Alberto was born in Madrid, Spain. After graduating from Complutense University of Madrid in Audiovisual Communication, he worked as production assistant at Spain's national TV station. He then entered the Graduate School of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music (Geidai). He has written the scenario for, worked as production assistant, and appeared in NHK TV's "Spain go kaiwa" as well as curated Spanish and Latinoamerican films for many international film festivals in Asia and Pacific. He also has curated Japanese films for film festivals in Spain. In 2004, he set up the "Latin Beat Film Festival" and has produced the festival each year.

 

 

 

 

 

After graduating from Tokyo University, he began work at NHK mostly as a sportscaster reporting on sporting events. He was busy as a sportscaster at many sporting events including the Montreal (1976) and Lake Placid (1980) Olympic games. He also was the broadcast newscaster for “News Center 9-ji” & “News Wide.” Upon leaving NHK in 1985, he became a popular freelance TV newscaster and program host. Currently he is the host of the popular TBS show “Sekai Fushigi Hakken”. Mr. Kusano is a very popular personality who appears in many commercials, and makes frequent appearances in variety programs. Recently he was the anchor for the TV Tokyo broadcast of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

 

 

 

 

Shun was born on June 7, 1982 in Ishikawa prefecture. He debuted as actor in 2002. He landed a lead role in “Pacchigi” in 2005 and won the Best New Actor Award at the 29th Japan Academy Awards as well as the Festival Best New Actor Award at the 27th Yokohama Film Festival, He has since continued acting mainly in movies while widening his scope with appearances in TV and on the stage. Films include “Rush Life,” “Cameleon,” “Casino,” “Zou no senaka,” “Aozora no ru-retto,” “Deguchi no nai umi,” and “Akai bunkajuutaku no hatsuko.” He has been recognized for a wide range of roles from action and war movies to playing today’s younger generation to larger-than-life roles to roles of despair. This fall he is due to star on the stage and he will appear in the stage play of “Jeanne d’Arc” at the end of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

Born in Tokyo. Kaori’s movie debut came in 1971. Six years later, she won the award for Supporting Actress at the 1st Annual Japan Academy Awards for her role in “The Yellow Handkerchief.” She has been awarded the Best Actress Award in subsequent films like “No More Easy Life”, and “Suspicion” with many other awards in her illustrious career. In 2005, Kaori received critical acclaim abroad when she appeared in “The Sun”, directed by maestro Russian director Aleksandr Sakurov and in “Sayuri”, directed by Rob Marshall. Her directorial debut film “Face of a Fig Tree” was well-received abroad and won the Best Asian Film Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. In 2008 she received the “Purple Ribbon Medal of Honor” (for individual achievement). She continues working in Japan and internationally in a wide-range of roles beginning with “USB” directed by Shutaro Oku, and Maris Martinsons’ “Amaya”. The highly anticipated film “Mituso no kuri”, which was produced by Naomi Kawase, was selected for the Nara International Film Festival in August. She will also star and direct in a film which was developed by the late director Jun Ichikawa.

 

 

 

 

Film director Isao Yukisada was born in Kumamoto in 1968. He debuted as feature director in 1997 with “OPEN HOUSE.” His second film “Sunflower” (2000) won the National Critics Association award at the 5th Annual Pusan International Film Festival and he is looked on as the new breed of directors with the ability to dramatize. He won the Japan Academy Best Director award for “GO” in 2001 as well as many other awards which instantly put him under the spotlight. Since then he has become a constant hit-maker with films like “Crying Out Love from the Center of the World,” “Year One in the North,” “Spring Snow,” and “Closed Note.” In 2006 he established the “Second Sight” label which creates and produces feature films and other visual productions. New projects include “A Good Husband, “ “Parade, “ Bee TV program “Onnatachi Ha Nido Asobu.” His film “Parade” won the National Critics Association award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

 

*The Jurors are listed in Japanese syllabary order.