Kazuhiro Soda
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese documentary filmmaker based in New York
, USA. He has lived in New York since 1993. He is known for his observational style and method of documentary film-making.
In 2005, Kazuhiro Soda shot Campaign (Senkyo) (2007, 120 minutes), depicting a political campaign in Kawasaki, Japan, by Kazuhiko Yamauchi, an inexperienced candidate officially endorsed by the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party
. When completed, it was invited to the forum section of Berlin International Film Festival
in 2007. PBS
broadcast a 52-minute version, which won the Peabody Award
in 2008. The TV version was broadcast under a different title, Campaign! The Kawasaki Candidate as part of the Why Democracy?
series, a global media event co-produced by 33 broadcasters around the world, including the BBC
, CBC
, and NHK
. The 120-minute theatrical version won the Best Documentary Award at the Belgrade International Documentary Film Festival in 2008.
From 2005 to 2007, Soda shot Mental (Seishin) (2008, 135 minutes), which focuses on the lives of patients in a small mental clinic Chorale Okayama in Japan. The film was world-premiered at the Pusan International Film Festival
in 2008, and won the Best Documentary Award (PIFF Mecenat Award) there. It also won the Best Documentary Award at the Dubai International Film Festival
in December 2008. Other awards include Special Jury Mention at the 2009 Miami International Film Festival
, Outstanding Documentary Award at the 2009 Hong Kong International Film Festival
, and Inter-religious Jury Prize at Visions du Reel
in 2009.
In September 2010, Soda premiered a documentary, Peace (2010, 75 minutes), as the opening film of the DMZ Korean International Documentary Festival. Peace depicts the lives of people with disabilities and cats in Okayama, Japan, and was initially commissioned by the DMZ Festival as a short documentary. Peace later won the Audience Award at Tokyo Filmex
, Buyens-Chagoll Award at Visions du Reel
, and Best Documentary Award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
In 2009, Soda started shooting Theater (working title), a documentary about a playwright/theater director Oriza Hirata and his company, Seinendan.
In 2009, he published a book called Mental Illness and Mosaic from Chuohoki Publishing.
Soda attended Tokyo University from 1989 to 1993, majoring in religious studies. He also earned a BFA from the School of Visual Arts
in film-making.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA. He has lived in New York since 1993. He is known for his observational style and method of documentary film-making.
In 2005, Kazuhiro Soda shot Campaign (Senkyo) (2007, 120 minutes), depicting a political campaign in Kawasaki, Japan, by Kazuhiko Yamauchi, an inexperienced candidate officially endorsed by the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
. When completed, it was invited to the forum section of Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
in 2007. PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The 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....
broadcast a 52-minute version, which won the Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
in 2008. The TV version was broadcast under a different title, Campaign! The Kawasaki Candidate as part of the Why Democracy?
Why Democracy?
Why Democracy? is a documentary film series produced by Steps International. The series consists of 10 films depicting independent documentary filmmakers personal perception of and experience with democracy, and was broadcast by 42 different broadcasters worldwide between the 8th and the 18th of...
series, a global media event co-produced by 33 broadcasters around the world, including the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, and NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
. The 120-minute theatrical version won the Best Documentary Award at the Belgrade International Documentary Film Festival in 2008.
From 2005 to 2007, Soda shot Mental (Seishin) (2008, 135 minutes), which focuses on the lives of patients in a small mental clinic Chorale Okayama in Japan. The film was world-premiered at the Pusan International Film Festival
Pusan International Film Festival
Busan International Film Festival , held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan , South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia...
in 2008, and won the Best Documentary Award (PIFF Mecenat Award) there. It also won the Best Documentary Award at the Dubai International Film Festival
Dubai International Film Festival
The Dubai International Film Festival is an international film festival based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Launched in 2004, it aims to foster the growth of filmmaking in the Arab world.-Overview:...
in December 2008. Other awards include Special Jury Mention at the 2009 Miami International Film Festival
Miami International Film Festival
The Miami International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Miami, Florida in the late winter. The film festival is sponsored by the Miami Film Society, which has been around since 1983....
, Outstanding Documentary Award at the 2009 Hong Kong International Film Festival
Hong Kong International Film Festival
The Hong Kong International Film Festival is a platform for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch and experience new film work. There are seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and parties celebrating the festival community...
, and Inter-religious Jury Prize at Visions du Reel
Visions du réel
Visions du Réel is an international documentary film festival held in April each year in Nyon, Switzerland. Established in 1969 as the Nyon International Documentary Film Festival, the event adopted its current name in 1995....
in 2009.
In September 2010, Soda premiered a documentary, Peace (2010, 75 minutes), as the opening film of the DMZ Korean International Documentary Festival. Peace depicts the lives of people with disabilities and cats in Okayama, Japan, and was initially commissioned by the DMZ Festival as a short documentary. Peace later won the Audience Award at Tokyo Filmex
Tokyo Filmex
Tokyo Filmex is an annual film festival established in 2000. This film festival was launched by Office Kitano, which is Takeshi Kitano's film company.For now, Office Kitano remains as one of the main partners for Tokyo Filmex....
, Buyens-Chagoll Award at Visions du Reel
Visions du réel
Visions du Réel is an international documentary film festival held in April each year in Nyon, Switzerland. Established in 1969 as the Nyon International Documentary Film Festival, the event adopted its current name in 1995....
, and Best Documentary Award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
In 2009, Soda started shooting Theater (working title), a documentary about a playwright/theater director Oriza Hirata and his company, Seinendan.
In 2009, he published a book called Mental Illness and Mosaic from Chuohoki Publishing.
Soda attended Tokyo University from 1989 to 1993, majoring in religious studies. He also earned a BFA from the School of Visual Arts
School of Visual Arts
The School of Visual Arts , is a proprietary art school located in Manhattan, New York City, and is widely considered to be one of the leading art schools in the United States. It was established in 1947 by co-founders Silas H. Rhodes and Burne Hogarth as the Cartoonists and Illustrators School and...
in film-making.
Fiction films
- A Night in New York (1995), writer/director/editor
- A Flower and a Woman (1995), writer/director/editor
- Freezing Sunlight (1996), writer/director/editor
- The Flicker (1997), writer/director/editor
Documentary films
- Campaign (2007), writer/director/editor/producer
- Mental (2008), writer/director/editor/producer
- Peace (2010), writer/director/editor/producer
2008
- The Best Documentary Award (PIFF Mecenat Award) - Pusan International Film FestivalPusan International Film FestivalBusan International Film Festival , held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan , South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia...
- MentalMentalMental, a word referring to aspects of, or things related to, the mind; or in anatomy, the skull, e.g. the mental foramen, can also mean:* a slang, pejorative term used to describe people who act like lunatics, which is itself an outdated term for people with mental disorders* Mental , a 2009... - The Best Documentary Award - Dubai International Film FestivalDubai International Film FestivalThe Dubai International Film Festival is an international film festival based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Launched in 2004, it aims to foster the growth of filmmaking in the Arab world.-Overview:...
- Mental - Peabody AwardPeabody AwardThe George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
- Campaign
2009
- Special Jury Mention - Miami International Film FestivalMiami International Film FestivalThe Miami International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Miami, Florida in the late winter. The film festival is sponsored by the Miami Film Society, which has been around since 1983....
- Mental - Outstanding Documentary Award - Hong Kong International Film FestivalHong Kong International Film FestivalThe Hong Kong International Film Festival is a platform for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch and experience new film work. There are seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and parties celebrating the festival community...
- Mental - Inter-religious Jury Prize - Visions du ReelVisions du réelVisions du Réel is an international documentary film festival held in April each year in Nyon, Switzerland. Established in 1969 as the Nyon International Documentary Film Festival, the event adopted its current name in 1995....
- Mental - The Best Film - Belgrade International Documentary Film Festival - CampaignCampaignCampaign may refer to:*Advertising campaign*Military campaign*Political campaign*Advocacy or Advocacy group, relating 'campaigning' on an issue -Gaming:...
2011
- The Best Documentary Award - Hong Kong International Film FestivalHong Kong International Film FestivalThe Hong Kong International Film Festival is a platform for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch and experience new film work. There are seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and parties celebrating the festival community...
- Peace - Buyens-Chagoll Award - Visions du ReelVisions du réelVisions du Réel is an international documentary film festival held in April each year in Nyon, Switzerland. Established in 1969 as the Nyon International Documentary Film Festival, the event adopted its current name in 1995....
- Peace