Here’s your daily dose of an indie film, web series, TV pilot, what-have-you in progress, as presented by the creators themselves. At the end of the week, you’ll have the chance to vote for your favorite.
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Logline: Fumi and Kazu – partners in love and law – run Japan’s first LGBT law firm.
Elevator Pitch:
This is an indie film about Japan’s first LGBT law firm. Japan is a highly conformist country proud of its social cohesion and unity. Yet conformity comes at a cost – to be different is to be invisible, and this is the subject of our film. “Of Love & Law” tells the hidden stories of people who are silenced and made invisible by Japanese society and its laws. What are the risks of being yourself and being an outsider in your own country? Should love be ruled by laws that don’t represent you?
Production Team:
Director Hikaru Toda is a self-shooting Director/Editor based in Osaka and making broadcast, viral and independent documentaries, producing long and short format films for BBC, NHK, Guardian Media and international NGOs among others. She co-directed “Love Hotel” about a love hotel in Osaka for BBC4 Storyville/France 2, which premiered at Hot Docs International Film Festival 2014, receiving warm reception from critics and audience alike.
Producer Elhum Shakerifar (Postcode Films) is a BAFTA nominated producer and programme advisor for London Film Festival. Her productions have screened at Berlinale, IDFA, CPH:DOX; as well as on BBC, NHK, NRK, SVT, DR. Her most recent production “A Syrian Love Story” (Sean McAllister, 2015) was Guardian’s #3 Best Film of 2015, has screened in over 70 countries and is part of the 2016 LUX Prize.
Co producer Estelle Robin You (Les Films du BaliBari) has worked with France Télévisions, ARTE, WDR, YLE etc her productions have travelled to festivals such as IDFA, Hot Docs, Visions du Reel and Cinema du Reel, and have been released theatrically in France and abroad.
Associate Producer Khaula Malik is a NYC based filmmaker. The feature she is currently developing, “DiwalEid,” was a finalist at the 2015 Sundance Screenwriters Lab.
Cinematographer: Jason Brooks – Cameraperson extraordinaire. Passionate, generous and always hard working, his instinctive camera work achieved the look of the film.
Editor: Takeshi Hata – an award-winning editor based in Osaka, Japan. A masterful story-teller, he will weave multiple storylines to create a filmic world!
Animation: Osaka talents Studio Chrono have been working with Rokudenashiko to bring her manga art into motion in the film!
About the Film:
I met Fumi and Kazu 4 years ago and was immediately drawn to their concurrent vulnerability and strength. I wanted to get to know my home country through their perspective after living abroad for the last 22 years. They are voices for change – the risk takers who decided to face the consequence of breaking the silence and challenging the status quo. Their struggle is also universal – they’re fighting for equality, to be who they are. I am compelled to tell the story that they represent – of strength that comes from accepting ourselves and each other.
Current Status: Beginning the edit / post-production.
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