Award-winning Japanese film director Kazuhiro SODA coming to University of Galway

Award-winning Japanese film director Kazuhiro SODA coming to University of Galway and  PALAS

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 29^TH

Renowned Japanese documentary filmmaker, Kazuhiro SODA is visiting Galway  for a workshop and a screening of his award-winning documentary ZERO (2020). His visit is presented by the School of English Media and Creative Arts, University of Galway in association with the East Asia Film Festival Ireland [www.eaffi.ie]

Soda is a multi-award-winning director, screenwriter, cinematographer, producer, and author. After spending several years in New York producing documentaries for NHK [Japanese national broadcaster], he returned to his native Japan to direct his first ‘Observational Film’ – a term and approach to filmmaking that he would make his own through his ‘ten rules.’

CAMPAIGN (2007) went on to win the prestigious Peabody Award for Best Documentary.

Subsequent films garnered additional awards including MENTAL (Best Documentary, Busan International Film Festival 2008); PEACE (Best Documentary, Hong Kong International Film Festival 2010) and ZERO (Ecumenical Prize, Berlin International Film Festival 2020). His latest film, THE CATS OF GEOKOGO SHRINE premieres at the Berlinale Film Festival in March 2024.

ZERO – screening on Feb 29^th at PALAS cinema – is Soda’s most widely celebrated film to date.

It follows the final months in the working life of Dr. Yamamoto, the humane psychiatrist first encountered in MENTAL. Within a culture where mental disorders are often derided and stigmatised, Yamamoto has created a space of refuge and support for his patients where they are permitted and empowered to be themselves. The resulting film opens up a space for questioning attitudes to mental illness and standardised treatments and is by turns both touching and humorous.

Now 80 years of age and carer to his beloved wife Yoshiko, Yamamoto must retire and say goodbye to his patients. A loving look at care and ageing, the film exemplifies Soda’s non-judgmental and deeply humane approach to his subjects, offering themes and insights that resonate far beyond their local context.

• On Thursday, Feb 29th there will be a discussion with Soda about his work in MAIRTIN O’TNUTHAIL THEATRE [Arts Millennium 1023] 4:00-5:15 pm

• This will be followed by a screening of the film ZERO at the PÁLÁS cinema at 6:00 pm and a Q&A between the director and Dr Tony Tracy [Huston School of Film].

Student tickets are just €5 – but please register with tony.tracy@universityofgalway.ie in advance!

Tickets for ZERO screening are available at hkps://www.palas.ie/film/zero-director-qa-with-kazuhirosoda

For more information on Kazuhiro Soda’s films and work, visit: https://www.kazuhirosoda.com