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Film director: Masakazu KANEKO
Masakazu KANEKO was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1978. He graduated Aoyama Gakuin University. After graduation, he studied under Director Takahisa Zeze at the Film School of Tokyo.
In 2016, his first feature film, "The Albino's Trees", was officially screened in the Forward Future Section of the 6th Beijing International Film Festival, China. It won 20 awards at international film festivals worldwide.
In 2021, his second feature film, "Ring Wandering" had its world premiere at the 37th Warsaw International Film Festival and received the Ecumenical Jury Award, Special Mention. It won the Golden Peacock Award (Grand Prix) at the 52nd International Film Festival of India.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Government of Japan, selected Kaneko as one of the three filmmakers to promote and facilitate Japanese filmmaking internationally, and also as one of the four emerging directors to take part in the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival and the European Film Market on the recommendation of UNIJAPAN.
In 2024, his third feature film, "River Returns" had its world premiere at the 62nd Gijon International Film Festival and won the Youth Award for Best Feature Film. It won 10 awards at international film festivals worldwide.
His fourth feature, "Sleeping in the Red Earth", has already been completed and is set to be released soon.
Photo by the 62nd Gijon International Film Festival (Spain, November 2024)
Filmography
“AURA”/ 1998 / Short Film
“Lethe”/ 2000 / Short Film
“Sumire Ningyo”/ 2007 / School Graduation Project
“Rapunzel”/ 2008 / Short Film
“Konagona”/ 2009 / Short Film
“Lost Story”/ 2009 / Short Film
“The Man Who Restores”/ 2010 / Short Film
“Camera Obscura”/ 2013 / Short Film
“Secret Meeting”/ 2013 / Short Film
“The Albino's Trees”/ 2016 / First Feature Film
“Ring Wandering”/ 2021 / 2nd Feature Film
“The Water Sprite”-pilot version- / 2021 / Short Film *You can watch the full version of this pilot film by clicking the link.
“River Returns”/ 2024 / 3rd Feature Film
“Sleeping in the Red Earth”/ 2027 / 4th Feature Film
Contact
Feature film works
【2027/Color/1.85:1/5.1ch/DCP】
＜Cast＞Kisetsu Fujiwara, Sena Nakajima
Production:“Sleeping in the Red Earth” Project
Domestic distribution: Tokyo Theatre
World Sales: Nikkatsu
Director: Masakazu Kaneko
“Sleeping in the Red Earth” official website
*This film will be released soon. Stay tuned!
"River Returns"
【2024/Color/1.85:1/5.1ch/DCP/108min】
＜Cast＞Asuka Hanamura, Yo Aoi, Sanetoshi Ariyama, Toshie Negishi
Production: NAGARAGAWA STAND BY ME NO KAI, Project DAWN
World Sales: EST N8 / Spanish distribution: A Contracorriente Films
Director: Masakazu Kaneko / Music: Masakatsu Takagi
“River Returns” official website
Awards
*62nd Gijon International Film Festival (Gijon, Spain, 2024)
Youth Jury Award for the Best Feature Film
*45th Porto International Film Festival (Porto, Portugal, 2025)
Official Competitive Section Orient Express Grand Prize
*17th Lighthouse International Film Festival (Long Beach Island, USA, 2025)
Narrative Features Competition for the Best Narrative Film
*14th Toronto Japanese Film Festival (Toronto, Canada, 2025)
Special Mention Award
*23rd Ischia Film Festival (Ischia, Italy, 2025)
Best Cinematography Award
*11th Transmutacion Festival de Cine Contemporaneo (Mexico City, Mexico, 2025)
Best Feature Film Official Selection Oculus Aurora
*30th Rabat International Author Film Festival (Rabat, Morocco, 2025)
Best Script Award
*11th Festival Cinemistica (Granada, Spain, 2025)
Special Mention
*43rd Fajr International Film Festival (Shiraz, Iran, 2025)
Crystal Simorgh for the Special Jury Award
*19th KINOTAYO Festival du cinema japonais contemporain en France (Paris, France, 2025)
Jury Award
DVD
* Now on sale in Spain
Streaming
FILMIN (Spanish)
Amazon Prime Viveo (Spanish)
"Ring Wandering"
【2021/Color/1.85:1/5.1ch/DCP/103min】
＜Cast＞Show Kasamatsu, Junko Abe, Ken Yasuda, Reiko Kataoka
Production:“Ring Wandering” Production Committee
Domestic distribution: MAP / World Sales: kinone
Director: Masakazu Kaneko
“Ring Wandering” official website
Awards
*52nd International Film Festival of India (Goa, India, 2021)
Golden Peacock Award (Best Film)
*37th Warsaw International Film Festival (Warsaw, Poland, 2021)
Ecumenical Jury Commendation Award
*43th Durban International Film Festival (Durban, South Africa, 2022)
Best Screenplay
*22nd Independent Days International Film Festival (Karlsruhe, Germany, 2023)
Indie Award (Best Feature)
DVD
* Now on sale in Taiwan and Japan
Streaming
SAKKA (English)
"The Albino's Trees"
【2016/Color/1.77:1/5.1ch/DCP/86min】
＜Cast＞Ryohei Matsuoka, Kanako Higashi, Yusuke Fukuchi, Hatsunori Hasegawa
Production ＆ Domestic distribution ＆ World Sales: kinone
Director: Masakazu Kaneko / Music: Eiko Ishibashi
“The Albino's Trees” official website
Awards
*4th Figueira Film Art (Figueira da Foz, Portugal, 2017)
Best Feature / Best Direction / Best Picture
*Including other film festivals, this film won a total of 20 awards.
Blu-ray ＆ DVD
* Now on sale in Japan
Streaming
SAKKA (English)
FILMIN (Spanish)
Interviews
Publication: Sakura Central / Interviewer: Sean Barry / 8 August 2025
*River Returns - Interview with Filmmaker Masakzu Kaneko
Publication: Carolyn Talks YouTube & Podcast Channel / Interviewer: Carolyn Hinds / 21 June 2025
*Masakazu Kaneko interview: “The world is made with something much bigger”
Publication: easternkicks.com / Interviewer: Blake Simons/ 26 July 2024
Links
