Akashi (film)
| Akashi | |
|---|---|
Film poster | |
| Directed by | Mayumi Yoshida |
| Written by | Mayumi Yoshida |
| Produced by | Nach Dudsdeemaytha Tyler Hagan Mayumi Yoshida |
| Starring | Mayumi Yoshida Hana Kino Ryo Tajima Kunio Murai |
| Cinematography | Jaryl Lim |
| Edited by | Nach Dudsdeemaytha |
Production companies | |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Languages | Japanese English |
Akashi is a Canadian drama film. It was written, directed and starred Mayumi Yoshida, in her feature-length directorial debut, and produced by Yoshida, Nach Dudsdeemaytha and Tyler Hagan.[1]
Plot
Kana, a Japanese Canadian artist based in Vancouver returns home to Tokyo for the first time in ten years to attend the funeral of her grandmother; during the trip, she reconnects with her old boyfriend Hiro, and investigates a family secret about her grandfather that her grandmother had revealed before her death.[2]
Cast
- Mayumi Yoshida as Kana
- Hana Kino as Grandma
- Ryo Tajima as Hiro
- Kunio Murai as Grandpa
- Chieko Matsubara as Wakako
- Hiro Kanagawa as Cab Driver
- Rin Kusunose as Yumeko
Production
Akashi was Yoshida's full-length directorial debut. The film was an expansion of her 2017 short film of the same title.[3] It entered production in December 2023 in Tokyo, with some later location shooting in Vancouver.[4]
Release
The film premiered at the 2025 Vancouver International Film Festival,[5] where it won the Audience Award for the Northern Lights program.[6] It screened in the Borsos Competition program at the 2025 Whistler Film Festival.[7] It swept the awards at the Whistler Film Festival with Yoshida winning best actor, best B.C. director and the Haebler Award for best feature, alongside Hagan and Dudsdeemaytha.[8] Additionally, Jaryl Lim won for best cinematography.
References
- ^ "Akashi Exclusive Clip: VIFF 2025". That Shelf, September 26, 2025.
- ^ Charlie Smith, "VIFF 2025: Skillful filmmaker Mayumi Yoshida delves into deep emotional terrain in Akashi". Pancouver, October 5, 2025.
- ^ Taimur Sikander Mirza, "Mayumi Yoshida heads to Japan for debut feature". Playback, December 13, 2023.
- ^ Zac Ntim and Andreas Wiseman, "‘Akashi:’ Directorial Debut From ‘The Man In The High Castle’ Actor Mayumi Yoshida Enters Production In Japan". Deadline Hollywood, December 11, 2023.
- ^ "A closer look at the highly-anticipated, local VIFF film Akashi". CityNews, September 18, 2025.
- ^ Andrew Tracy, "Three Canadian films claim audience awards at VIFF". Playback, September 20, 2025.
- ^ Andrew Tracy, "Youngblood, Akashi among Whistler’s Borsos Award nominees". Playback, October 28, 2025.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan. "'Akashi' Sweeps Awards at Whistler Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 December 2025.