1. Minka
Dir. Davina Pardo. 2011. 15 min. Documentary.
Minka is a short documentary about a remarkable Japanese farmhouse and the memories it contains. In 1967, an American journalist and a Japanese student rescued the ancient house from the snow country of Japan, and their lives were forever changed.
Florida Film Festival: Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Short
Savannah Film Festival: Special Jury Award
2. Abita
Dir. Shoko Hara, Paul Brenner. 2012. 4 min. Animation.
Animated short film about Fukushima children who can’t play outside because of the radioactivity. About their dreams and realities.
International Uranium Film Festival 2013: Best Animated Film
3. Junk Head 1
Dir. Takahide Hori. 2014. 30 min. Animation.
After a conflict between humans and clones, the clones have been driven far below, to the lower levels of the city. Now, 1,200 years later, humans are sending a research pod down below to study the clones’ habitat.
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2014: Best Animation
4. The Misadventures of Incredible Dr. Wonderfoot
Dir. Grier Dill/Brett Glass. 2013. 12 min. Comedy.
This high-octane sci-fi comedy follows an aging Japanese podiatrist down a rabbit hole of unbelievable stories from his buried past.
5. Lil Tokyo Reporter
Dir. Jeffrey Gee Chin. 2012. 30 min. Drama.
1935 Los Angeles: community leader Sei Fujii uncovers the corrupt activities of his community’s underground mafia. He must choose between saving the face of his deteriorating community and confronting the issues head-on through his newspaper. Based on a true story.
California International Shorts Festival: Best Short Film
DisOrient Oregon Asian American: Best Short Film
LA International Underground: Best Short Film
Sacramento International: Best Short Film
Treasure Coast International: Best Short Film
Treasure Coast International: Best Cinematography
Asians on Film 2014: Best Cinematography
Asians on Film 2013: Best Cinematography
6. Little Kyota Neon Hood
Dir. Satsuki Okawa. 2012. 20 min. Comedy/Drama.
Ten-year-old Kyota lives in Kiryu City with his single mother. There are two items he cannot live without — a worn-out English vocabulary book and a disaster prevention hood. One day Kyota’s English teacher Tim, who went back to the UK following an earthquake, returns to his school.
Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival: Grand Prix for Short Film Category