Out of the European Film Market in Berlin, Mayumi Yoshida‘s debut feature Akashi has found Canadian and Japanese distribution. Rabbit House, a Tokyo-based independent film distribution company, has acquired all rights, including a theatrical release, in Japan; while KinoSmith will distribute the film in Canada.
Akashi is a multigenerational love story told across parallel timelines starring Yoshida as Kana, a struggling artist living in Vancouver. When Kana returns to Tokyo after a decade for her grandmother’s funeral, she journeys through familial histories and reconnects with an old love.
Shot in Vancouver and Tokyo, the film premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival last year winning an Audience award, as well as taking home five awards at the Whistler Film Festival, including the coveted Borsos prize for Best Canadian Feature.
Alongside Yoshida, Akashi stars Hana Kino, Ryo Tajima, Chieko Matsubara, Kunio Murai, Shun Sugata, Bun Kimura, Sayaka Kunisada, Hiro Kanagawa, and Jess McLeod. The film was produced by Musubi Arts & Experimental Forest Films in association with Watermark Media and made possible with the support of Telefilm Canada, Canada Media Fund, Creative BC, Crave, A Division Of Bell Media Inc, and Hollywood Suite.
Watch a clip from Akashi below.
