipity,” set to premiere in the Generation section at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival, marks the latest feature from Yokohama Satoko. The coming-of-age drama follows a 14-year-old art club member and his friends during their summer vacation as they interact with a diverse community of artists who have relocated to their seaside town. The film stars Konosuke Harada, with a supporting ensemble including Kumiko Aso, Kengo Kora, and Ayame Goriki. The film is scheduled for a summer 2025 release in Japan.

“Diamonds in the Sand,” which premiered at Tokyo Filmex 2024, marks Janus Victoria’s directorial debut, and is a Japan-Malaysia-Philippines co-production. The drama stars acclaimed Japanese actor Lily Franky (“Shoplifters”) as a divorced salaryman confronting solitude in...

by Danica Pacardo

“The Queen of Villains” is a drama based on the life of Dump Matsumoto, one of the most notorious celebrities in Japanese professional wrestling during its peak in the 1980s. Osamu Suzuki decided to produce and co-write this engaging five-episode Netflix mini series when he learned about Matsumoto’s account of her experiences in the ring. Known for critically acclaimed action thrillers such as “Blood of the Wolves” and “Last of the Wolves”, Kazuya Shiraishi capably co-directs this with Katsuhito Mogi. This also reunited the former with Junya Ekigami, the screenwriter of his aforementioned films.

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It follows the personal struggles of Kaoru/Dump (Yuriyan Retriever) before gaining global recognition. Her life has been hard since childhood, as she, along with her mother and her sister, endures the neglect and abuse of their alcoholic father. They soon find...

"How did one girl become hated in Japan and whip everyone into a frenzy?" Netflix has unveiled the full official trailer for a streaming series called The Queen of Villains, about a Japanese pro-wrestler. Set for a global debut on Netflix later this month if anyone wants to rumble with her. Seems like a fun companion series to Glow. Follow the lives of girls who were once nobodies, witness the sheer excitement they sparked, and discover what these wrestlers, who fought with all their might through a bygone era, are asking us in the present day. The series introduces everyone to Dump Matsumoto – a professional wrestler who spurred the women's professional wrestling boom with her cult-like popularity and took Japan by storm in the 80s. One ordinary girl went on to captivate all of Japan. Now, the story of her viciously vile fight for survival is about to begin! Starring Yuriyan Retriever as Dump Matsumoto,...

Teppei Isobe graduated from Visual Arts College Osaka. Started independent filmmaking in 2016. His films have been selected and awarded in many domestic film festivals. In 2019, he established a film production company, belly roll film, with his classmate Jihiko Taniguchi. His first feature film “Mi wa Mirai no Mi (“F is for Future.”) and five other short films were released as “Teppei Isobe's Special Feature” at theaters such as Uplink Kichijoji, Nagoya Cinemascore, and Osaka Cine Nouveau. In 2021, he directed “Tears of Persephone” (starring Shu Watabe and Ayame Goriki), a film commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of Shin-Etsu Broadcasting. He also has several other new films in the pipeline for theatrical release.

On the occasion of 3 of his film streaming at TodoiF, we present 5 of his movies we think deserve a watch, in chronological order.

1. Unscripted Life (2018)

The story begins inside a restaurant, where the employees of a company...

Five highly-trained agents are all that stand in the way of a dangerous terrorist group in the first trailer for Gatchaman. Based on the popular animated series created by Tatsuo Yoshida (which was known as Battle of the Planets in the United States), this live-action adaptation follows five agents of the International Science Organizaition, who try to stop a terrorist group dubbed Galactor from destroying the world. The film, directed by Toya Sato, is slated for an August 23 release in Japan, although we have no word on when to expect a domestic release. In the meantime, check out the first footage starring T&#244ri Matsuzaka, Ryohei Suzuki, G&#244 Ayano, Ayame G&#244riki, and Tatsuomi Hamada.

Gatchaman International Trailer

Set in the near future, Gatchaman follows the story five special agents of the International Science Organization in Tokyo as they try to protect the world from the mysterious terrorist group who call themselves Galactor.

The first full trailer for Japan's live-action adaptation of the anime series Gatchaman has been released! The original series was produced in Japan in 1972 and was eventually brought to the states in the '80s and retitled Battle of the Planets. A few years ago a CG animated adaptation of the series was being developed by the animation studio Imagi, but when they went out of business the movie died, which is a shame. 

I would have loved to see the animated film they were working on, but the live-action movie still looks cool, and I'm sure it will be really fun, especially for those of us who are fans of the original series. Here's the synopsis:

Set in the near future, Gatchaman follows the story five special agents of the International Science Organization in Tokyo as they try to protect the world from the mysterious terrorist group who call themselves Galactor.

There's no subtitles unfortuantely, but this certainly Looks pretty damn impressive. As a fan of the cartoon I'll definitely be checking it out. Set in the near future, Gatchaman follows the story five special agents of the International Science Organization in Tokyo as they try to protect the world from the mysterious terrorist group who call themselves Galactor. With technology that far surpasses that of humans, Galactor has declared war on the entire world and has already subjugated half of it. Trained to draw out the power from the mysterious crystal-like object called a "stone," our five heroes will be called "Gatchaman." Gatchaman stars Tôri Matsuzaka as Ken aka Gatchaman, Gô Ayano as Condor No Joe, Ayame Gôriki as Jun The Swan, Tatsuomi Hamada as Junpei The Swallow, Ryohei Suzuki as Ryu The Owl, Gorô Kishitani as Dr. Nambu and Eriko Hatsune as Naomi. Follow @RorMachine !function(d,s,id){var js,...

Sneak Peek the first teaser trailer from the Toho live-action film adaptation of creator Tatsunoko's anime "Gatchaman" (aka "Battle of The Planets"), directed by Toya Sato from a script by Yūsuke Watanabe :

"...Tori Matsuzaka is 'Ken Washio', leader of the team and tactical expert, Gô Ayano is 'George Asakura', second-in-command marksman and weapons expert, Ayame Gôriki is 'Jun Ohtsuki', the yoyo-wielding electronics and demolitions expert, Ryohei Suzuki is 'Ryu Nakanishi', the ship's main pilot and Tatsuomi Hamada is 'Jinpei Ohtsuki', reconnaissance expert.

"The team serves as agents of the 'International Science Organization' in Tokyo. 'Galactor', a mysterious group whose technology far surpasses that of humans, has declared war on the entire world and has already subjugated half of it. A mysterious crystal-like object called a 'stone', is now humanity's only hope. Those who are able to draw out the power of the stones are forced to train to become...