New York Japan CineFest 2015 | ニューヨーク・ジャパン・
シネ・フェスト Film Festival

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Satsuki Okawa graduated from Nihon University College of Art. To pursuit her career internationally, Satsuki relocated to Scotland, UK, then to NYC where she attended Columbia University for MFA. She graduated with her award winning thesis film Tidy Up in 2011.

In 2013, Satsuki was commissioned to write/direct a short film, Koyuki's Wandering Football for the Japanese Professional Football League (J-League). The film was released in May of that year as part of the J-league’s 20 years anniversary project and travelled around the festival circuit including Canne Film Festival Short Film Corner.

Her most notable work is Little Kyota Neon Hood (2012), which went on to gain acclaim on the international film festival circuit. The film not only won numerous awards domestically, but internationally. She recently finished the sequel, Little Kyota Errand Hood (2014).

In the same year, Satsuki was also selected as one of two filmmakers to direct a short film for Lexus and The Weinstein Company, as a part of their collaboration project LEXUS SHORT FILMS. Her short, Operation Barn Owl is set to be premiered at NYC and LA in summer of 2014.

Ema Ryan Yamazaki is a documentary filmmaker and video editor. In 2013 her documentary, MONK BY BLOOD, the story of a young Japanese man who faces the destiny of taking over his family's 800-year-old Buddhist temple in Kyoto, aired internationally on Al Jazeera English. Her film NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, a documentary about growing up in multiple cultures, has screened at venues and educational conferences around the world.

Ema is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. While she was a student, Ema interned for Ken Burns' production company and trained at the BBC. Upon graduation, she became an assistant to filmmaker/editor Sam Pollard (WHEN THE LEVIES BROKE, 4 LITTLE GIRLS).

As an editor, Ema has cut over 30 projects ranging from commercial content to dramatic narratives including films that have screened on HBO, PBS, at the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, and the Director's Guild of America. In 2014, Ema was an editor on CNN's docu-series CHICAGOLAND, executive produced by Robert Redford. She is currently editing a documentary for HBO.

Raised in Japan and England, Ema has a particular interest in telling stories that lie in-between cultures. Currently residing in New York City, she is now in production on her first feature documentary, while developing other projects in both Japan and New York. She loves eating and traveling.

Mitsuyo Miyazaki is a writer, director, producer and cinematographer with background as an actress, dancer, photographer, painter and costume designer. Her debut short film Tsuyako visited over 100 film festivals worldwide, and won 43 awards including DGA Award for the Best Female Student Filmmaker, Future Filmmakers Award and Audience Award at Palm Spring International Shortfest. The film was qualified for the Oscars for the year of 2012 and 2013.

She has created short films, commercials, web contents series for companies such as Lexus International, Subaru, The Weinstein Company, and her works has been distributed through theatrically, television programs, Internet, mobile platforms, exhibitions and EXPOs around the world. She also often visits schools and universities to share her visions and experience to students from multi backgrounds.

Miyazaki believes in the power of visual communication, and that it changes society and the minds of the people.

Born and raised in Japan and having graduated from the University of Tokyo with a degree in biological sciences, Hazuki chose an unusual journey to her career in filmmaking—via science journalism. After obtaining a master's degree in biomedical journalism at the New York University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, she worked as a medical editor for several years in New York City, followed by research and development for science/medicine-related programs.

Hazuki is inspired by the quiet yet strong artistic nature of her culture. She characterizes her films and photography with metaphysical themes and spare composition. Conscience, memory, and faith are recurring motifs in her work. Influenced by the works of Lillan Bassman, Hayao Miyazaki, and Yasujiro Ozu, Hazuki is interested in creating moving images as type of painting.

Hazuki's work includes narrative films and documentaries, music videos, educational videos, live performance videography, and collaborations with networks such as NHK, BBC, Space Shower TV, Fuji Television, Kyodo Television, and Team Okuyama for Kazuyoshi Okuyama.

Hazuki's works have been featured at the Clarion Girl 2000, Contemporary Arts Fair 2010, NYCIFF 2013, and VisionFest 2013. Her upcoming short film Reflection is currently staring its festival circuit with Berkshire International Film Festival in May, 2014.