Akashi
Friday April 3 at 7:00pm (Canada, Japan, 100 minutes, English, Japanese)
When Kana, a Japanese artist living in Vancouver, returns to Tokyo for her grandmother’s funeral, she finds herself caught between two worlds — the life she’s built abroad and the one she left behind. As family expectations close in and an old flame, Hiro, reappears, Kana begins to question where she truly belongs.
She also uncovers traces of a long-buried family secret – a love that defied time and tradition. Drawn into the mystery, Kana begins to see her family’s past reflected in her own life, blurring the lines between memory, self, duty, and desire.
At the recent Whistler Film Festival, Mayumi Yoshida won best actor, best BC director, and the Haebler Award for best feature. Jaryl Lim won for best cinematography.
Stay afterwards for a Q&A with the filmmakers!
This film is not rated. Intended for mature audiences. May include strong language and or scenes and themes some viewers may find disturbing
Mayumi Yoshida - Director, Writer, Star
Born in Japan and raised in three continents, Mayumi Yoshida is a director, actor, writer and producer based in Vancouver, BC. She’s an alumna of Women In the Director’s Chair, WBD Access x Canadian Academy Writers Program (2021) and Directors Program (2023), TIFF Writer’s Studio, and TIFF Netflix Talent Accelerator Fellowship. Her directorial debut short film, Akashi, which she wrote and acted in, won Outstanding Writer out of 4500 films at NBCUniversal Short Film Festival, Best Female Director at Vancouver Short Film Festival and many more awards internationally. The latest music video she directed, Different Than Before by Amanda Sum, starring Tzi Ma (Mulan), earned a Vimeo Staff Pick, Jury Award at SXSW Music Video Competition, and screened at Oscar- and BAFTA-qualifying film festivals. Her first feature, Akashi, which was shot in Japan and Canada, is set to premiere in 2025.
CREDITS
Director Mayumi Yoshida
Writer Mayumi Yoshida
Producers Mayumi Yoshida
Nach Dudsdeemaytha
Tyler Hagan
Cinematographer Jaryl Lim
Editor Nach Dudsdeemaytha
Cast Mayumi Yoshida
Hana Kino
Ryo Tajima
Kunio Murai
Chieko Matsubara