SC Films International has secured worldwide sales rights to Fujiko, a second feature from Japanese director Kimura Taichi, produced by Megumi. The project marks a major step in bringing Japanese cinema to a global audience.
The cast is led by Katayama Yuki, with Lily Franky, You, Issey Ogata, Kayoko Kishimoto and Tsuyoshi Ujiki in supporting roles, and Megumi also appearing. The film was cut together by editor Miyake Aika, known for Shogun.
Megumi and Hiramatsu Takuma produced Fujiko, with a screenplay by Gajin Shota and Kuniyoshi Saki. The score features Daiki Tsuneta of King Gnu and Akira Popal Daoud of Kikagaku Moyo, giving the drama a rock-inflected sound.
Set in Shizuoka during the 1970s and 1980s, Fujiko draws from Kimura’s family history as a single mother pursues personal freedom amid social upheaval. Kimura, who moved to the U.K. at 12 to study filmmaking and has directed music videos for Coldplay and Chase & Status, earlier earned Best Director at the Barcelona Asian Film Festival in 2023 for his debut feature, Afterglows.
SC Films will present Fujiko to international buyers as part of its Cannes Market slate, joining other titles like Girl in the Clouds and Melati on the program.
The world premiere is planned for Italy’s Udine Far East Film Festival, followed by a German premiere at Nippon Connection, before a June 5 theatrical release in Japan. Megumi speaks of a mission to share Japanese cinema with audiences worldwide, while Kimura calls Fujiko a deeply personal project about family.
“I’m thrilled Fujiko will reach overseas viewers through SC Films,” Megumi said, underscoring the global reach of Japanese cinema. Kimura added that this film represents the most important work he has made, a personal story about family. SC Films’ Fumie Suzuki Lancaster noted the project’s resonance across borders and its strong international appeal.
SC Films’ Cannes lineup also includes other titles, highlighting the distributor’s push to bring Asian cinema to a wider audience.
Source: Original article
