AKASHI

This film is part of an in-person shorts-feature combination screening and will be preceded by the short film, ONE LAST WALK.

When Kana, a Japanese artist living in Vancouver, returns to Tokyo for her grandmother’s funeral, she’s pulled between the life she chose and the one she left behind. As family expectations close in and an old love reappears, she uncovers a hidden romance from her grandfather’s past. Past and present begin to echo, and AKASHI becomes a quiet reflection on identity, memory, and the choices that shape who we become.

Born in Japan, raised in three continents, Mayumi Yoshida is a Director, Actor, Writer based in Vancouver, BC. Her background brings a unique “in-betweener” perspective to her storytelling. She is an Alumna of WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy’s Writer/Director Program, TIFF Writer’s Studio, and Beyond Japan Filmmakers Program, where she was mentored by Hirokazu Koreeda. Her Juno nominated music video, DIFFERENT THAN BEFORE won the Jury Award at SXSW.

Main Cast: Mayumi Yoshida (Kana), Hana Kino (Grandma), Ryo Tajima (Hiro), Chieko Matsubara (Wakako), Kunio Murai (Grandpa)

Producer: Nach Dudsdeemaytha, Tyler Hagan

Writer: Mayumi Yoshida

Cinematographer: Jaryl Lim

Composer: Andrew Yong Hoon Lee

Content Warning: Strong language

Preceded By

One Last Walk

Directed by Andrea Bang, Diana Bang

Two lonely grandmas who don’t speak the same language connect on their daily walks. Today is their last walk before one of them has to fly back home to Korea.