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CEO and Executive Producer Yoshiki Ishii participated as a jury member in the Film Craft category of Dubai Lynx 2024. Dubai Lynx is the sister festival of Cannes Lions, held in Dubai this year from March 5th to 6th. It is the largest communication awards festival in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa.) Ishii arrived on-site on the morning of March 2nd and spent two full days on March 3rd and 4th, participating in the judging process.

Comments from Ishii on attending

It was my first time visiting Dubai, which was an intriguing city. Despite being a major metropolitan area, it retains a local vibe, with the desert just under an hour’s drive from downtown. At the Dubai Lynx judging venue, producers, creative directors, production producers, animation directors, and commercial directors gathered from around the world. The jury for the Film Craft category, which I participated in, consisted of two members from New York, one from Chile, one from New Zealand, one from Spain, one from the Netherlands, and myself from Japan. The jury was composed of four women and three men, showcasing diversity in race and gender, reflecting current trends.

The judging process was a fascinating experience. Preliminary judging began in February, with judges completing their assessments online by February 27th. We checked all the entries, scored them, and then spent two days in a conference room at a Dubai hotel discussing them.

On the first day, we created a shortlist, and on the second day, we decided on bronze or higher from the shortlist, followed by silver, gold, and the grand prix. Various perspectives emerged during the discussions, guiding the judging process. Since Japanese entries were generally not submitted, there was no need to advocate for Japanese projects or discuss cultural backgrounds, which made things easier in some aspects. However, it also highlighted the challenges and difficulties of winning an award, giving us an awareness that judging responsibilities couldn’t be taken lightly.

I was deeply focused during the judging process, so I was admittedly very tired during lunch breaks and after the judging was completed. However, during the judging, there were moments reminiscent of my film school days in America, discussing favorite films like “Isn’t that shot from Kurosawa’s Rashomon amazing?” or “The composition in Ozu’s Tokyo Story is fantastic.” These moments, where film lovers purely discussed cinema, made for a very meaningful and valuable time.

Cinematographer Kota Watanabe has newly joined Kirameki Management! After graduating from the Department of Cinema at Nihon University’s College of Art in 2016, Watanabe worked as a freelance camera assistant, gaining experience in beauty, fashion, and automotive shoots. Having served as Chief Assistant to Kenshi Hanzawa since 2020, he started working independently in April 2023. Watanabe works on projects of all kinds, with a focus on commercials and music videos. Through his work, he captures the beauty of his subjects with a pure and refined tone. We are looking forward to collaborating with you.

Check out his reel here:
https://www.kirameki.cc/artists/kota-watanabe

kirameki Director Reina Hamane, and Cinematographer Yuta Uehara, will teach at CEKAI SUMMER CAMP SUMMER 2023, a summer school for elementary school students offered by CEKAI, a community of creators involved in various creative activities such as video, graphics, and art. The program offered by the two creatives will be “Let’s shoot with an 8mm video camera!” The program will last for three days. The final goal in this program is for each team to make a short film and hold a screening. The filming will be done with an 8mm video camera, which is nostalgic for grown ups. This is a very unique opportunity to experience a texture that is different from that of smartphones and the latest video cameras. Reina and Yuta are looking forward to meeting everyone this summer!

Please click here for application and more detailed information↓↓
https://www.cekaisummercamp.com/blank-2/8mmbideokameradesatsueishiyou?fbclid=IwAR1Xw1pG-1GhnX5c63g3d8vvUL05LiM_k6oZd66Scn2PECVn-B_InIytUv0

<CEKAI SUMMER CAMP 2023 Summer / Let’s shoot with 8mm video camera! >
Dates: July 24 (Mon) – 26 (Wed) 2023, 3 days
Address: Muracekai 1F, 22-7 Motoyoyogi-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0062
Time: 9:00 – 15:00 each day (Registration starts at 8:45)
Age range: 4th – 6th grade elementary school students
Capacity: 10 students
Fee: 52,000 yen + tax / person *Includes original T-shirt, materials and insurance

◾️About the program
In this program, video creators active in advertising and music industries will serve as instructors and provide hands-on shooting experience using nostalgic 8mm video cameras. The 8mm video camera, which has a visual texture distinct from that of smartphones and the latest cameras, will be an exciting stimulus for digital-native children. Through this program, they will not only develop a creative point of view, but also deepen their interest in and understanding of video technology, while getting to experience a video production environment firsthand.

◾️ Schedule image
Day 1: Review of shooting content, preliminary inspection of shooting location, preparation for shooting
Day 2: Camera operation practice, filming
Day 3: Preparation for screening, Screening
*On the final day, a screening will be held from 14:30 to 15:00 for parents to attend

◾️ Teachers
Reina Hamane (Director / Art director)
Yuta Uehara (Cinematographer)