Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story
Encyclopedia
Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story is an American documentary about Megumi Yokota
, a Japanese student who was abducted by a North Korean agent
in 1977.
The film made its world premiere at the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival
and has won numerous awards. It was made by Canadian journalists Chris Sheridan
and Patty Kim made and released in 37 theaters in Tokyo and 17 other prefectures, including Hokkaido, Kanagawa
, Osaka
, Hiroshima
and Fukuoka
. It was also released in theaters in the United States, opening on August 18, 2006 at the Hollywood Arc Light Cinema in Los Angeles.
Among its honors, this film was named best documentary at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
, the Austin Film Festival
, the Asian Film Festival of Dallas
and won the audience award at the Omaha and Slamdance Film Festival
s in 2006. The film's been shown at some of the largest festivals all over the world including the Sydney Film Festival
in Australia, the International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam in The Netherlands and the Hot Docs Film Festival in Canada. In January 2009, the film was honored with the prestigious Alfred I. duPont Award, one of the highest distinctions in American journalism.
The film has also been broadcast on TV, and featured in theaters in Hong Kong, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Israel, France, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, France, Singapore and many others.
Megumi Yokota
was one of at least 17 Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She was abducted on November 15, 1977 at the age of thirteen and apparently forced to help train North Korean spies to pass as Japanese citizens...
, a Japanese student who was abducted by a North Korean agent
North Korean abductions of Japanese
The abductions of Japanese citizens from Japan by agents of the North Korean government happened during a period of six years from 1977 to 1983. Although only 17 Japanese are officially recognized by the Japanese government as having been abducted, there may have been as many as 70 to 80...
in 1977.
The film made its world premiere at the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival
Slamdance Film Festival
As a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent in the film industry; it is also the only major film festival fully programmed by filmmakers. Slamdance counts among its alumni many notable writers and directors who first gained notice at the...
and has won numerous awards. It was made by Canadian journalists Chris Sheridan
Chris Sheridan (director)
Chris Sheridan is a Canadian filmmaker and co-founder, with wife Patty Kim, of Safari Media. With his wife he co-directed the 2006 documentary Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story and the 2004 documentary Destiny, which won a top award at the New York International Independent Video and Film Festival...
and Patty Kim made and released in 37 theaters in Tokyo and 17 other prefectures, including Hokkaido, Kanagawa
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
, Osaka
Osaka Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...
, Hiroshima
Hiroshima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.- History :The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province. This location has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded...
and Fukuoka
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
. It was also released in theaters in the United States, opening on August 18, 2006 at the Hollywood Arc Light Cinema in Los Angeles.
Among its honors, this film was named best documentary at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
The San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival presented every March is the nation’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian films, annually presenting approximately 130 works in San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose, USA...
, the Austin Film Festival
Austin Film Festival
The Austin Film Festival was started in 1994 in Austin, Texas and is claimed to be "the first organization of its kind to focus on the writer’s unique creative contribution to the film and television industries"...
, the Asian Film Festival of Dallas
Asian Film Festival of Dallas
The Asian Film Festival of Dallas is a film festival held annually in July or August in Dallas, Texas. The festival programming consists of international films from Asia as well as Asian-American features and shorts. The festival is held primarily at Landmark Theatres' Magnolia Theatre in the ...
and won the audience award at the Omaha and Slamdance Film Festival
Slamdance Film Festival
As a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent in the film industry; it is also the only major film festival fully programmed by filmmakers. Slamdance counts among its alumni many notable writers and directors who first gained notice at the...
s in 2006. The film's been shown at some of the largest festivals all over the world including the Sydney Film Festival
Sydney Film Festival
The Sydney Film Festival is an annual film festival held in the Australian city of Sydney and is held over 12 days in June. The competitive film festival draws international and local attention, with films being showcased in several venues across the city centre and includes features,...
in Australia, the International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam in The Netherlands and the Hot Docs Film Festival in Canada. In January 2009, the film was honored with the prestigious Alfred I. duPont Award, one of the highest distinctions in American journalism.
The film has also been broadcast on TV, and featured in theaters in Hong Kong, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Israel, France, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, France, Singapore and many others.
Plot Summary
The documentary is told from the eyes of Megumi's mother and father as they learned the grave truth of their daughter's abduction, and their thirty year search for the truth.Awards
At a ceremony at Columbia University in New York on January 22, 2009, the filmmakers were awarded the Alfred I. duPont Silver Baton, one of the highest distinctions in American journalism.- Best Documentary, Audience Award: 2006 Slamdance Film FestivalSlamdance Film FestivalAs a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent in the film industry; it is also the only major film festival fully programmed by filmmakers. Slamdance counts among its alumni many notable writers and directors who first gained notice at the...
- Best Documentary, Audience Award: 2006 Omaha Film Festival
- Jury Prize, Best Documentary: 2006 San Francisco International Asian American Film FestivalSan Francisco International Asian American Film FestivalThe San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival presented every March is the nation’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian films, annually presenting approximately 130 works in San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose, USA...
- Top Ten Audience Favorite: 2006 Hot DocsHot DocsHot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival is North America's largest documentary film festival, conference, and market, held annually in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
- Best Documentary: 2006 Asian Film Festival of DallasAsian Film Festival of DallasThe Asian Film Festival of Dallas is a film festival held annually in July or August in Dallas, Texas. The festival programming consists of international films from Asia as well as Asian-American features and shorts. The festival is held primarily at Landmark Theatres' Magnolia Theatre in the ...
- Best Documentary: 2006 Austin Film FestivalAustin Film FestivalThe Austin Film Festival was started in 1994 in Austin, Texas and is claimed to be "the first organization of its kind to focus on the writer’s unique creative contribution to the film and television industries"...
- Top Five Audience Favorite: 2006 Sydney Film FestivalSydney Film FestivalThe Sydney Film Festival is an annual film festival held in the Australian city of Sydney and is held over 12 days in June. The competitive film festival draws international and local attention, with films being showcased in several venues across the city centre and includes features,...
- Nominee, Best Feature Documentary, United Nations International Film Festival on Human Rights 2007
- Nominee, Best Feature Documentary: 2006 Atlanta Film FestivalAtlanta Film FestivalThe Atlanta Film Festival is an Academy Award qualifying, international film festival held in Atlanta, Georgia. Started in 1976 and occurring every April, the festival shows a diverse range of independent films, including genre films such as horror and sci-fi...
- Nominee, Best Feature Documentary: 2006 Starz Denver Film Festival
- Nominee, Best Feature Documentary: 2006 Independent Film Festival of BostonIndependent Film Festival of BostonThe Independent Film Festival of Boston is a not for profit film festival in Boston, Massachusetts.- History :The Independent Film Festival of Boston was created in 2003 by the non-profit organization the Independent Film Society of Boston. The festival takes place each April in the Boston area's...
- Official Selection: 2006 IDA Docuweek Theatrical Showcase
- Official Selection: 2006 International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam
- Official Selection: 2007 Docaviv International Film Festival
- Official Selection: 2007 Thessaloniki International Film FestivalThessaloniki International Film FestivalThe Thessaloniki International Film Festival has become one of the Balkans' primary showcases for the work of new and emerging filmmakers...
See also
- North Korean abductions of JapaneseNorth Korean abductions of JapaneseThe abductions of Japanese citizens from Japan by agents of the North Korean government happened during a period of six years from 1977 to 1983. Although only 17 Japanese are officially recognized by the Japanese government as having been abducted, there may have been as many as 70 to 80...
- Megumi YokotaMegumi Yokotawas one of at least 17 Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She was abducted on November 15, 1977 at the age of thirteen and apparently forced to help train North Korean spies to pass as Japanese citizens...
- Megumi (manga)Megumi (manga)is a manga about Megumi Yokota, a Japanese girl who was abducted when she was 13 years old by North Korean spies in 1977. The manga concept was conceived by her mother and father and was penned by Souichi Moto under their supervision.-Anime:...
, a manga and anime adaptation of Yokota's story - Peter Frampton records two songs for Megumi after watching ABDUCTION on PBS. http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2010/09/07/peter-frampton-alive-to-abductees-fate/
External links
- Official film site
- ABDUCTION: The Megumi Yokota Story site for Independent LensIndependent LensAiring weekly on PBS through ITVS, the Emmy Award-winning series Independent Lens introduces new drama and documentary films made by independent filmmakers. Past seasons of Independent Lens have been presented by hosts Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Susan Sarandon, Edie Falco, Terrence Howard, Maggie...
on PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia.... - PBS's Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria, [In Focus: ABDUCTION http://foreignexchange.tv/?q=node/1690]
- Giovanni Fazio, "Testimony to an unwavering love", The Japan TimesThe Japan TimesThe Japan Times is an English language newspaper published in Japan. Unlike its competitors, the Daily Yomiuri and the International Herald Tribune/Asahi Shimbun, it is not affiliated with a Japanese language media organization...
, 23 November 2006 - Efilmcritic review ["Goes from true crime story to world politics with an emotional wallop" http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=13704]
- Anita Huslin, "Stealing Lives To Pilfer Secrets", The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, 24 November 2006 - New York Post film review http://www.nypost.com/seven/01122007/entertainment/movies/hope_amid_tears_movies_v_a__musetto.htm
- New York Times movie listing http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=346126
- New Yorker movie review http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2007/01/22/070122crci_cinema_lane
- Slant magazine movie review http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=2732
- Los Angeles Times movie review http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/screening/cl-wk-screen17aug17,0,856731.story?coll=cl-screening
- Government Internet TV site
- duPont Award story http://www.tvweek.com/newspro-telling-the-story/index.php