PROFILE&WORKS

HIROKAZU KOREEDA Film director Television director

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.

Broker

Broker(2022)

【Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won, Doona Bae, Lee Ji-eun, Lee Joo-young
【description】
Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho) runs a laundry shop, but is constantly saddled with debt. Dong-soo (GANG Dong Won), who grew up in an orphanage, works in a baby box facility.
One night in the pouring rain, they secretly carry off an infant who was left at the baby box. But on the following day, the mother So-young (LEE Ji Eun) unexpectedly returns for her son Woo-sung. Realizing that her baby has been taken, she is about to call the police when the two men tell her everything. Their claim that they stole the baby in order to find him a good home seems outrageous, but So-young ends up joining Sang-hyun and Dong-soo on a journey to find new parents for Woo-sung.
Meanwhile, the police detective Su-jin (Doona BAE) and her younger colleague Detective Lee (LEE Joo Young) are witnessing all of this as it unfolds. They silently tail the group, hoping to catch them in the act at all costs to wrap up their half-year investigation.

Brought together by chance through a baby box, the five individuals embark on an unusual and unexpected journey.
【Award】
75th Cannes FF, Best Actor Award(Song Gang Ho) & Ecumenical Jury Award
79th Venice IFF, Robert Bresson Award
39th Munich IFF, Arri Award (for Best Film)
50th Norwegian IFF, The Ray of Sunshine Award

The Truth

The Truth(2019)

【Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche, Ethan Hawke
Ludivine Sagnier, Clementine Grenier, Manon Clavel
【description】
Shot entirely in France, the project is Kore-eda’s first venture overseas and saw him direct cinema legends Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche.

Fabienne is a star — a star of French cinema. She reigns amongst men who love and admire her. When she publishes her memoirs, her daughter Lumir returns from New York to Paris with her husband and young child. The reunion between mother and daughter will quickly turn to confrontation: truths will be told, accounts settled, loves and resentments confessed.
【Award】
76th Venice Film Festival, Competition (Opening Night Gala)

Shoplifters

Shoplifters(2018)

【Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Lily Franky, Ando Sakura, Matsuoka Mayu, Kiki Kilin,
Jyo Kairi, Sasaki Miyu
【description】
After one of their shoplifting sessions, Osamu and his son come across a little girl in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter the girl, Osamu’s wife agrees to take care of her after learning of the hardships she faces. Although the family is poor, barely making enough money to survive through petty crime, they seem to live happily together until an unforeseen incident reveals hidden secrets, testing the bonds that unite them...
【Award】
71st Cannes Film Festival, Palme d'or
36th Munich Film Festival, ARRI/OSRAM Award
66th Melbourne International Film Festival, Audience Award TOP3
37th Vancouver International Film Festival, Audience Award
55th Antalya International Film Festival, Best Director
3rd Slemani International Film Festival, Jury Awar Feature Film
Cambridge Film Festival, Golden Punt Audience Award
Denver Film Festival, Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for Best Narrative Feature Film
Films from the South, Audience Award
12th Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Best Feature Film
38th Hawaii International Film Fetival, Narrative Feature Audience Award
91st Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (Nominee)
44th César, Best Foreign Film

Ten Years Japan

Ten Years Japan(2018)

【Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Hana Sugisaki, Jun Kunimura, Taiga, Satoru Kawaguchi, Chizuru Ikewaki
【description】
Based on the concept of the controversial Hong Kong feature “Ten Years”, “Ten Years Japan” brings together five young directors whose short segments create a fascinating vision of Japan a decade from now. Up-and-coming filmmakers Chie Hayakawa, Yusuke Kinoshita, Megumi Tsuno, Akiyo Fujimura and Kei Ishikawa have brought youth, passion and originality to their explorations of Japan's social and environmental problems.
In Hayakawa's "Plan 75," longevity is a liability, and the government is implementing a solution; in Kinoshita's "Mischievous Alliance," children disrupt the 24/7 monitoring systems that control their educations with AI; in Tsuno's "Data," a young woman finds her mother's digital inheritance card, and is able to connect with her past; in Fujimura's "The Air We Can't See," a disaster has sent the population underground, but one lonely child finds a place only kids can go; and in Ishikawa's "For Our Beautiful Country," an adman begins to rethink his job when he has to promote militarization.
【Award】
23th Busan IFF
2018 London East Asia FF
2018 Hong Kong Asian FF
2018 Taipei Golden Horse FF
21st Udine Far East FF

THE THIRD MURDER

THE THIRD MURDER(2017)

【Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Masaharu Fukuyama
Suzu Hirose, Shinnosuke Mitsushima,
Mikako Ichikawa, Izumi Matsuoka
Isao Hashizume, Yuki Saito, Kotaro Yoshida
Koji Yakusho
【description】
Leading attorney Shigemori takes on the defence of murder-robbery suspect Misumi who served jail time for another murder 30 years ago. Shigemori’s chances of winning the case seem low - his client freely admits his guilt, despite facing the death penalty if he is convicted. As he digs deeper into the case, as he hears the testimonies of the victim’s family and Misumi himself, the once confident Shigemori begins to doubt whether his client is the murderer after all.
【Award】
74th Venice Film Festival, Competition

AFTER THE STORM

AFTER THE STORM(2016)

【Draft, Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Abe Hiroshi, Maki Yoko, Yoshizawa Taiyo, Kiki Kilin
【description】
Dwelling on his past glory as a prize-winning author, Ryota wastes the money he makes as a private detective on gambling and can barely pay child support. After the death of his father, his aging mother and beautiful ex-wife seem to be moving on with their lives. Renewing contact with his initially distrustful family, Ryota struggles to take back control of his existence and to find a lasting place in the life of his young son ? until a stormy summer night offers them a chance to truly bond again...
【Award】
69th Cannes Film Festival, Un Certain Regard

Our Little Sister

Our Little Sister(2015)

【Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Haruka Ayase, Masami Nagasawa, Kaho, Suzu Hirose
Ryo Kase, Kirin Kiki, Lily Franky, Jun Fubuki,
Shinichi Tsutsumi, Shinobu Otake
【description】
Three sisters - Sachi, Yoshino and Chika - live together in a large house in the city of Kamakura. When their father - absent from the family home for the last 15 years - dies, they travel to the countryside for his funeral, and meet their shy teenage half-sister. Bonding quickly with the orphaned Suzu, they invite her to live with them. Suzu eagerly agrees, and a new life of joyful discovery begins for the four siblings... The film is based on the manga series Umimachi Diary by Akimi Yoshida.
【Award】
68th Cannes Film Festival, Competition
【Screen time】
128min

Like Father, Like Son

Like Father, Like Son(2013)

【Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Masaharu Fukuyama, Machiko Ono, Yoko Maki, Lily Franky,
Jun Fubuki, Jun Kunimura, Kirin Kiki, Isao Natsuyagi
【description】
Ryota has earned everything he has by his hard work, and believes nothing can stop him from pursuing his perfect life and living as a winner. Then one day, he and his wife, Midori, get an unexpected phone call from the hospital. Their 6-year-old son, Keita, is not their son - the hospital gave them the wrong baby. Ryota is forced to make a life-changing decision, to choose between “nature” and “nurture.” In the meanwhile, seeing Midori’s devotion to Keita even after learning his origin, and communicating with the rough yet caring family who raised his blood son for the last six years, Ryota also starts to question himself: has he really been a “father” all these years…The moving story of a man who finally faces himself when he encounters an unexpected wall for the first time in his life.
【Award】
66th Cannes Film Festival, Jury Prize and Ecumenical Jury Prize
61st San Sebastian Interantional Film Festival, Audience Award
56th 56th Asia-Pacific Film Festival, Best Film and Best Director
【Screen time】
121min

I wish

I wish(2011)

【Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Koki Maeda, Ohshiro Maeda, Joe Odagiri, Yui Natsukawa,
Hiroshi Abe, Masami Nagasawa, Yoshio Harada, Kirin Kiki, Isao Hashizume
【description】
Koichi (12) lives with his mother and retired grand parents in Kagoshima, southern part of Kyushu region. His brother Ryunosuke (10) lives with their father in Hakata, northern Kyushu separated with their parents divorce. A new bullet train line in the region will be inaugurated soon, and Koichi starts to believe a “miracle” will happen the first moment these new bullet trains intersect each other from opposite directions with their highest speed; his only wish is for his family to live together once again. With some help from grown-ups around him, Koichi sets out on a journey struggling lives.
【Award】
59th San Sebastial International Film Festival, Best Screenplay, SIGNIS Award
25th Children Film Festival of Isfahan, Best Film
7th Asian Film Awards, Best Director
【Screen time】
128min

Air Doll

Air Doll(2009)

【Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Bae Doo-Na, ARATA, Itsuji Itao, Joe Odagiri, Masaya Takahashi,
Kimiko Yo, Sumiko Fuji
【description】
Air Doll is based on the manga series Kuuki Ningyo by Yoshiie Goda, and is about an inflatable doll that develops human feelings. “One day, I found myself to have a soul, something I should not have.” Without her owner knowing, the air doll decides to walk around town. Everything is new to her in the world outsie. She meets all kinds of people. The world is filled with so much beauty, but everyone seems to have some kind of hollowness, just as she has. One afternoon, she meets Junichi who works at a rental video store, and instantly falls in love with him... A sad yet happy fantasy. This is a stroy about a new form of love.
【Award】
62nd Cannes Film Festival, Un Certain Regard
34th Toronto International Film Festival, Masters
14th Busan International Film Festival, A Window on Asian Cinema
【Screen time】
116min

Still Walking

Still Walking(2008)

【Draft, Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Hiroshi Abe, Yui Natsukawa, YOU, Kazuya Takahashi,
Shohei Tanaka, Kirin Kiki, Yoshio Harada
【description】
Still Walking is a family drama about grown children visiting their elderly parents, which unfolds over one summer day. The aging parents have lived in the family home for decades. Their son and daughter return for a rare family reunion, bringing their own families with them. They have gathered to commemorate the tragic death of the eldest son, who drowned in an accident fifteen years ago. Although the roomy house is as comforting and unchanging as the mother's homemade feast, everyone in the family has subtly changed. This is a typical dysfunctional family, bonded by love as well as resentments and secrets.
【Award】
23th Mar del Plata International Film Festival, Gold Astor for Best Film and ACCA Jury Prize
4th Asian Film Awards, Best Director
4th Eurasia International Film Festival, Best Director
56th San Sebastian International Film Festival, CEC Award for Best Film and SIGNIS Award
【Screen time】
114min

HANA

HANA(2006)

【Draft, Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Junuichi OKADA, Rie MIYAZAWA, Tadanobu ASANO,
Arata FURUTA, Yoshio HARADA
【description】
Set in 1702, Hana yori mo naho looks back a full three centuries to a time when samurai clans offered monetary rewards to the samurais who succeeded in taking on a revenge act. The central character is a young samurai, Sozaemon Aoki, who has come to Edo (now Tokyo) to avenge his late father. Although he searches the city for his father’s enemy, he is hopeless with swordplay and reluctant to pursue his mission. Living in an Edo tenement, poverty-stricken but rich in human relationships, Sozaemon starts to cherish life and question the meaning of taking revenge.
【Award】
31st Toronto International Film Festival
54th San Sebastial International Film Festival, Official Competition
11th Busan International Film Festival
【Screen time】
127min

Nobody Knows

Nobody Knows(2004)

【Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Yuya Yagira, Ayu Kitaura, Hiei Kimura, Momoko Shimizu,
Hanae Kan, YOU
【description】
Four siblings live happily with their mother in a small apartment in Tokyo. The children all have different fathers and have never been to school. The very existence of three of them has been hidden from the landlord. One day, the mother leaves behind a little money and a note, charging her oldest boy to look after the others. And so begins the children's odyssey, a journey nobody knows.
【Award】
57th Cannes Film Festival, Best Actor (Yuya Yagira)
31th Ghent International Film Festival, Best Film
40th Chicago International Film Festival, Gold Plaque

Distance

Distance(2001)

【Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
ARATA, Erika Oda, Susumu Terajima, Takashi Naito,
Kei Tani, Yusuke Iseya
【description】
A massacre initiated by the followers of an apocalyptic religious sect, the Ark of Truth, leaves more than a hundred people dead including the self-appointed executioners, slain by fellow cult members. Three years pass. On the anniversary of the slaughter, four friends who lost loved ones in the tragedy seek solace by journeying to the secluded lake where it all began. They encounter a man who was with the executioners until the very moment the killing began, and their pilgrimage takes a strange, unexpected turn.
【Award】
54th Cannes Film Festival, Competition
44th San Francisco International Film Festival, World Cinema
30th International Film Festival Rotterdam, Main programme features
【Screen time】
132min

After Life

After Life(1998)

【Director, Scenario and Direction】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
ARATA, Erika Oda, Susumu Terajima, Takashi Naito, Kei Tani, Yusuke Iseya
【description】
After Life is set at a way station between Heaven and Earth. There, guides have less than a week to help the newly dead sift through their memories for one defining moment to take with them to Heaven. After Life draws on the recollections of hundreds of elderly Japanese, some of whom join the cast of the film. Their stories reveal not only their personal pleasures and horrors, but also the broader history of postwar Japan. By portraying characters struggling to come to terms with the past, the film explores our attachment to life - bursting with pride and falsehood, pain, and pleasure - and, most importantly, to love.
【Award】
19th Nantes Three Continents Festival, Golden Montgolfiere for Best Film
16th Torino International Festival of Young Cinema, Best Script
1st Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema, Best Film and Best Screenplay
【Screen time】
118min

Maborosi

Maborosi(1995)

【Director】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Cast】
Makiko Esumi, Tadanobu Asano, Takashi Naito
【description】
A woman is deeply troubled by the notion that she brings death to people close to her. Already battling guilt since the age of 12 when her grandmother died, Yumiko’s life is shattered when her husband commits suicide for no apparent reason. After spending several years in solitude, Yumiko remarries. She begins to find happiness anew, until she returns to her old home for her brother’s wedding and a flood of troubling memories begins to haunt her.
【Award】
52nd Venice Film Festival, Golden Osella
14th Vancouver International Film Festival, Grand Prize
31st Cicago International Film Festival, Grand Prize
【Screen time】
110min

Ending Note: Death of a Japanese Salesman

Ending Note: Death of a Japanese Salesman(2011)

【Produce】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Director, Scenario】
Mami Sunada
【description】
A touching and funny documentary about the last months of the life of a Japanese salesman, as documented by his filmmaker daughter. Tomoaki Sunada was a typical sales representative until he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The film captures his last months as he summarises his life and writes his final wishes in the form of his "ending note".
【Award】
62nd Ministry of Education Geijutsu Sensho Shinjin Award
59th Sansebastian International Film Festival, New Directors Selection
47th Chicago International Film Festival, Best Documentary

Beautiful Islands

Beautiful Islands(2009)

【Produce】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Director】
Tomoko Kana

Kakuto

Kakuto(2003)

【Produce】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Director, Scenario】
Yusuke Iseya

Wild Berries(2003)

【Produce】
Hirokazu Koreeda
【Director, Scenario】
Miwa Nishikawa
【Cast】
Hiroyuki Miyasako, Miho Tsumiki, Sei Hiraizumi
【Award】
3rd Tokyo FILMeX Competition

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