Born 1962 in Tokyo, Japan. After graduating from Waseda University in 1987, Kore-eda joined TV Man Union where he directed several prize winning documentary programs. In 2014, he launched his production company BUN-BUKU.
In 1995, his directorial debut, Maborosi, based on the original novel written by Miyamoto Teru, won the 52nd Venice International Film Festival's Golden Osella. After Life (1998), distributed in over 30 countries, brought Kore-eda internationally acclaimed.
In 2001, Distance was selected in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and with his fourth work Nobody Knows (2004), Yagira Yuya garnered much attention for becoming the youngest person to ever receive the Cannes Film Festival's Best Actor Award.
In 2006, Hana, a film centered on vengeance, became his first attempt at a period piece.
In 2008, he presented the family drama Still Walking, which reflected his own personal experiences, received high appraisals from around the world.
In 2009, Air Doll was world premiered at Un Certain Regard of the 62nd Cannes Film Festival and was widely-praised for marking a new frontier in its depiction of a sensual love fantasy.
In 2011, I Wish won the Best Screenplay Award at the 59th San Sebastian International Film Festival.
In 2012, he made his first directorial debut for TV series Going Home. His latest film Like Father, Like Son (2013), winning the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, received the audience awards at San Sebastian, Vancouver, and Sao Paulo International Film Festivals and broke the Box Office record of his past films in many territories.
In 2015, Our Little Sister premiered in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and received five awards including Best Film and Best Director at Japan Academy Prize, as well as the Jury Prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival.
In 2016, After The Storm premiered at Un Certain Regard of the Cannes Film Festival. In 2017, The Third Murder premiered in Competition at the 52nd Venice International Film Festival. In 2018, Shoplifters won the Palme d'Or at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, the Best Foreign Film at the 44th Cesar and many other awards, moreover it was nominated for the 91st Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. His first feature shot outside Japan La Vérité with two French film legends, Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche, is the opening film in Competition of the 76th Venice International Film Festival. His first Korean film Broker (working title) will be released in 2022.
He has also produced films for young Japanese directors. Kakuto, directed by Iseya Yusuke, was premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2003. Wild Berries (2003) was written and directed by Nishikawa Miwa who later had her second feature Sway premiered at the Director’s Fortnight at Cannes in 2006. Ending Note: Death of a Japanese Salesman (2011) by Sunada Mami brought tears to the audience around world.