5th OKINAWA INTERNATIONAL MOVIE FESTIVAL

Double Win for “Odayaka” at Creator’s Factory

Creator’s Factory held its Commendation Ceremony at Theater 2. The Creator’s Factory is a project new to the 5th Okinawa International Movie Festival, which aims to uncover “the next generation of creative artists.”

Videos by the best new artists, regardless of running time, category or genre, were selected with the artists to be provided with the full support of Yoshimoto Kogyo for their next production.

During the screening for the final selection, 9 films that were carefully chosen by the jury from a total of 138 applications were shown on Monday 25^th and Tuesday 26^th March, at the Sakurazaka Theater for a final review.  

Well known producer Kazuyoshi Okuyama, as well as comedian and director Itsuji Itao, and director Kaze Shindo, grand daughter of famous director Kaneto Shindo, served as the jury.      

At the Creator’s Factory Commendation Cceremony, the Creator’s Factory Best New Creator Award, Creator’s Factory Best Actor Award and Creator’s Factory Best Actress Award were announced from the  9 works that passed the final selection, with the prizewinners coming up to the stage.

A large audience gathered to see the ceremony. The emcee Izumo no Okuni and the jury, Mr. Okuyama, Mr. Itao and Mr. Shido appeared on stage, as the audience gave them a big hand, and with a cheerful atmosphere the ceremony started as each award was announced.  

The Creator’s Factory Best New Creator Award and the Creator’s Factory Best Actress Award were given to Kiki Sugino as producer and main actress. The full-length film “Odayaka” describes the life of two females worried about radiation in the suburbs of Tokyo after the East Japan earthquake. 

For the Creator’s Factory Best Actor Award, Kim Hyun-joong, leader of Korean popular idol group SS501, and his music video “Lucky Guy” received the award. “Co-op Nichi Nichi no Kurashi (The Daily Life in Nichi Nichi Sou Apartment)” and the director and scriptwriter Manami Wakai received the Creator’s Factory Special Award especially created for this animation piece, because the jury wanted to give a prize to the impressive work. 

Itao commented on the prize-winner works, “I’m impressed that all works are truly wonderful. Especially in “Odayaka”, I could see amazing acting and was truly moved by the reality. I also hope that there will be more new creators coming out every year.” 

Shindo said “It is my great honor to announce the prize and I am happy to see that all of these different films have received the awards. “Odayaka” is wonderful film even though it was created on a small budget. I hope many people will watch it. “Co-op Nichi Nichi no Kurashi” is also sweet piece.”  

Then the SHISA trophies were given to the prize-winners on stage. Sugino who received both the Creator’s Factory Best New Creator Award and the Creator’s Factory Best Actress Award, said “Thank you very much for such a wonderful award, along with the Best Actress Award. I believe this project along with the entire concept of the festival of “Laugh and Peace” is great. Since I produced this film to put out our hope of peace, I am honored to receive such an award.”

And Wakai who received the special prize, expressed her appreciation to all related staff. “Thank you very much for such a great award. Usually, I work all by myself, but I had many people helping me out to complete this film, so I am very happy to receive this award. I am thankful to all staff who created this together, the narrators and producer.” 

When Kim Hyun-joong, winner of the Creator’s Factory Best Actor Award came up to the stage, a lot of his fans screamed. He said “I’ve met the jury member Okuyama before, so I’m glad to see him again in Okinawa. I’m greatly honored to receive such an award in OIMF.” Okuyama prasied Hyun-joong highly. “Hyun-joong has a great talent and an atmosphere like the actors in Nikkatsu action movies in the time of Yujiro Ishihara. So I expect that he will be very active in Japanese movies and action films from now on.”  

Special guest, actress Kaori Momoi, appeared on stage to the audience's surprise and delight. She gave out flower bouquets, and said “I’d like to give bouquets to the Creator’s Factory first prize winner. The movie festival has to find new talents and I encourage that the festival supports small films. Next time I’ll apply to the competition, so please give me the award!” she said as the audience laughed.

At the finale, Okuyama commented “We would like to continue this project and produce new films in order to discover new talented creators. I hope the winners will become like Tarantino, Brad Pitt and Hayao Miyazaki in the future.”