SHORT SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL & ASIA 2009

Born in Toyama Prefecture 1955.
Yojiro Takita entered Shishi Production sponsored by Hiroshi Mukai as an assistant director and made his debut as a director in 1981. "Komikku Zasshi nanka iranai" (1986) was a critical and popular success at the N.Y. Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival. Yojiro has directed many popular hit titles such as "Kimura ke no Hitobito" (1988), "Byoin he Iko" (1990), "Bokura ha Minna Ikiteiru" (1993), "Ojuken" (1999), "Himitsu" (1999), the "Onmyoji" series (2001 & 2003), "Battery" (2007), and others . "Mibushigi den" (2003) won the Grand Prix at the Japan Academy Awards . At the 81st Academy awards, "Okuribito" aka " Departures" (2008) was the first Japanese film to win an award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Nao was born in Hyogo, 1985.
After her debut as an actress in 2004, she has appeared in several TV dramas. In 2006, she made her screen debut in “Adiantum Blue”. She has continued as a lead actress with roles in “Mirai Yosouzu”, “Chesto!” and “Sunadokei”. Not only an actress, she is also a taklented musical artist. So far she has released 3 albums and singles. Nao also wrote the original music for “Chesto!”(2008) in which she also stars. She wrote all the songs for her brand new album “pd”.

From Miyagi Pref.,
Mori was graduated from the Showa College of Music. She debuted in the opera “Suor Angelica.” In the following year she appeared in the TOHO musical “Nine” and in 1984 appeared in “La Cage aux Folles“ and was very well received by critics and the public. Since then with her unique and widely praised singing and appealing character, she has been in wide demand and has appeared on TV, in commercials, and the theater. In the 97 version of “Les Miserables” she appeared in the part of Mrs. Thenardier. In 93 she wrote the essays “Bra wo hazushite” followed by “Yaseru omoi” in 96. She released “Niji ga umareta hi”(00) which was the main theme song for “Pokémon” and “Memory - Kumiko Mori’sMusical Best”(07). For TV, she has appeared in many hit shows including in 06, the popular American drama “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” and from 08-09 the NHK Drama “Dandan”. This year she sang the ending theme for the NHK animation “Ojarumaru” and is the voice of the main character in the TV TOKYO “Mainichi Okasan” as well as singing the theme song.

Born in 1944. In 1971,
Kansai became the first Japanese designer to hold a fashion show in London. In recent years, he has broadened his field of activity, working not only as a fashion designer but a producer of various events. He was greatly applauded for the direction of the opening event at the “Expo 2005 Aichi”, and the “Kansai Super Show – Taiyo no Fune (the Sun Vessel)” held at the Tokyo Dome in January of 2007 which enjoyed unprecedented success. Last year, “Atsuki Kokoro – Passionate Heart~Kansai Genki-Ism~”, which was received with much enthusiasm in Tokyo and was also staged in Tokushima. His next project is “Festival of Life” to be held in Indonesia on May 23. Active in many fields, Yamamoto created the interior design for the venue, as well as produced social events for the Hokkaido Toyako Summit held last year. He presently serves as advisor to the Tokyo 2016 Bid Committee, which is working to bring the Olympics and Paralympics to Tokyo, and also teaches as a visiting professor.

Roberta Marie Munroe is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, international short film festival programmer, consultant, and author of How NOT To Make A Short Film: Secrets From A Sundance Programmer (Hyperion). A veteran programmer at the world renowned Sundance Film Festival, she has over 15 years experience of short film programming at film festivals and after viewing over 15,000 short films during her career, Munroe is considered the expert in the world of short form filmmaking. She has also participated on several panels and film juries including, Palm Springs Short Film Festival and Sao Paulo Short Film Festival. From 01-06 Munroe programmed short films at The Sundance Film Festival. After five years at Sundance, she was instrumental in launching The Blackhouse Foundation, which supports African-American filmmakers. Munroe continues to work with short form filmmakers as the president and senior consultant of her Los Angeles based independent filmmaker company, RMM Film Consulting.