EXCLUSIVE: As Japanese content continues to resonate globally, the Beyond Japan Filmmaker program is returning to Hollywood.
The program takes groups of up-and-coming filmmakers and producers from Japan, and gives them access to players in L.A. and grow their international exposure.
CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment), an organization aimed at developing Asian and Pacific Islanders in the entertainment industry; Japanese government organization JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) and American venture capital firm Plug and Play have reunited for the second iteration of the program.
In alphabetical order, the filmmakers selected for this year’s program are: Kako Annika Esashi, Kana Hatakeyama, Kenneth Pulgar-Vidal, Takuya Miyahara, Yoshihisa Toda and Yusaku Mizoguchi.
U.S.-born, Tokyo-based Esashi is known for projects that examine how women navigate changing cities and expectations, and made the short End of Dinosaurs, which screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival. Hatakeyama works out of Japan and New York and has made several shorts, including Okaasan, Fitness! and Sweat. She was also an advisor to director Sang-il Lee on Pachinko and a consultant on Tokyo Vice.
Pulgar-Vidal is a writer-director in the genre space who has worked for Apple TV and Netflix, and made cuberpunk short Synapse, and Miyahara, is a Tokyo-born, London-raised filmmaker influenced by the visual arts and music. His style is characterized its focus on minimal dialog and rich sound design.
Toda is a cinematographer with credits in more than 40 countries for the likes of Disney+ and Amazon. In the U.S., he’s represented by UTA. Finally, Mizoguchi is a writer-director who has worked at Warner Bros. and Disney. His debut feature was Mafiosa, which won Best Feature at the LA World Film Fest. His second, SAE, follows a young Japanese artist who overcomes tragedy to find hope through her art in Los Angeles. It is set for its world premiere in 2026.
Among those who selected the cohort are Palme d’Or-winning filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda, CAPE Executive Director and CEO Michelle K. Sugihara, Tokyo Vice exec producer Kayo Washio, director-producer Chiaki Yanagimoto and DJ Jiang, the founder of Great Leap Ventures).
They will engage in the program, which is facilitated in English. Cohort members receive mentorship and networking opportunities both from Japanese and U.S. professionals combined with seminars and sessions led by Hollywood industry heavyweights.
The program culminates in J-Screen, a two-day event celebrating hit Japan and U.S. co-productions that brings together recognized Japanese filmmakers alongside up-and-comers.
“Globalization of Japan’s film industry is a top priority for the Japanese government,” said JETRO Executive Director Yasunori Takizawa. “We are honored to bring back Beyond Japan Filmmaker, a program that fosters talent for this purpose, and partner with CAPE again given their long history of advancing Asian and Pacific Islander representation.”
Rhian Moore, CAPE Head of Programs, added: “As we witness this international surge of interest in Japanese IP and content, CAPE is proud to support Japan’s growing investment in creators and storytellers. We are thrilled to partner again with JETRO for Beyond Japan Filmmaker to nurture the next generation of Japanese filmmakers, connect them with Hollywood, and champion their stories to inspire global audiences.”
