ABOUT
BIOGRAPHY
Originally from Osaka, Japan, HIKARI is an award-winning writer, director and producer. Her directorial debut short film Tsuyako (Drama, 2011, USC Thesis Film) visited over 100 film festivals worldwide receiving over 50 awards including Director’ s Guild of America Student Award for the Best Female Filmmaker. In 2013, she wrote and directed a live action & animated short film A Better Tomorrow (Fantasy Adventure, 2013) for the First Annual Lexus Short Films which was produced by The Weinstein Company.
Her other directing credit include a dance short film Where We Begin (Drama, 2015, Tribeca Film Festival), Can & Sulochan (Comedy, 2014, UULA) and Subaru’ s Dramatic Cinema Series - commercials and short films that features Subaru’ s vintage to latest models. With the script of 37 Seconds, she had participated in Sundance Institute/NHK Screenwriting workshop, Film Independent’ s Screen- writing and Directing Lab in 2017. The film was completed in January 2019 and celebrating its world premiere at 2019 Berlin International Film Festival in their Panorama section. The film is also nominated for GWFF Best First Feature Film Award.
大阪市出身。脚本家、映画監督、撮影監督、プロデューサー。幼少の頃から合唱団を通じてミュージカルやオペラ、EXPOなどで舞台に立つ。南ユタ州立大学にて舞台芸術・ダンス・美術学部を学び、学士号を取得後、ロサンゼルスに移住。女優、カメラマン、アーティストとして活躍後、南カリフォルニア大学院（USC）映画芸術学部にて映画・テレビ制作を学ぶ。 卒業制作映画 『Tsuyako』(2011) で監督デビュー。DGA・米国監督協会で最優秀女学生監督賞を含む、合計４７賞を受賞。第1回Lexus Short Filmでは日本人代表としてファンタジーアドベンチャー短編映画『A Better Tomorrow』 (2013)を制作、UULA配給ショートフィルム『キャンとスロチャン』（コメディー, 2014）、スバル・ドラマチックシネマシリーズなどを制作。ダンス短編映画『Where We Begin』 (2015) はトライベッカ映画祭でプレミア上映し最優秀短編映画ノミネーションを含む合計８賞を受賞。最近では初長編脚本作品『Cantering』がNHK・Sundance脚本ワークショップとFilm Independent Screenwriting Labに選出され、現在は来年の撮影に向け企画を進行中。ロサンゼルスと東京を起点に活動し、Paradigm Talent Agencyに監督／脚本家として所属。
FILMOGRAPHY
FEATURE FILM
2019
37 Seconds (Drama, 115 min) - Writer/Director/Producer
WP 2019 Berlin International Film Festival
Nominated for GWFF Best First Feature Film Award
2018
Roll With Me (114 min, Documentary) – Co-producer
WP Slamdance Film Festival
SHORT FILM
2015
Where We Bgin (Drama/Dance, 19 min) – Writer/Director/Producer
Robo Saints (Drama, 16 min), Film Independent, Project Involve – Producer
2014
Can & Sulochan (Comedy, 14 min, Avex/Softbank) – Writer/Director
2013
A Better Tomorrow (Fantasy Adventure, 13 min) Lexus Short Film – Writer/Director
2012
Tokyo Halloween Night (Comedy, 25 min) – Cinematographer
2011
Tsuyako (Drama, 24 min) – Writer/Director/Producer
2010
Another Life (Drama, 16 min) – Producer
2009
Moonlight Theater (Fantasy, 1 min) Coca Cola Refreshing Filmmakers Award – Writer/Director
Simplicity (Documentary, 3 min) Cisco System Digital Crib Contest Finalist – Writer/Director
Nebraska (Drama, 16 min) – Cinematographer
2008
Nota di Amore (Comedy, 6 min) – Producer/Cinematographer
Help Wanted (Suspense, 3 min) Winner Filmaka Entry Level Selection – Writer/Director/Cinematographer/Editor
Making It Happen (Love Comedy, 3 min) Nominee Jury Prize – Writer/Director/ Cinematographer/Editor
2007
Naya Din (Drama, 7 min) Writer/Director/Producer/Editor/Sound Designer
COMMERCIAL
ONEATHLETE “Athlete United” – Director
FARMERS INSURANCE – Stop Motion Animation Cinematographer
TAKEDA PHERMACEUTICAL COMPANY “Better Health, Brighter Future” – Co-Director
SUBARU CROSTREK “Similar Figures” – Director
SUBARU FORESTER “Brotherhood” – Director
SUBARU LEGACY "Resonance" – Director
SUBARU EXCIGA "My Dream" – Director
SUBARU BRZ “D.N.A.” – Writer/Director
SUBARU LEGACY “Birth” – Director
SUBARU FORESTER “Proposal” – Director
COCA-COLA “Moonlight Theater” – Coca Cola Refreshing Filmmakers Award Finalist – Writer/Director
INTERACTIVE VIDEO GAME
2014
“Midnight Las Vegas” Director
MUSIC VIDEO
2013
King's Road “I Choose You” Co-Director/Cinematographer
2012
V.I.C - Cinematographer
2011
MAYO KAWASAKI “Why” Director/Cinematographer
2008
MIDNIGHT THEORY "People" Writer/Director/Producer
AWARD / NOMINATION
2019
Nominated for GWFF Best First Feature Film Award – 2019 Berlinale
2016
Best Director & Mary Austin Award / Excellence in Directing - Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema
2013
Best Screen Writer - Social Film Festival (Italy, June 5-9, 2013)
Nominee for the Best Director Award- Fargo Film Festival
Nominee for the Best Screen Writer - Social Film Festival (Italy, May 5-9, 2013)
2012
Linda Mabalot New Directors / New Visions Award - Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
Emerging Director Award - Tampla LGTB Film Festival
Honorable Mention Award - In recognition in Excellence in Filmmaking - Evolution International Film Festival
2011
Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award - Best Female Student Filmmaker
Future Filmmaker Award - Palm Springs International Short Fest
2010
Thomas B. Bush Memorial Scholarship for excellence in Cinematography
Honorable Mention Award for Diesel Commercial "Play Stupid, Live Diesel"
2009
Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmakers Award Finalist "Moon Light Theater"
Cisco System, Digital Crib Short Documentary Competition Finalist "Simplicity"
2008
Frank Sinatra Directing Award for Excellence in Directing
Filmaka Online Film Contest - Winner of Entry Level "Help Wanted"
Filmaka Online Film Contest - Jury Award Nominee "Making It Happen"
