Naomi Kawase

Director | Writer | Actress

Date of birth : 05/30/1969

City of birth : Nara, Japan

"I believe that when you make a film, you must confront yourself. You must face yourself and your own experiences, and then you can find a way to connect with others." Naomi Kawase is a notable Japanese film director recognized for her deeply personal and evocative storytelling. She gained prominence by winning the Caméra d’Or for best debut feature at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival with her film Moe no suzaku, which also earned the FIPRESCI Prize at the Rotterdam International Film Festival. Kawase started her career with autobiographical documentaries, including Ni tsutsumarete (1992) and Katatsumori (1994), which focused on her family and personal history. Her subsequent works continued to receive critical acclaim, such as Hotaru (2000), which won awards at the Locarno International Film Festival, and Tsuioku no dansu (2003), a documentary about her mentor. Kawase’s film Sharasojyu (2003) was featured at Cannes, and in 2007, she won the Grand Prix at Cannes for Mogari no mori, a poignant exploration of grief and mourning. Kawase's films are celebrated for their introspective and emotional depth, often drawing from her own life experiences.